Trying to figure out if Krispy Kreme Doughnuts are vegan can be tough.
The company uses many different ingredients, some of which may be of concern to vegans. Some non-vegan ingredients are masked with vague terms such as “artificial and natural flavors.”
So, to save you trouble and make sure you only eat foods that align with your ethics and dietary needs, I’ve researched all the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts ingredients and production methods.
Here’s what I found.
Are Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Vegan?
No. Krispy Kreme’s Doughnuts are not vegan.
While the company has not made any official statements about their donuts’ vegan status, their ingredients and production methods make it clear that they are not friendly to our furry friends.
Krispy Kreme contains some very clearly non-vegan ingredients, such as milk powder and dried egg yolks. There are also less obvious non-vegan ingredients, such as mono- and diglycerides.
Additionally, Krispy Kreme includes some ingredients that may or may not be derived from animals, such as natural and artificial flavors, lecithin, and sorbitan monostearate.
Krispy Kreme uses controversial ingredients that may or may not be vegan depending on how strict of a vegan you are. For example, some vegans avoid refined sugar because it’s often processed with bone char. Similarly, palm oil is a controversial ingredient because of the destruction of rainforests and animal habitats that accompanies its production.
If you’re in the UK, however, you’re in luck, because they have vegan Krispy Kreme Doughnuts there! The food brand has launched a vegan version of its original glazed donut in all its UK locations.
Are Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Cruelty Free?
While Krispy Kreme Doughnuts are not vegan, they do seem to be cruelty free. They don’t use food coloring or other ingredients that are tested on animals.
Additionally, Krispy Kreme is not listed on PETA’s database of companies that test on animals.
So, while I can’t say for sure that Krispy Kreme Doughnuts are 100% cruelty free, it seems likely that they are.
What Are Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.
The batter is made of the following ingredients:
- Enriched wheat flour (niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Water
- Palm oil
- Soybean oil
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Soy lecithin
- Hydrogenated soybean oil
- Mono- and diglycerides
- Salt
- Wheat gluten
- Monocalcium phosphate
- Dried milk powder
- Cellulose gum
- Lecithin
- Maltodextrin
- Ascorbic acid
- Calcium propionate (to maintain freshness)
- Sorbitan monostearate
- Tocopherols
- Enzymes
- Oat fiber
- Dried egg yolks
The glaze is made of the following ingredients:
- Sugar
- Water
- Cornstarch
- Palm oil
- Calcium sulfate
- Agar
- Dextrose
- Natural and artificial flavors
- Salt disodium phosphate
- Locust bean gum
Let’s break down each ingredient of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.
Enriched wheat flour
Enriched wheat flour is fortified with vitamins and minerals. The enrichment process replaces nutrients that were lost during the refining process. It is a vegan ingredient because it neither uses nor contains animal products.
Water
Water is a vegan ingredient because it is, well, water.
Palm oil
Palm oil is derived from the fruit of palm trees and does not contain or use any animal products in its production. However, it is a controversial ingredient because of the destruction of rainforests and animal habitats associated with its production.
Soybean oil
Soybean oil is a type of vegetable oil derived from soybeans. It is a vegan ingredient because it does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Sugar
Sugar technically is a vegan ingredient because it is plant based. However, it is often processed with bone char. To make sure that the sugar in the product you are consuming is vegan, look for the terms “raw,” “unrefined,” or “organic” on the label.
Yeast
Yeast does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Soy lecithin
Soy lecithin is a type of emulsifier derived from soybeans. It does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Hydrogenated soybean oil
Hydrogenated soybean oil is a type of vegetable oil that has been hydrogenated, or had its unsaturated fats converted to saturated fats, to make it more shelf stable. It does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Mono- and diglycerides
Mono- and diglycerides are emulsifiers derived from vegetable oils. They do not contain or use any animal products in their production.
Salt
Salt is a natural mineral that does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Wheat gluten
Wheat gluten is the main protein found in wheat. It does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Monocalcium phosphate
Monocalcium phosphate is a type of leavening agent derived from calcium phosphate. It does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Dried milk powder
Dried milk powder is not a vegan ingredient. It is a dried form of milk that contains all the same animal products as milk itself: lactose, casein, and whey.
Cellulose gum
Cellulose gum is a type of thickener derived from plant cellulose. It does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Lecithin
Lecithin is a type of emulsifier derived from either plants or animals. It’s important to check the label to see if the lecithin used is plant based or not. Most lecithin used in food products is plant based, but there are some exceptions.
Maltodextrin
Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate derived from starch. It does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Ascorbic acid
Ascorbic acid is a type of vitamin C often used as a preservative. It does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Calcium propionate
Calcium propionate is a preservative derived from calcium carbonate. It does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Sorbitan monostearate
Sorbitan monostearate is an emulsifier derived from sorbitol and stearic acid. Sorbitol comes from fruits, but stearic acid can be derived from animals or plants. Most labels don’t specify the source, but if you’re looking for a vegan product, it’s best to check with the manufacturer to be sure.
Tocopherols
Tocopherols are a type of vitamin E that can be derived from plants or animals. Most tocopherols used in food products are plant based, but there are some exceptions.
Enzymes
Enzymes are a type of protein that can be derived from plants or animals. Most enzymes used in food production are plant based, but there are some exceptions.
Oat fiber
Oat fiber is a dietary fiber derived from oats. It does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Dried egg yolks
Dried egg yolks are not a vegan ingredient.
Calcium sulfate
Calcium sulfate is a leavening agent derived from calcium carbonate. It does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Agar
Agar is a type of thickener that is derived from seaweed. It does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Dextrose
Dextrose is a type of sugar derived from starch. It does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Natural and artificial flavors
Natural and artificial flavors can be derived from plants or animals. Most flavors used in candy production are plant based, but there are some exceptions. Labels don’t really specify the source of the flavor, but if you want to be sure that you’re looking at a vegan product, it’s best to check with the manufacturer.
Salt disodium phosphate
Salt disodium phosphate is a type of salt derived from sodium phosphate. It does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Locust bean gum
Locust bean gum is a type of thickener derived from locust beans. It does not contain or use any animal products in its production.
Why Aren’t Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Vegan?
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts are not vegan because they contain milk, eggs, and other animal-derived ingredients. They also contain ingredients that are pretty controversial to the vegan community, such as sugar and natural flavors.
Does Krispy Kreme Have Vegan Options?
Krispy Kreme does have vegan options but they are only available in Krispy Kreme UK stores. They even have vegan drinks to go along with your donut!
So if you’re in the US and are looking for a vegan donut, Krispy Kreme is not the place to go.
Is the Original Glazed Krispy Kreme Doughnut Vegan?
No. The Original Glazed Krispy Kreme Doughnut contains milk, eggs, and other animal-derived ingredients. It is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is the Glazed Chocolate Cake Krispy Kreme Doughnut Vegan?
No. The Glazed Chocolate Cake Krispy Kreme Doughnut contains milk, eggs, and other animal-derived ingredients. It is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is the Chocolate Iced Glazed Krispy Kreme Doughnut Vegan?
No. The Chocolate Iced Glazed Krispy Kreme Doughnut contains milk, eggs, and other animal-derived ingredients. It is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is the Chocolate Iced With Sprinkles Krispy Kreme Doughnut Vegan?
No. The Chocolate Iced With Sprinkles Krispy Kreme Doughnut contains milk, eggs, and other animal-derived ingredients. It is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is the Glazed Blueberry Cake Krispy Kreme Doughnut Vegan?
No. The Glazed Blueberry Cake Krispy Kreme Doughnut contains milk, eggs, and other animal-derived ingredients. It is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is the Chocolate Iced Krispy Kreme Vegan?
No. The Chocolate Iced Krispy Kreme Doughnut contains milk, eggs, and other animal-derived ingredients. It is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is the Glazed Raspberry Krispy Kreme Vegan?
No. The Glazed Raspberry Krispy Kreme Doughnut contains milk, eggs, and other animal-derived ingredients. It is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is the Strawberry Iced Krispy Kreme Vegan?
No. The Strawberry Iced Krispy Kreme Doughnut contains milk, eggs, and other animal-derived ingredients. It is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Krispy Kreme Fudge Brownie Bliss Vegan?
Yes! This donut is one of their vegan options but is only available in the UK.
Is Apple Custard Crumble Krispy Kreme Vegan?
Yes! The Apple Custard Crumble is part of their vegan range but is only available in the UK.
Is Caramel Chocolate Delight Krispy Kreme Vegan?
Yes! The Caramel Chocolate Delight is part of their vegan range but is only available in the UK.
Are Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Vegetarian?
Most of Krispy Kreme’s core range donuts are good for ovo-lacto vegetarians because they don’t contain any meat or fish. However, some of their donuts do contain coloring, such as the Strawberry Sprinkles Doughnut, which is not vegetarian.
Vegan-Friendly Alternatives to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Besides the vegan-friendly version of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in the UK, a few other brands make vegan donuts:
These vegan donut shops use all organic and vegan-friendly ingredients in their donuts. So if you’re ever in the mood for a delicious vegan donut, be sure to check them out!
Final Words
Donuts aren’t really the first thing that comes to mind when you think of vegan food. But with the rise in popularity of plant-based diets, more and more companies are offering vegan donuts.
Krispy Kreme in the US is not currently vegan friendly. But who knows, maybe they’ll change their recipe in the future!
In the meantime, there are plenty of other delicious vegan donut options out there. So go out and enjoy one (or a dozen!) today.