Is Betty Crocker Frosting Vegan and Cruelty Free? The Frosty Truth

May 4, 2023

Trying to figure out whether Betty Crocker Frosting is safe for vegans to consume can be a bit tough.

Frostings often contain many vague ingredients, some of which may be animal products.

To ensure that you are only eating food that aligns with your vegan diet and lifestyle, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of Betty Crocker Frosting.

Here’s what I found out.

Is Betty Crocker Frosting Vegan?

No. Betty Crocker Frosting is not vegan.

Betty Crocker’s frosting is a fantastic brand for people who enjoy adding frosty flavor to their desserts without having to make them from scratch. The company’s website even boasts that their frosting is “the perfect gluten-free topping for your cake, cupcakes, or cookies.”

But many people don’t know that Betty Crocker’s frosting contains non-vegan ingredients and is unsuitable for vegans. Some Betty Crocker frostings contain egg and milk as the main ingredients, while all of their frosting options contain refined sugar, which is processed with animal bone char and is not vegan.

So, if you’re a vegan and want to enjoy Betty Crocker Frosting, I’m sorry to say that you’re out of luck. There are no vegan varieties of their frosting.

But don’t worry, there are plenty of other brands that make delicious vegan frostings! You will not be missing out by avoiding Betty Crocker Frostings.

Is Betty Crocker Frosting Cruelty Free?

While they are not a vegan frosting brand, Betty Crocker does not test their products on animals.

They are also not owned by a parent company that tests on animals. General Mills, their parent company, does not own or fund a testing facility. Instead, they are a strong advocate against animal testing and support the development of other testing methods.

However, some Betty Crocker Frosting flavors contain food coloring, such as Red 40 and Yellow 5, that are tested on animals. If you’re a non-vegan looking for a cruelty-free frosting option, avoid any that contain food coloring because these are tested on animals. 

What Is Betty Crocker Frosting Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Vanilla Frosting:

  • Sugar
  • Palm oil
  • Water
  • Corn syrup
  • Cornstarch
  • Cocoa processed with alkali
  • Salt
  • Monoglycerides
  • Polysorbate 60
  • Sodium stearoyl lactylate
  • Citric acid
  • Sodium acid pyrophosphate
  • Natural & artificial flavor
  • Yellows 5 & 6
  • Egg yolk
  • Potassium sorbate

Let’s break down each ingredient of Betty Crocker Frosting:

Sugar

Sugar is a common ingredient in frosting and is usually made from refined sugar cane or sugar beets. In the US, refined sugar is almost always filtered with bone char, and any product containing refined sugar should be treated as non-vegan.

Water

Water is used to thin out the frosting. It’s naturally vegan.

Palm oil

Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil that is derived from the fruit of palm trees. It is used in Betty Crocker frosting as a thickener. Betty Crocker uses sustainable palm oil, hence it’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

General Mills is an RSPO (Roundtable Sourcing of Palm Oil) company and sources palm oil that does not contribute to deforestation.

Corn syrup

Corn syrup is a liquid sweetener made from cornstarch. It is used in Betty Crocker’s frosting as a sweetener and to keep the frosting from crystallizing. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Cornstarch

Cornstarch is a type of starch that is made from corn. It is used as a thickener in Betty Crocker’s frosting. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Salt

Salt is a common ingredient in frosting. It is used to enhance the flavor of the frosting. It is also used as a preservative. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Monoglycerides

Monoglycerides are a type of fat that is made from glycerol and fatty acids. They are used as an emulsifier in Betty Crocker’s frosting. They help to keep the ingredients from separating. They can be vegan or not because they can be derived from plants and animals. In this case, it is unclear if the monoglycerides used here are vegan or not.

Polysorbate 60

Polysorbate 60 is a type of emulsifier that is made from polysorbate and stearic acid. It is used in Betty Crocker’s frosting to help keep the ingredients from separating. Stearic acid can be derived from plants or animals. In this case, it is unclear if the polysorbate 60 used here is vegan or not.

Sodium stearoyl lactylate

Sodium stearoyl lactylate is a type of emulsifier that is made from sodium, stearic acid, and lactic acid. It is used in Betty Crocker’s frosting to help keep the ingredients from separating. Stearic acid can be derived from plants or animals. In this case, it is unclear if the sodium stearoyl lactylate used here is vegan or not.

Citric acid

Citric acid is a type of fruit acid that is found in citrus fruits. It is used in Betty Crocker’s frosting as a preservative. Citric acid is a vegan ingredient.

Sodium acid pyrophosphate

Sodium acid pyrophosphate is a water-soluble salt that is used as a leavening agent. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Natural & artificial flavor

The natural flavors in this frosting could be derived from plants or animals. In this case, it is unclear if the natural flavors used here are vegan or not. Artificial flavors nowadays are made with synthetic ingredients and are vegan.

Yellow 5 and Yellow 6

Food coloring is made from petroleum or synthetic ingredients. They are vegan friendly, but they are tested on animals.

Potassium sorbate

Potassium sorbate is a type of salt that is used as a preservative. It is vegan.

Why Isn’t Betty Crocker Frosting Vegan?

No. Betty Crocker Frosting is not vegan because all flavors contain refined sugar processed with bone char. Some Betty Crocker’s frostings contain a bunch of additional animal products, such as milk, cream, and egg yolk. 

Furthermore, they contain some questionable ingredients such as polysorbate 80, and ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides, which could be derived from animals. Sadly, this means that vegans can’t enjoy Betty Crocker’s frosting.

Is Betty Crocker’s Rich & Creamy Milk Chocolate Frosting Vegan?

No. This Creamy Chocolate Buttercream frosting is not vegan. It contains refined sugar and other questionable ingredients.

This frosting is not a vegan product.

Is Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Coconut Pecan Frosting Vegan?

No. Betty Crocker’s Rich & Creamy Coconut Pecan Frosting contains egg yolk and milk.

This frosting is not a vegan product.

Is Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting Cream Cheese Vegan?

No. Whipped Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting contains powdered sugar and milk.

This frosting is not a vegan product.

Is Betty Crocker’s Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Frosting Vegan?

No. Betty Crocker’s Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Frosting contains refined sugar and milk.

This frosting is not a vegan product.

Is Pillsbury Frosting Vegan?

No. Pillsbury Frostings, such as Pillsbury Funfetti Frosting and Pillsbury Creamy Supreme, are not vegan. Most Pillsbury Frostings contain refined sugar and other questionable ingredients.

These frostings are not vegan products.

Is Duncan Hines Frosting Vegan?

No. Duncan Hines Frosting contains milk, sugar, and other questionable ingredients.

Duncan Hines frostings are not vegan products.

Vegan Alternatives to Betty Crocker Frosting

Want to put some frostings on your vegan cupcakes? You can make your own vegan frosting or buy some from these vegan frosting brands:

If you want to make homemade frosting, here are some vegan frosting recipes:

Final Words

So, there you have it! None of Betty Crocker’s frostings are vegan because they either contain eggs, milk, refined sugar, or other questionable ingredients. Because of this, vegans have to either find an alternative vegan frosting or make their own.

There are some vegan-friendly brands of frosting that you can enjoy. But if you’re feeling adventurous, you could make your own vegan frosting at home! Grab one of the many recipes online for delicious and easy-to-make vegan frosting.