Figuring out whether Funfetti Cake and Cupcake Mix is vegan friendly can be difficult.
Makers of cake mixes often mask their ingredients behind vague terms such as “natural and artificial flavors,” and even when they do provide a full list of ingredients, it can be difficult to determine which ones are actually vegan.
To ensure that you are only eating food that aligns with your vegan diet and ethics, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of Funfetti Cake and Cupcake Mix.
Here’s what I found.
Is Funfetti Cake Mix Vegan?
No. Funfetti cake mix is not vegan.
Funfetti Cake and Cupcake Mix from Pillsbury is the answer to the often requested “confetti cake.” It’s a sought-after item for birthday celebrations, baby showers, and any other festive occasions. Sadly, vegans will not be able to partake in this cakey goodness because it contains non-vegan ingredients.
Funfetti ingredients include whey sodium caseinate, confectioner’s glaze, mono- and diglycerides, and refined sugar.
Whey and sodium caseinate are milk by-products. Confectioner’s glaze, or shellac, is a resin that is made from insects. Mono- and diglycerides can be derived from either plant or animal sources, but most often they come from animals because they are cheaper to produce.
And lastly, there’s refined sugar. Refined sugar is often processed using bone char, which is made from the bones of cows. Unless labeled as “raw,” “organic,” or “unrefined,” sugar is not vegan.
With several animal-derived ingredients, Funfetti Cake and Cupcake Mix is not vegan.
Is Funfetti Cake Mix Cruelty Free?
No. Funfetti Cake and Cupcake Mix is not cruelty free.
Funfetti Cake and Cupcake Mix is not tested on animals at any point in its production. However, Funfetti Cake Mix contains candy bits that look like rainbow sprinkles and are made with the artificial colors Red 40 lake, Yellow 5, Yellow 5 lake, Yellow 6, and Red 40, which are routinely tested on animals.
Animal testing is a cruel and outmoded practice that should be stopped. It only leaves innocent animals disfigured, sick, and dead. There are alternative methods of testing that don’t involve animals, and companies don’t have any excuse not to use them.
What Is Funfetti Cake Mix Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of Funfetti Premium Cake and Cupcake Mix from Pillsbury:
- Enriched bleached flour (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Sugar
- Candy bits (sugar, cornstarch, vegetable oil [palm and palm kernel], soy lecithin, confectioner’s glaze, Red 40 lake, Yellow 5, Yellow 5 lake, natural and artificial flavor, Blue 1, carnauba wax, Yellow 6, Red 40)
- Leavening (baking soda, calcium phosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate)
- Wheat starch
- Canola oil
- Dextrose
- Salt
- Cellulose
- Cornstarch
- Propylene glycol esters of fatty acids
- Mono- and diglycerides
- Xanthan gum
- Natural and artificial flavor
- Sodium stearoyl lactylate
- Cellulose gum
- Soy lecithin
- Whey
- Sodium caseinate
- Palm kernel oil
- Citric acid and BHT (antioxidants)
Let’s break down each ingredient of Funfetti Cake and Cupcake Mix:
Enriched bleached flour
Enriched bleached flour is a type of flour that has been treated with chemicals to bleach it and enrich it with nutrients. It is the main ingredient in Funfetti Cake and Cupcake Mix.
Wheat flour is a powder made from grinding wheat. It contains gluten and is often used in baking.
Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is an essential nutrient that converts food into energy.
Iron is a mineral that is essential for human health. It helps to transport oxygen in the blood and plays a role in the production of energy.
Thiamin mononitrate, also known as vitamin B1, is an essential nutrient that helps maintain the nervous system.
Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, is an essential nutrient that helps the body break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is a water-soluble vitamin that helps prevent birth defects.
These ingredients are all vegan friendly.
Sugar
Sugar is a sweet crystalline substance that is made from sugarcane or sugar beets. Sugar itself is vegan friendly, but refined or powdered sugar is often processed using bone char, which is made from the bones of cows. Unless labeled as “raw,” “organic,” or “unrefined,” sugar products are not vegan.
Candy bits
Candy bits are what give Funfetti Cake Mix its signature rainbow cake appearance. The candy bits are made of sugar, corn starch, vegetable oil [palm and palm kernel], soy lecithin, confectioner’s glaze, Red 40 lake, Yellow 5, Yellow 5 lake, natural and artificial flavor, Blue 1, carnauba wax, Yellow 6, and Red 40.
Cornstarch is a powder made from corn that is used as a food additive to thicken sauces. It is vegan friendly.
Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil that is extracted from the fruit of palm trees. Palm kernel oil is a type of vegetable oil that is extracted from the seeds of palm trees. They are both vegan friendly.
Soy lecithin is a fat that is derived from soybeans. It is often used as an emulsifier in food products. It is vegan friendly.
Confectioner’s glaze is a type of clear or colored coating that is used on candy. It is made from shellac, which is a resin secreted by the female lac bug. Shellac is not vegan friendly.
Red 40 lake and Yellow 5 lake are types of liquid food coloring. They are made from petroleum, which makes them vegan friendly, but they are not cruelty free because they are routinely tested on animals.
Yellow 5, Blue 1, Yellow 6, and Red 40 are powder-type food colorings that are made from petroleum. These food colorings are vegan friendly, but they are not cruelty free.
Natural and artificial flavors are added to food products to enhance flavor. Artificial flavors are usually vegan, but natural flavors can be derived from animal sources. The natural flavor of Funfetti Cake and Cupcake Mix is likely vegan given that the nature of the product is a baked good and not a meat-flavored product.
Carnauba wax is a type of natural wax that is derived from the leaves of the carnauba palm tree. It is used as a food additive and in cosmetics. Carnauba wax is vegan friendly.
Salt
Salt is a mineral that is composed of sodium and chloride. It is used to add flavor to food or as a preservative. Salt is vegan friendly.
Cellulose
Cellulose is a type of dietary fiber that is found in plant cell walls. It is used as a food additive and as a thickening agent. Cellulose is vegan friendly.
Propylene glycol esters of fatty acids
Propylene glycol esters of fatty acids are a type of synthetic fat. They are used as a food additive and as an emulsifier. Propylene glycol esters of fatty acids are vegan friendly.
Mono- and diglycerides
Mono- and diglycerides are types of fats that are often used as emulsifiers in food products. They can be derived from animal or plant sources. However animal-sourced mono- and diglycerides are cheaper, so they are more commonly used.
Xanthan gum
Xanthan gum is a type of dietary fiber that is used as a food additive and as a thickening agent. It is vegan friendly.
Sodium stearoyl lactylate
Sodium stearoyl lactylate is a type of synthetic fat. It is used as an emulsifier in food products. Sodium stearoyl lactylate is vegan friendly.
Cellulose gum
Cellulose gum is a type of dietary fiber that is used as a food additive and as a thickening agent. It is vegan friendly.
Whey
Whey is a type of protein that is derived from milk. It is often used as a dietary supplement or as an ingredient in food products. Whey is not vegan friendly.
Sodium caseinate
Sodium caseinate is a type of protein that is derived from milk. It is often used as an emulsifier in food products. Sodium caseinate is not vegan friendly.
Citric acid and BHT (antioxidants)
Citric acid is a type of acidic compound that is found in citrus fruits. BHT is a type of antioxidant that is often added to food products to preserve freshness. Citric acid and BHT are both vegan friendly.
Why Isn’t Funfetti Cake Mix Vegan?
Funfetti Cake and Cupcake Mix is not vegan because it contains several animal-derived ingredients, including whey, sodium caseinate, confectioner’s glaze, mono- and diglycerides, and refined sugar. These ingredients make it clear that Funfetti cake mix is not suitable for vegans. However, if you are looking for a vegan-friendly cake mix, there are many options available on the market.
Is Funfetti Yellow Cake and Cupcake Mix Vegan?
No. Pillsbury Funfetti Yellow Cake and Cupcake Mix with Candy Bits contains refined sugar and mono- and diglycerides.
This yellow cake mix with rainbow sprinkles is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Funfetti Strawberry Cake and Cupcake Mix Vegan?
No. Pillsbury Funfetti Strawberry Cake and Cupcake Mix contains refined sugar and mono- and diglycerides.
This cake mix with colorful sprinkles is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Funfetti Spring Cake Mix Vegan?
No. Pillsbury Seasonal Funfetti Spring Cake and Cupcake Mix contains refined sugar, confectioner’s glaze, and monoglycerides.
This cake mix is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Funfetti Gluten-Free Cake and Cupcake Mix Vegan?
No. Pillsbury’s Gluten-Free Funfetti Premium Cake and Cupcake Mix contains refined sugar, confectioner’s glaze, mono- and diglycerides, sodium caseinate, and whey.
This gluten-free cake mix may be gluten free, but it is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is There Any Vegan Funfetti Cake Mix?
If you’re looking for a vegan funfetti cake mix, you may have to branch out to other styles of cake mix, but there are several brands that make vegan cake mixes that you can try. Here are some of my favorites:
- Annie’s Confetti Cake Mix
- The Vegan Knife Cupcake and Cake Mix Birthday Cake Mie
- Miss Jones Baking Organic Vanilla Cake and Cupcake Mix
- No Sugar Aloud – Low Carb Chocolate Cake Baking Mix
With these delicious vegan funfetti cake mixes, you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite cake without any guilt! Or, if you’re feeling ambitious, you can make vegan funfetti cake at home! There are plenty of vegan cake recipes online. Here are a few of my favorite vegan cake recipes:
- Vegan Funfetti Cake Recipe by Nora Cooks
- One Bowl Vegan Funfetti Cupcake by Minimalist Baker
- The Ultimate Vegan Funfetti Cake by The Banana Diaries
With a few simple ingredients like vegan rainbow sprinkles, dairy-free milk, and vegan butter, you can create delicious vegan cakes that are sure to please everyone!
Final Words
So, there you have it! Funfetti cake mix is not vegan because it contains non-vegan ingredients, such as whey, refined sugar, confectioner’s glaze, and mono- and diglycerides. However, whether you need a birthday cake or a just-because cake, there are plenty of delicious vegan alternatives that you can try. So, go ahead and indulge in some vegan cake goodness!