Krispy Kreme: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

Krispy Kreme sells no meat, so nearly every doughnut on the menu is vegetarian by default, though the US recipe isn’t vegan-friendly. The dough uses wheat flour, sugar, soybean oil, yeast, milk powder, and egg yolks, and the doughnuts fry in vegetable shortening rather than lard or animal fat. That combination clears the bar for lacto-ovo vegetarians on virtually the entire case, but it draws a hard line against vegans.

What to order at Krispy Kreme

Every doughnut in the case works for vegetarians, from the Original Glazed to the chocolate iced, OREO Cookies and Kreme Filled, and New York Cheesecake Filled varieties. For something vegan, stick to drinks: brewed black coffee, hot tea, and lattes or cappuccinos made with oat, almond, or soy milk are all animal-product-free once you confirm the syrup. Doughnut dots and mini doughnuts give you a smaller, shareable vegetarian option too.

What to watch out for

The milk powder and egg yolks in the dough mean no doughnut on the US menu is vegan, and Krispy Kreme doesn’t offer a certified vegan doughnut here the way its UK stores do. Frozen lattes contain cream in the base, so they’re off the vegan list even with a milk swap. Check any seasonal syrups too, since flavor additions can bring dairy along, though since the chain sells no meat at all, cross-contact with meat simply isn’t a concern here.