Are donuts vegan? It's a question that gets asked a lot. And it's no wonder! Donuts (or doughnuts, depending on where you're from) are one of the nation's favorite sweet treats. From Krispy Kremes to Dunkin Donuts, we'll cover the ins and outs of whether or not donuts are vegan.
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Is there anything more luscious than biting into a donut that's light and airy on the inside with the perfect glossy glaze covering its crispy exterior? Something about this ring shaped confection is so iconic and compelling. But are donuts vegan?
The answer is that most traditional donuts are not vegan. By traditional donuts, we mean donuts that can be found in most grocery stores and donut stands. In this post we'll cover what ingredients in traditional donuts make them non vegan, and how to to find (or make) delectable donuts that are vegan!
Top Tip: Looking to make your own vegan donuts? Try myBlueberry Cake Donuts!
**Please note that some products marked as vegan may be subject to cross contamination. We can not guarantee the suitability of any product for a plant based diet. This article is meant to provide you with the most up to date information on the ingredients contained in donuts, but it's up to you to check the ingredients carefully before consuming.
Non Vegan Ingredients In Donuts
Unfortunately most of the ingredients in traditional ingredients are not vegan friendly. Donuts typically contain:
✅Flour: Flour, with a few rare exceptions, is almost always vegan. For more information on the suitability of including flour in a plant based diet, check out Tree Hugger's comprehensive article: Is Flour Vegan?
✅Yeast: Yeast is a single celled organism without a nervous system. As such, yeast does not experience pain, so most vegans are ok with including it in their diet. For more information on the suitability of yeast in a plant based diet, have a look at this article: Is Yeast Vegan? by Healthline.
✅Sugar: Sugar can be a tricky ingredient for vegans. In some parts of the world (including the USA), sugar is processed with bone char. Some vegans choose to avoid it for that reason. I've given sugar the green check mark because Peta says, " Don’t stress too hard about sugar if you’re unsure about how it was produced. You’re saving more than 100 animals per year by following a vegan lifestyle, and the effect will snowball as people around you, inspired by your choices, may start trying vegan meals once you’ve shown them how easy it can be." You can read the whole article here: Is Sugar Vegan?
❌Eggs: Unfortunately, most traditional donut recipes contain eggs, which are an animal product. If you're making your own donuts, there are plenty of great vegan egg alternatives to choose from.
❌Milk: Milk is another ingredient that can typically be found in the dough, filling and glaze of most donuts. If you're making your own vegan donuts, it's very easy to substitute a plant based milk.
❌Butter: Butter is made from cream, the higher fat content of cream, which comes from a cow. So, butter is not vegan. However, there are plenty of suitable vegan butters if you want to make your own vegan doughnuts.
Are Krispy Kreme Donuts Vegan?
On the USA Krispy Kreme website, they state:
The only animal by-products used in our doughnuts are eggs (whites and yolks) and dairy products (including milk, butter, yogurt, whey, nonfat milk and nonfat whey). To get further information about our products, call us at 1-800-4KRISPY.
Krispy Kreme USA
So, at the date of this post, Krispy Kreme does not offer vegan donuts in the USA. However, watch this space, because they do offer vegan donuts in the UK. Their UK website states:
Are Krispy Kreme doughnuts vegan?
We currently offer a range of Vegan Society certified doughnuts. This includes the Fudge Brownie Bliss available in Krispy Kreme Retail shops and cabinets, and the Vegan Original Glazed and Vegan Selection Dozens available for exclusive online home delivery. For more information, please visit our online product information page here: www.krispykreme.co.uk/shop/doughnuts-by-range/vegan-doughnuts.html
Krispy Kreme UK
Are Dunkin' Donuts Vegan?
Unfortunately, all Dunkin Donuts in the USA contain milk and eggs. In addition, the flour that's used to make Dunkin' Donuts contains L-Cystenine, a derivative from birds' feathers. However, they have rolled out a full line of vegan donuts in Belgium.
Which Vegan Donut Brands Are Vegan In The USA?
There are several donut brands in the USA that offer vegan options. Some popular brands that offer vegan donuts include:
- Krispy Kreme - Krispy Kreme has a selection of vegan donuts made with plant-based ingredients such as soy milk and vegetable shortening.
- Voodoo Doughnut - Voodoo Doughnut has a variety of vegan doughnuts, including flavors like chocolate coconut and raspberry jelly.
- Mighty-O Donuts - Mighty-O Donuts is a vegan donut shop that offers a wide variety of flavors and toppings.
- Donut Friend - Donut Friend is a vegan donut shop in Los Angeles that offers unique flavors and custom options.
- Erin McKenna's Bakery - Erin McKenna's Bakery has locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Orlando and specializes in vegan and gluten-free baked goods, including donuts.
- Ronald's Donuts - Ronald's Donuts is a vegan donut shop in Las Vegas that has been serving vegan donuts since 1960.
- Revolution Doughnuts - Revolution Doughnuts is a vegan-friendly donut shop with locations in Georgia that offers a selection of vegan donuts.
- Dun-Well Doughnuts - Dun-Well Doughnuts is a vegan donut shop in Brooklyn that offers a variety of flavors and toppings.
- Holey Moley Coffee + Doughnuts - Holey Moley is a vegan-friendly donut shop in Chicago that offers a selection of vegan donuts.
- Glazed and Confused - Glazed and Confused is a vegan-friendly donut shop in Syracuse, New York that offers a variety of vegan donuts, including gluten-free options.
These are just a few examples of the many vegan donut options available in the USA. It's always a good idea to check the ingredients and confirm with the manufacturer or bakery to ensure that the product is vegan and aligns with your dietary needs and restrictions.
Are Donuts Vegetarian?
Traditional donut recipes usually include flour, sugar, eggs, milk, and butter, which are all animal-derived products. But, unlike vegans, vegetarians only avoid eating meat. So, while it's best to check the ingredient's list for specific ingredients you avoid as a part of your vegetarian diet, donuts are generally vegetarian.
The one ingredient you might find in some donuts that might be contentious is gelatine. Gelatine is derived from an animal, and therefor is not strictly vegetarian.
So, Are Donuts Vegan?
In conclusion, most traditional donut recipes contain non-vegan ingredients including (but not limited to) eggs, milk, butter and cream. However, there are vegan options available from various brands. Just be sure to check the ingredients carefully, or make your own homemade vegan donuts to be on the safe side!
Frequently Asked Questions
Not all donuts are dairy-free, as the ingredients used to make them can vary depending on the recipe or manufacturer. Traditional donut recipes typically include milk or butter, which are dairy products, but there are many dairy-free and vegan versions of donuts available.
Some bakeries or manufacturers make their donuts using alternative ingredients, such as plant-based milks like almond, soy, or oat milk, and vegetable oil instead of butter. It's important to check the ingredient list or ask the baker or manufacturer to confirm whether their donuts are dairy-free. If you have a dairy allergy or intolerance, it's especially important to be cautious and check the ingredients to avoid any potential allergic reactions.
Most traditional donuts are suitable for lacto-ovo vegetarians. A lacto-ovo vegetarian is anyone that excludes meat products, but still includes dairy products and eggs in their diet.
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