Featured Vegan Chef: Kelly Peloza

Our Featured Vegan Chef series shares the voices and stories behind some of the delicious recipes in the WholeSoy Vegan Recipe Collection.

Kelly Peloza is the author of The Vegan Cookie Connoisseur, the Vegan Candyland zine, and two blogs: The Vegan Cookie Connoisseur and Seitan Beats Your Meat. She started experimenting with vegan baking as a high school student, blogging about her adventures all the while. Her amazing recipes and gorgeous photos drew a crowd of eager readers who have been begging her for a cookbook ever since.

Kelly was kind enough to share her vegan story and inspiration with us...

How did you first become vegan?
I became vegetarian when I was 10 but didn't know much about vegetarianism or what to eat, so that only lasted about a year. I revisited the idea a few years later, then learned more about what is in our food and the cruel practices of factory farming, so I had to become vegan.

What inspired you to pursue cooking/baking?
I've always been interested in cooking and baking, but after I became vegan, Isa and Terry's books were a huge inspiration. I really got into cooking from books and started creating my own recipes.

What are your favorite resources for new vegan inspiration?
I'm inspired by blogs, cookbooks, and vegan-related events! Discovering new foods or ingredients is awesome for coming up with new creative ideas.

What's your favorite flavor of soy yogurt?
My favorites are peach and blueberry.

Try Kelly's Featured Vegan Recipe

Hypnosis Cookies With a swirl of chocolate and sugar cookie, the amazing taste of these cookies will truly hypnotize you. Show Details »

To learn more about Kelly, visit her blog The Vegan Cookie Connoisseur.

Thank you for sharing your story and recipes with us, Kelly!