Figuring out whether Costco churros are vegan friendly can be a bit difficult.
Churros often contain many ingredients and some of them may be animal products.
To ensure that you’re only consuming vegan foods that align with your lifestyle and diet, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of Costco churros.
Here’s what I found out.
Are Costco Churros Vegan?
No. Costco churros are not a vegan product.
Costco churros are one of Costco’s most popular food items and are loved by many. They are fried dough pastries coated in cinnamon and sugar.
While most of the churros ingredients are vegan, the inclusion of eggs, butter, and sugar disqualifies it as a vegan product.
Eggs and butter are both animal products, and sugar, even though it is technically vegan, may have been processed using bone char.
Bone char is a type of charcoal that is made from the ground-up bones of animals. It is often used to process sugar and give it a white color. Unless the sugar in the product is labeled “organic,” “raw,” “unrefined,” or sometimes “vegan,” it is likely that bone char was used in its processing.
So, if you’re looking for vegan churros, Costco is not the place to go. But don’t worry! There are plenty of vegan options for baked cinnamon and sugar treats.
Are Costco Churros Cruelty-Free?
Yes! Costco churros are cruelty-free.
Costco churros are not tested on animals at any point in their production. There are also no ingredients in them that have been tested on animals, such as artificial colors or flavors.
Animal testing is an outdated and unethical practice that only causes harm and suffering to innocent animals. Thankfully, many companies already have turned their backs on it and are instead finding other ways to test the safety of their products.
What Are Costco Churros Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of Costco Churros:
- Water
- Flour
- Oil
- Lemon
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Salt
- Butter
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
Let’s break down each ingredient of Costco churros:
Water
Water is used to make the dough for the churros and mix the ingredients together. Water is a vegan ingredient.
Flour
Flour gives the churros their structure. It’s necessary to hold everything together and make sure the churros keep their shape. Flour is a vegan ingredient.
Oil
The oil used in Costco churros comes from different plant-based sources and is used to fry the churros. Oil is a vegan ingredient.
Lemon
Lemon is used to add flavor to the churros. It’s a natural ingredient that comes from fruit, making it vegan.
Sugar
Sugar is a sweetener that comes from different plant-based sources, usually the sugarcane plant. It is technically vegan, but in the US sugar is often processed using bone char to filter it and make it appear white. Unless the sugar is labeled “organic,” “raw,” “unrefined,” or “vegan,” it is likely that bone char was used in its processing.
Eggs
Eggs are used as a binding agent to hold the churro dough together. Eggs are not vegan friendly.
Salt
Salt is used to add flavor to the churros. It’s a natural ingredient that comes from mined salt deposits and is vegan friendly.
Butter
Butter is used to add flavor and richness to the churros. It’s an animal product that comes from milk. It is not vegan.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is used to add flavor and spice to the churros. It is added to create a cinnamon-sugar mix for the fried churro. It’s a natural ingredient that comes from tree bark. Cinnamon is a vegan-friendly ingredient.
Vanilla
Vanilla is used to add flavor to the churros. It’s a natural ingredient that comes from vanilla beans. Vanilla is a vegan-friendly ingredient.
Why Aren’t Costco Churros Vegan?
As you can see, not all the ingredients in Costco churros are vegan friendly. Sugar, eggs, and butter all come from animals or involve the use of animal by-products.
For those who are looking for vegan menu options at Costco, churros are not the best choice. There are other food items available that are vegan, such as the Kirkland Signature Vegetable Lasagna and the vegan acai bowl.
Is Costco’s Kirkland Signature Organic Sugar Vegan?
Yes! This product doesn’t contain animal products, and the sugar is organic, so it’s not processed with bone char.
This sugar is safe for vegan consumption.
Is Costco Al Pastor Salad Vegan?
Yes! The Costco Al Pastor Salad is vegan because it contains no animal products.
This Mexican salad is safe for vegan consumption.
Is Costco Vegan Acai Bowl Vegan?
Yes! This item is vegan because it contains no animal products.
This fruit bowl is safe for vegan consumption.
Is Costco’s Kirkland Signature Cauliflower Crust Pizza Vegan?
No. Costco’s Kirkland Signature Cauliflower Crust Pizza is not vegan because it contains eggs, cheese, and meat products.
This pizza product is not suitable for vegan consumption.
Are Kirkland Organic Unsalted Unroasted Cashews Vegan?
Yes! Kirkland Organic Unsalted Unroasted Cashews are vegan because they don’t contain animal-derived ingredients.
These cashews are suitable for vegans.
Is Kirkland Signature Lattice Apple Pie Vegan?
No. Kirkland Signature Lattice Apple Pie is not vegan because it contains refined sugar.
This pie is not suitable for vegan consumption.
Is Kirkland Signature Organic Salsa Vegan?
Yes! Kirkland Signature Hatch Chile Salsa is vegan. This salsa is made with fresh ingredients and does not contain any animal products.
This salsa is suitable for vegan consumption.
Vegan Alternatives to Costco Churros
Craving churros but don’t want to consume animal products? There are vegan options and churro recipes that you can follow. Here are some of my favorites recipes to make churros vegan:
- Vegan Churros by The Big Man’s World
- Best Vegan Churros (with Chocolate) bBroke Bank Vegan
- Vegan Churros with a Vegan Salted Caramel Sauce by Chicano Eats
These recipes are all vegan friendly, so you can enjoy your churros without any guilt. Be sure to pick the right vegan substitute ingredients. You can also experiment, if you don’t want a chocolate sauce as your dipping sauce, you can try to make other dips, such as vegan cheese dip. Don’t limit your options, be creative, and enjoy your churros!
Final Words
So there you have it! Costco brand churros are not vegan because they contain non-vegan ingredients such as eggs, dairy, and sugar. The good news is that there are recipes that you can use to make your own vegan churros at home. With a few simple substitutions, you can enjoy this delicious treat without harming any animals. Enjoy!