The Best Vegan Foods You Didn't Know Were Vegan
Updated: Apr 9, 2021
Lucky for us vegans, there are a ton of existing foods that are ~accidentally~ vegan. Hopefully, you see something in this list that you already eat, and now you know it's vegan! This list is a combination of vegan junk food, snacks, and random vegan food products. However, it is not completely comprehensive, so I always suggest checking labels if you're worried about it containing anything not vegan. Additionally, companies do change their recipes sometimes, so it doesn't hurt to verify!
1. Oreos
We all owe Nabisco a huge thank you for this. I would have HATED if going vegan meant never eating an oreo again.
2. Purple Bag Doritos (Spicy Sweet Chili)
Many chip flavors are actually vegan; I didn't list them all because that would be repetitive. Even some that you wouldn't think are vegan like Doritos. The blaze-flavored Doritos are also vegan; yay for spicy vegan chips!
3. Takis
4. Duncan Hines Creamy Home-Style Frosting
The Home-Style Butter Cream, Caramel, Classic Chocolate, Vanilla, Coconut Pecan, Dark Chocolate Fudge, Lemon Supreme, and Strawberry Cream flavors are classified as vegan.
5. Marshmallow Fluff or Ice Cream Topping
Smuckers and other brands of marshmallow fluff are vegan as it doesn't usually contain gelatin anymore. But as I mentioned before, always check!
6. Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
7. Cinnamon Rolls and Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
Trader Joe's specifically has vegan cinnamon rolls (at least they did), Pillsbury cinnamon rolls are NOT vegan, but their crescent rolls are. Instead of buying pre-made pastries, it would be fun to bake your own!
8. Endangered Species (and other brands) Dark Chocolate
Most often, dark chocolate with 75% + cacao is vegan!
9. Nutter Butter Cookies
10. Fig Newtons
The fig, strawberry, and other flavors are usually vegan, and I love these.
11. Chiptole Sofritas
Don't forget to skip the cheese and sour cream ;)
12. Unfrosted Pop-tarts
13. Super Pretzels
14. Movie Theater Popcorn
They usually use coconut oil and NOT butter, but you can always ask as this might differ by location and chain.
15. Annie's Organic Fruit Snacks
Annie's also has vegan mac and cheese, and it's good.
16. Crackers - Graham and Ritz
17. Trader Joe’s Speculoos Cookies
18. Trader Joe’s Soft-Baked Snickerdoodles
19. Ghiradelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix (and some others)
I use an egg replacer and almond milk, and they still come out amazing. You would never know they were vegan. Then add your fav vegan toppings and you have a delicious non-animal product dessert.
20. Sour Patch Kids
Yay for no gelatin or red 4!!!
21. Skittles
22. Swedish Fish
23. Twizzlers
Several other candy brands/products are vegan, like airheads, but that can be a separate blog post if you guys want to know them all!
24. Clif Bars
However, note that the peanut butter and honey with sea salt flavor are not vegan.
25. Wafer Ice Cream Cones - Keebler
Another reason I love ice cream cones is that when you go out for ice cream, you can avoid unnecessary plastic and trash. Not to mention they add a nice texture to any ice cream sundae, and I'm big on texture.
26. Kettle Brand Maple Bacon Potato Chips
It seems a little odd, but hey, why not try them? I know I want to now.
27. SkinnyPop White Cheddar Popcorn
28. Select Nature Valley Trail Mix Granola Bars
cranberry and pomegranate, dark chocolate cherry, and fruit & nut—are vegan.
29. Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix - Original
30. Condiments
Typically, mustard, ketchup, and hot sauce are vegan, but not always.
31. Nissan Soy Flavored Ramen
33. Fruit by the Foot
Check specific flavors for red 40, confectioners glaze, and other non-vegan ingredients.
34. Belvita Crackers/Biscuits
35. Some Girl Scout Cookies
Vegan girl scout cookie flavors include Thin Mints, Lemonades, Peanut Butter Patties, Thanks-A-Lot, and Girl Scout S'mores (only the ABC Bakers variety).
36. Mocha and Peppermint Mocha Coffee Syrups
These are vegan at Dunkin and Starbucks and a pro tip is to avoid sauces (at Starbucks) at all costs. Another pro tip, go to your local cafe instead. In my experience, they are extremely accommodating and helpful when it comes to meeting dietary needs/restrictions, and especially now, small businesses need our support more than ever.
37. Kettle Cooked Microwave Popcorn
Or, hear me out, invest in a popcorn maker. That way you have complete control over your popcorn and avoid all the nasty chemicals and preservatives in microwavable popcorn :)