Figuring out whether beignets are vegan can be a bit tough.
Beignets may contain ingredients of animal origins.
To make sure you are only eating food that aligns with your vegan lifestyle and ethics, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of beignets.
Here’s what I found.
Are Beignets Vegan?
No. The traditional beignet, a light, square pastry of fried dough sprinkled with powdered sugar, is not vegan friendly.
The main ingredients that create beignets’ iconic taste and texture are milk, butter, and eggs. Buttermilk and evaporated milk are often used in beignet recipes to create a light and fluffy texture.
Eggs also help to bind the ingredients together and make the dough more elastic, which prevents it from tearing when deep-fried.
Sugar is also an essential ingredient in beignets. A beignet without sugar is like a doughnut without sprinkles—it’s just not the same.
While some granulated sugar is vegan, it’s worth noting that many sugar companies use bone char (aka ground-up animal bones) to achieve that bright white color.
So, if you’re vegan and want to enjoy beignets, you’ll have to find a recipe that is made without any animal products.
Fortunately, there are plenty of vegan beignet recipes available online that use plant-based ingredients like nondairy milk, margarine, and vegetable shortening.
With a few simple substitutions, you can make delicious vegan beignets that are just as good as the traditional ones.
Are Beignets Cruelty-Free?
Yes. Beignets are cruelty-free. Because beignets have few ingredients, and usually none that are synthetic, the production of beignets is not likely to involve any animal testing or use any ingredient that is tested on animals.
Animal testing is a cruel and unnecessary practice that leaves animals disfigured, in pain, and often dead.
Fortunately, beignets don’t contribute to this problem in any way.
What Are Beignets Made Of?
While each bakery’s recipe may differ by a few ingredients, here are the most common ingredients of traditional beignets:
- Warm water
- Granulated sugar
- Active dry yeast
- Eggs
- Evaporated milk
- Pure vanilla extract
- Bread flour
- Salt
- Unsalted butter
- Peanut oil (for frying)
- Confectioner’s sugar
Some of the following ingredients are often added as a replacement to the main ingredients:
- Chocolate sauce
- Instant yeast
- Yeasted dough
Let’s break down each ingredient of beignets:
Water
Water is a key ingredient in beignet recipes as it is needed to activate the yeast. Water is, of course, vegan.
Granulated sugar
Sugar is added to the dough to provide food for the yeast so that it can grow and become active. It also helps to create a sweet flavor in the beignets.
Granulated sugar is a vegan-friendly ingredient if it is not processed through bone char. However, most sugar is processed through bone char so it is likely not vegan.
Active dry yeast
Active dry yeast is a type of yeast that is commonly used in baking. It is usually added in the form of dried granules that need to be dissolved in water before use. Yeast is vegan.
Eggs
Eggs are commonly used in baking because they help to bind the ingredients together and make the dough more elastic, which prevents it from tearing when deep-fried. Eggs, of course, are not vegan.
Evaporated milk
Evaporated milk is a type of milk that has about 60% of the water removed from it. Evaporated milk is not vegan.
Pure vanilla extract
Vanilla extract is made by soaking vanilla beans in alcohol to extract the flavor. It is used to flavor many desserts and baking recipes. It is vegan.
Bread flour
Bread flour is a type of flour that is made from wheat that has a higher protein content than all-purpose flour. It is often used in baking recipes that require a dough that is more elastic, such as beignets. Bread flour is vegan.
Salt
Salt is a mineral made up of sodium and chloride. Salt is a common ingredient in baking recipes because it helps to improve the flavor of the dough and also helps to control the growth of the yeast. It is vegan.
Unsalted butter
Butter is a common ingredient in baking recipes because it adds flavor and texture to the dough. Butter is not vegan friendly because it is a milk byproduct.
Peanut oil (for frying)
Peanut oil is a type of oil that is often used for frying because it has a high smoke point. Peanut oil is vegan because it comes from peanuts.
Confectioners’ sugar
Confectioners’ sugar, also called “powdered sugar,” is a type of sugar that is made by grinding granulated sugar into a fine powder. Powdered sugar is often used to dust beignets after they are fried.
Powdered sugar is a vegan-friendly ingredient if it is not processed through bone char. However, most sugar is processed through bone char, so the powdered sugar in most beignets is likely not vegan, unless your bakery claims to use “organic,” “raw,” or “unrefined” sugar.
Why Aren’t Beignets Vegan?
These delicious fried treats are not vegan because of a few key ingredients: sugar, milk, eggs, and butter. Most sugar is processed through bone char, which makes it non-vegan. Milk, eggs, and butter are, of course, all animal products.
However, there are many plant-based substitutes that can be used in place of these ingredients. With a few simple substitutions, beignets can easily be made vegan!
Is Café De Monde Beignet Mix Vegan?
No. The Café De Monde Beignet Mix contains milk products and milk by-products
This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Mam Papaul’s Beignet Mix Vegan?
This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Mom’s Place Gluten-Free Classic Beignet Mix Vegan?
No. The Mom’s Place Gluten-Free Classic Beignet Mix contains milk and eggs.
This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Beignets That Use Pancake Mix Vegan?
It depends. If the pancake mix contains milk or eggs, then the beignets will not be vegan. However, there are many vegan-friendly pancake mix brands that can be used to make vegan beignets.
There are also vegan alternatives to eggs, such as flaxseed meal, chia seeds, and tofu.
With a few simple substitutions, beignets can easily be made into vegan food! You can do your own research to find vegan-friendly recipes for beignets. Or, you can check out some vegan beignet recipes below!
Vegan Beignet Recipes
If you’re craving some beignets and want to try making them at home, there are many vegan beignet recipes that you can try! Here are a few of my favorites:
- Homemade Vegan Beignets by Crumbs & Caramel
- Homemade Vegan Beignets by Savory Thoughts
- Homemade Vegan Beignets by Made it Dairy-Free
With a few ingredients like coconut milk, vegan butter, coconut oil, and a vegan-friendly pancake mix, you can easily make delicious vegan beignets at home!
Ready your baking materials, such as a large bowl, stand mixer bowl, pizza cutter, airtight container, and start making some vegan beignets!
Final Words
So, there you have it! Beignets are not vegan friendly because of a few key animal-based ingredients.
However, with some simple substitutions, they can easily be made vegan! The recipes I listed above are all vegan friendly and are sure to satisfy your beignet cravings!