Vegan Easter Cakes Now Available at Select Eataly Markets

Eataly is stocking up for Easter with its vegan customers in mind. The massive department-store-sized mini-Italy is now selling vegan Easter Cake online and at select locations.

This Italian-themed venue is the mecca for all Italian eats. From boutiques selling imported tomato sauce to restaurants serving authentic Italian dishes, Eataly encompasses and celebrates the food and dining culture of Italy for consumers to discover and enjoy. Although based in tradition, this new Easter cake demonstrates that Eataly is not opposed to progress, and it is listening to it’s growing vegan customer base.

The Easter cake, or “la colomba di Pasqua,” is an Italian Easter tradition. The sweet spring treat is shaped to resemble a dove, and it is often referred to as the “Easter dove.” Unlike the dense panettone of the Christmas season, this cake is light and fluffy. The cake is traditionally made with flour, eggs, sugar, butter, and natural yeast, and takes thirty hours to rise. When the dough has expanded, it is formed into the classic dove-shaped pan, baked, and topped with pearl sugar and almonds.

Baking a colomba is a challenge in itself, let alone attempting to veganize it. According to Eataly, due to the time and complexity, most Italians tend to purchase this tradition, opposed to making it themselves. However, Vergani, an authentic Italian bakery founded in 1881, rose to the challenge and created a traditional colomba using modern techniques and vegan ingredients. The bakers promise, “the same rich flavors that we love,” despite the lack of eggs and butter.

Italians enjoy their colomba with a cup of coffee at breakfast, or as an afternoon snack with a cup of tea. Eataly claims the cake is rich enough to enjoy on its own, though it is often served with a side of fresh berries, a drizzle of dark chocolate, or a dollop of vegan whipped cream.

Vergani has a dedicated line of vegan Italian specialties, certified by VeganOk. Eataly has five locations in the US, and several internationally. It is continually expanding its market and cafe options to cater to its plant-based patrons worldwide.

Image Credit: Eataly