Identifying whether a product like Pillsbury Dough is vegan can often be difficult.
This difficulty arises when processed foods have long lists of unidentifiable — and unpronounceable — ingredients that the layperson couldn’t possibly translate.
However, this article aims to uncover the truth and provide you, the reader, with valuable information to support your compassionate, vegan lifestyle.
Is Pillsbury Dough Vegan?
No, the Pillsbury Original Crescent Dough Sheet is not vegan. The product contains refined sugar, which cannot be guaranteed to be processed without bone char. While some vegans aren’t fussed about bone char, others are, and we prefer a thorough approach.
Luckily, bone char filtering is on the decline in favor of these boney methods, including activated charcoal, though that has its own environmental implications, since it can be made from substances like peat and petroleum, which are both pretty gnarly for the environment as well.
Is Pillsbury Dough Cruelty-Free?
No, Pillsbury Dough is not cruelty-free. The inclusion of palm oil, which causes habitat destruction and harm to wildlife, especially orangutans, makes it non-cruelty-free.
Additionally, many of the ingredients are GMO, which are often tested on animals. The GMO ingredients in Pillsbury crescent rolls dough includes sugar, soybean oil, mono and diglycerides, dextrose, and citric acid.
What Is Pillsbury Dough Made Of?
Pillsbury Dough is made of the following ingredients:
- Enriched flour bleached (wheat flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Water
- Sugar
- Vegetable shortening (soybean and palm oil, hydrogenated palm oil, fractionated palm oil, water, mono and diglycerides, TBHQ and citric acid [preservatives], beta carotene [for color])
- Baking powder (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate)
- Vital wheat gluten
- Dextrose
- Salt
- Soybean oil
- Monoglycerides
- Potassium chloride
- Annatto extract (for color)
Enriched Flour Bleached
This is wheat flour that has been bleached and enriched with vitamins. It’s the primary ingredient in many baked goods. It’s vegan as it’s derived from wheat.
Water
Water is a basic ingredient and is vegan.
Sugar
Derived from sugarcane or sugar beets, sugar may be processed with bone char, making it non-vegan.
Vegetable Shortening
Vegetable shortening is a fat derived from plants, used to give the dough its flaky texture. However, it contains palm oil, which has environmental concerns.
Baking Powder
Baking powder is a leavening agent that helps the dough rise. It’s vegan but contains sodium aluminum phosphate, which has health concerns.
Vital Wheat Gluten
Derived from wheat, it provides elasticity to the dough. It’s vegan.
Dextrose
A simple sugar derived from plants, dextrose is vegan.
Salt
A mineral used for flavoring, salt is vegan.
Soybean Oil
Derived from soybeans, it’s vegan. However, it’s usually GMO.
Monoglycerides
Used as an emulsifier, monoglycerides can be derived from plants or animals. The source isn’t specified, so its vegan status is questionable.
Potassium Chloride
A salt substitute, it’s vegan.
Annatto Extract
A natural color derived from the seeds of the achiote tree. It’s vegan.
Pillsbury Dough Varieties
You might have heard that Pillsbury’s biscuits are “accidentally vegan biscuits,” but there’s really no Pillsbury dough variety that is safe for a strict vegan diet, but here are some varieties you might come across.
Are Pillsbury Biscuits Vegan?
No, Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers Original Biscuits are not vegan. They contain sugar that might be processed with bone char, and they also “may contain milk,” according to the Pillsbury website.
Are Pillsbury Buttermilk Frozen Biscuits Vegan?
No Pillsbury Buttermilk Frozen Biscuits are not vegan. These Pillsbury biscuits contain milk ingredients.
Are Pillsbury Southern Homestyle Buttermilk Biscuits Vegan?
No, Pillsbury Southern Homestyle Buttermilk Biscuits are not vegan. They contain sugar that might be processed with bone char, and they also “may contain milk,” according to the Pillsbury website.
Are Pillsbury Flaky Layers Honey Butter Vegan?
No, Pillsbury Flaky Layers Honey Butter Biscuits are not vegan. They contain sugar that might be processed with bone char, and they also “may contain milk,” according to the Pillsbury website. What they don’t contain, however, is honey or butter. SMH.
Are Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers Sweet Hawaiian Biscuits Vegan?
No, Pillsbury Flaky Layers Honey Butter Biscuits are not vegan. These sweet biscuits contain sugar that might be processed with bone char, and they also “may contain milk,” according to the Pillsbury website.
Vegan Alternatives to Pillsbury Dough
For those seeking a vegan lifestyle, there are several alternatives to Pillsbury Dough:
- Store-bought vegan doughs: Many health food stores offer vegan dough options, such as Immaculate Baking.
- Homemade vegan dough: With flour, water, vegan sugar, and plant-based oils, you can make your own vegan biscuits. Try this vegan pastry recipe from The Veg Space.
- Vegan pastry brands: Get started with this Organic Pizza Dough & Flat Bread Baking Mix from Organic’ly Foods.
Conclusion
Pillsbury Dough, while a popular choice for many, is not vegan or cruelty-free due to its ingredients and potential environmental impact.
However, with the rise of the vegan movement, there are numerous alternative brands available for those who wish to enjoy similar products without compromising their values.
Whether you opt for store-bought options or decide to make your own, there are plenty of ways to enjoy flaky, delicious food and pastries that align with a vegan lifestyle.