Are Oreos Vegan (Debate on Oreo Cookies)

Does the thought of an Oreo cookie take you back to your childhood? Maybe you still like to indulge in a few of these crunchy and creamy delights from time to time. If you’re following a vegan lifestyle, you may have wondered: Are Oreos vegan? 

Dating back to 1912, Oreos are a delicious cookie treat that continues to be popular with kids and adults alike. 

A quick look at the ingredient list doesn’t appear to contain any animal products, however, as per the company that makes Oreos,  the cookies may have been made in facilities that handle milk. As a result, traces of milk may be present in Oreo cookies.

Does Oreo Call Themselves Vegan?

Because there are many flavors of cookies under the Oreo brand, this is a difficult question to answer. What we have learned is that the majority of cookies contain no animal ingredients. One notable exception is their line of fudge-covered or -dipped products, which contain milk. And because other types of Oreos may have been produced in the same facility as the cookies containing fudge, the brand acknowledges that their cookies are not suitable for vegans because of possible trace amounts of milk. 

Oreo Ingredients that Are Controversial

In addition to possible trace amounts of milk, there are other ingredients in Oreos that are known to be controversial:

Sugar

Processed sugar may contain bone char from the bones of cattle, to achieve the white color of processed sugar. Because Oreo doesn’t market their products as vegan, one cannot assume that the sugar they use follows vegan-friendly processes.

Palm Oil

The production of palm oil has been controversial for years, largely because the land is destroyed and deforested to allow for the building of plantations.

Colors

Food coloring such as Red 3 and Yellow 5 have been used in some flavors of the cookies. Even though the colorings are not made from animal products, they are, unfortunately, tested on animals.

Can Vegans Eat Oreos?

Ultimately, the decision is up to you and your comfort levels. However, we did check in to see what People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) thinks. They’ve included some Oreo products on their list of snacks categorized as “accidentally vegan.” 

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Are Oreos Vegan ? (Homemade Vegan Oreo Cookies Recipe)

If you’re not convinced to eat Oreos as a vegan, here is an easy vegan recipe you can make at home.

Keyword Are Oreos Vegan

Ingredients

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 20 grams cocoa
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• ½ cup icing sugar
• 10 tablespoons cold vegan butter diced
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Filling

• 1 ½ cup icing sugar
• 4 tablespoons vegan butter

Instructions

• Preheat oven at 350°F.
• In a large mixing bowl, add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt and icing sugar.
• Blend to combine, then add the diced cold vegan butter.
• Continue to blend for about 5 minutes or until everything comes together.
• Add the vanilla extract and blend on high for 10 seconds to incorporate well.
• Transfer the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper and then place another piece over top.
• Roll out the dough to about ¼” thick.
• Cut the dough with a cookie cutter and place them spaced ½” apart on a parchment lined sheet pan.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes.
• Transfer them to a cooling rack. Let them cool down.
• In a large mixing bowl combine the icing sugar and vegan butter.
• Blend until it all starts coming together to a thick paste like dough.
• Place this cream mixture on a piece of parchment paper and place another parchment paper on top. Roll it out, and cut it out with the same cookie cutter.
• To assemble, place the filling on top of one cookie, and place another cookie on top. Serve and enjoy!