Figuring out whether Betty Crocker Cake Mix is safe for vegans to consume can be a bit tough.
Cake mixes often contain many ingredients, some of which may be animal products.
To make sure that you are only eating food that aligns with your vegan diet and ethics, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of Betty Crocker Cake Mix.
Here’s what I found.
Is Betty Crocker Cake Mix Vegan?
No. Unfortunately, Betty Crocker Cake Mix is not vegan.
Betty Crocker Cake Mix is one of the leading brands of cake mix on the market and it is not vegan. Some of their cake mixes contain animal-derived ingredients, like milk, eggs, and gelatin. While others contain questionable ingredients, such as sugar and monoglycerides.
So, if you are looking for a vegan cake mix, Betty Crocker is not the right brand for you. There are other brands that offer vegan cake mixes, but be sure to check the ingredients before purchasing.
Is Betty Crocker Cake Mix Cruelty Free?
Yes! Betty Crocker Cake Mix is cruelty free.
These cake mixes are not tested on animals nor do they have ingredients that are tested on animals, such as artificial colors.
Animal testing is a gruesome and outdated practice that is thankfully being phased out of the food industry.
Betty Crocker’s parent company, General Mills, has a strict policy against animal testing. So, you can rest assured that their cake mixes are not tested on animals.
What Is Betty Crocker Cake Mix Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of Betty Crocker Super Moist Delights French Vanilla Cake Mix:
- Enriched flour bleached (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Sugar
- Corn syrup
- Leavening (baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate)
- Modified corn starch
- Palm oil
- Corn starch
- Propylene glycol mono and diesters
- Salt
- Monoglycerides
- Dicalcium phosphate
- Sodium stearoyl lactylate
- Xanthan gum
- Cellulose gum
- Natural and artificial flavor
Let’s break down each ingredient of this Betty Crocker Cake Mix:
Enriched flour bleached
Enriched flour bleached is a type of flour that has been bleached with chemicals to make it whiter in color. It is often used in cake mixes because it gives the cake light and fluffy texture. It is made of wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, and folic acid, all vegan ingredients.
Wheat flour
Wheat flour is a type of flour made from grinding wheat. It is the main ingredient in most cake mixes.
Niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid
Niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, and folic acid are vitamins and minerals found in food. They are often added to flour to help the body absorb it better. These ingredients and vitamins are all vegan.
Sugar
Sugar is a type of sweetener made from refined sugar cane or sugar beets. It is often used in baking to sweeten cakes and cookies. Sugar is commonly processed through bone char, an animal by-product. Unless the sugar is labeled “organic,” “raw,” or “unrefined,” it is likely not vegan.
Corn syrup
Corn syrup is a type of sweetener made from corn. It is often used in baking to help keep cakes and cookies moist. It is a vegan ingredient.
Leavening
Leavening is a term for ingredients that are used to make the batter rise. It usually contains baking soda or baking powder, sodium aluminum phosphate, and monocalcium phosphate. These ingredients are vegan friendly.
Modified cornstarch
Modified cornstarch is a type of cornstarch that has been treated with chemicals to make it more resistant to heat and moisture. It is often used in baking as a thickener or stabilizer. Modified cornstarch is a vegan ingredient.
Palm oil
Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil that is extracted from the fruit of palm trees. It is often used in baking as a shortening or to help stabilize emulsions.
Palm oil is a vegan ingredient, but is a controversial one for some vegans because of the way it is produced. It is up to you if you want to use products that contain palm oil or not. General Mills, Betty Crocker’s parent company, uses sustainable palm oil and is a member of the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
Cornstarch
Cornstarch is a type of flour made from grinding corn. It is often used in baking as a thickener or stabilizer. Cornstarch is a vegan ingredient.
Propylene glycol mono and diesters
Propylene glycol mono and diesters of fatty acids are chemicals that are used to emulsify or stabilize mixtures. They are often used in baking as stabilizers. These ingredients can be either vegan or not vegan because they are derived from either animal or plant sources, and it’s unclear if the propylene glycol mono and diesters used in these cake mixes are vegan friendly or not.
Salt
Salt is a type of seasoning made from sodium chloride. It is often used in baking to help balance the sweetness of the sugar. It is also used as a preservative. Salt is a vegan ingredient.
Monoglycerides
Distilled monoglycerides are chemicals that are used to emulsify or stabilize mixtures. They are often used in baking as stabilizers. These ingredients can be either vegan or not because they are derived from either animal or plant sources, and it’s unclear if the monoglycerides used are vegan friendly or not.
Dicalcium phosphate
Dicalcium phosphate is a type of calcium phosphate. It is often used in baking as a leavening agent. It is a vegan ingredient.
Sodium stearoyl lactylate
Sodium stearoyl lactylate is a type of sodium salt. It is often used in baking as an emulsifier or stabilizer. It can also be either vegan or not because it is derived from either animal or plant sources, and it’s unclear if the sodium stearoyl lactylate used in these cake mixes is vegan friendly.
Xanthan gum
Xanthan gum is a type of polysaccharide. It is often used in baking as a thickener or stabilizer. Xanthan gum is a vegan ingredient.
Cellulose gum
Cellulose gum is a type of hydrocolloid. It is often used in baking as a thickener or stabilizer. Cellulose gum is a vegan ingredient.
Natural and artificial flavor
Natural and artificial flavor is a term for any flavoring that has been added to the product. These ingredients can be either vegan or not because they are derived from either animal or plant sources, and it’s unclear if the natural and artificial flavors used in these cake mixes are vegan friendly.
Why Isn’t Betty Crocker Cake Mix Vegan?
The main reason these delicious Betty Crocker cake mixes are not vegan is that they all contain refined sugar and most of them contain milk, eggs, and gelatin, which are animal products.
Refined sugar is also a common ingredient in cake mixes, and it’s almost always processed with bone char as a decolorizing agent, which is an animal product made from the ground-up bones of cows, pigs, and other animals. There are some vegan-friendly cake mixes on the market, but Betty Crocker’s cake mixes are not currently one of them.
Is Super Moist Delights Dark Chocolate Cake Mix Vegan?
No. Super Moist Delights Dark Chocolate Cake Mix is not vegan because it contains refined sugar.
This cake mix is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Super Moist Delights Cherry Chip Cake Mix Vegan?
No. Super Moist Delights Cherry Chip Cake Mix is not vegan because it contains refined sugar.
This cake mix is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Super Moist Favorites Butter Recipe Chocolate Cake Mix Vegan?
No. Super Moist Favorites Butter Recipe Chocolate Cake Mix is not vegan because it contains sugar and butter.
This cake mix is not a vegan-friendly product.
Is Betty Crocker Angel Food Cake Mix Vegan?
No. Betty Crocker Angel Food Cake Mix is not vegan. This mix contains egg white and refined sugar.
This cake mix is not a vegan-friendly product.
Is Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cake Mix Vegan?
No. Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cake Mix is not vegan. This mix contains refined sugar and dried molasses, which may or may not be processed with bone char.
This boxed cake mix is not a vegan-friendly product.
Are Other Betty Crocker Cake Mixes Vegan?
No. Betty Crocker mixes, such as Yellow Cake Mix and Triple Chocolate Fudge, are not vegan because they contain refined sugar and other animal products, such as milk and eggs.
These cake mixes are not vegan products.
Vegan Alternatives to Betty Crocker Cake Mix
Craving something sweet and fluffy? These vegan cake mixes are my go-to when I’m in the mood for cake but don’t want to make one from scratch.
- Miss Jones Organic Cake and Cupcake Mix
- Namaste Foods Organic Yellow Cake Mix
- Simple Mills Almond Flour Baking Mix – Chocolate Muffin & Cake Mix
- Arnel’s Make-A-Cake Your Way Mix
- Duncan Hines Keto-Friendly Classic Yellow Mix
These are dairy-free and egg-free vegan cakes. Some are gluten free, use organic sugar, or are completely sugar free. If you’re baking cakes and you want vegan options, try these and you’ll be able to have your cake and eat it too!
Final Words
So, there you have it! Betty Crocker’s baking mixes are not vegan because most of them contain refined sugar, milk, eggs, or gelatin. The good news is that there are many other brands that make vegan cake mixes. The ones I’ve listed above are a good start for you to find one that fits your dietary needs.
But as always, remember to read the labels before purchasing any product, cake mix or otherwise to make sure that you are getting what you want and nothing else.