If you’ve ever bitten into a vegan biscuit expecting something cardboard-dry and walked away pleasantly surprised — you already know the secret the internet hasn’t quite caught up to yet. Vegan biscuits, done right, are indistinguishable from their dairy-laden cousins. This guide covers everything from why they work, how to make them perfectly, which store brands are actually worth buying, and where the category is heading next.
What Are Vegan Biscuits, Really?
Not all biscuits are created equal — and not all are accidentally dairy-free. Traditional biscuit recipes rely on buttermilk, butter, and sometimes eggs to build that signature flaky, layered texture. Vegan biscuits replace every one of those animal-derived ingredients with plant-based alternatives that, when used correctly, perform just as well — sometimes better.[iamgoingvegan]
The key non-vegan culprits to watch out for on any label include:[iamgoingvegan]
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Buttermilk or buttermilk powder
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Skim milk or whole milk solids
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Butter or clarified butter
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Whey and sodium caseinate (a milk protein derivative)
A quick trick: scroll straight to the allergen section at the bottom of an ingredient list. If it says “Contains: Milk,” it’s out. If there’s no milk warning, you’re likely good.[iamgoingvegan]
Why Vegan Biscuits Actually Work (The Science Behind the Swap)
Here’s something that surprises a lot of home bakers: the chemistry of biscuit-making doesn’t actually require dairy. What it requires is acid + fat + cold temperature. Plant-based ingredients happen to deliver all three.[sinofudetechnology]
The classic substitution that makes everything click:
| Traditional Ingredient | Vegan Substitute | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Buttermilk | Plant milk + apple cider vinegar | Vinegar acidifies the milk, creating curdling that mimics buttermilk’s tang and reacts with baking soda for rise [sinofudetechnology] |
| Butter | Cold vegan butter (e.g., Earth Balance) | Cold fat creates steam pockets during baking, producing flaky layers [thebigmansworld] |
| Whole milk | Almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk | Provides the liquid base; soy and oat milk have higher fat content for a richer result [flavor365] |
| Eggs (in some recipes) | Not needed | Most Southern-style biscuit recipes never used eggs anyway [delightfuladventures] |
The reaction between the acidified plant milk and baking soda is what gives vegan biscuits their lift. Without that reaction, you get a flat, dense disc instead of a tall, cloud-like biscuit. This is why the 5-minute resting period after combining plant milk and vinegar isn’t optional — it’s where the chemistry actually happens.[sinofudetechnology]
The Only Vegan Biscuit Recipe You Need
We’ve tested variations across flour types, fat sources, and milk alternatives. This version produces consistent results: tall, golden, with visible layers and a slight tang.[thebigmansworld]
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 2½ cups (300g) | Bread flour makes it tough; stick with all-purpose [flavor365] |
| Baking powder | 1 tbsp | The primary leavening agent [sinofudetechnology] |
| Baking soda | ½ tsp | Works with the acid in buttermilk substitute [flavor365] |
| Salt | 1 tsp | Enhances every other flavor |
| Cold vegan butter | ½ cup (113g) | Must be cold — freezing for 15 min beforehand helps [thebigmansworld] |
| Unsweetened plant milk | ¾ cup (177ml) | Soy or oat for best results [flavor365] |
| Apple cider vinegar | 1 tbsp | Creates the vegan buttermilk reaction [sinofudetechnology] |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp | Balances flavor; optional for savory versions |
Step-by-Step Method
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Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). The high heat is non-negotiable — it’s what creates the rapid rise.[sinofudetechnology]
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Make vegan buttermilk. Combine plant milk and apple cider vinegar. Stir once and leave it alone for 5 minutes until slightly curdled.[thebigmansworld]
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Mix dry ingredients. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl.
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Cut in the cold vegan butter. Use a pastry cutter or your fingertips (work fast — you don’t want the butter to melt). The mixture should look like coarse, uneven crumbs. Some larger pea-sized pieces are a feature, not a flaw.[sinofudetechnology]
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Add the buttermilk. Pour it in gradually and stir just until a shaggy dough comes together. Stop before it looks smooth.
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Fold, don’t knead. Turn dough onto a floured surface and fold it 3–4 times. Over-kneading develops gluten and kills the flakiness.[thebigmansworld]
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Pat to 1-inch thickness. Don’t use a rolling pin — it compresses the layers. Use your hands.[minimalistbaker]
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Cut straight down. Use a sharp cutter and press straight down without twisting. Twisting seals the edges and prevents rise.[minimalistbaker]
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Bake 10–15 minutes until the tops are deep golden brown.[thebigmansworld]
The Three Rules That Actually Matter
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Cold butter. Warm butter absorbs into the flour instead of creating steam pockets.[minimalistbaker]
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Don’t overwork the dough. Every extra fold = tougher texture.[sinofudetechnology]
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Don’t twist the cutter. This is the most common mistake and the easiest fix.[minimalistbaker]
Troubleshooting: When Your Vegan Biscuits Go Wrong
Even experienced bakers hit problems. Here’s what actually causes the most common failures — and what to do instead.[sinofudetechnology]
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Flat biscuits, no rise | Baking powder is old; butter melted before baking | Replace baking powder if it’s been open more than 6 months; chill the cut biscuits for 10 min before baking [sinofudetechnology] |
| Tough, dense texture | Dough overworked | Mix until just combined; it should look rough, not smooth [thebigmansworld] |
| No distinct layers | Butter not cold enough; no folding technique | Freeze butter for 15 min; fold dough 3–4 times instead of kneading [minimalistbaker] |
| Dry, crumbly texture | Too much flour; plant milk ratio off | Spoon flour into the measuring cup rather than scooping (scooping packs 20–30% more flour than needed) [sinofudetechnology] |
| Gummy interior | Underbaked; oven temp too low | Use an oven thermometer — most home ovens run 25°F cooler than displayed [flavor365] |
The spoon-and-level flour measurement point is worth dwelling on. It genuinely accounts for most “why are my biscuits dry” complaints. It’s not the recipe — it’s the measuring.[sinofudetechnology]
Store-Bought Vegan Biscuits: What’s Actually Worth It
Sometimes you need biscuits in 20 minutes and there’s no room for a recipe. Here’s an honest breakdown of what’s on shelves:wholygoodness+1
Accidentally Vegan (No Dairy in Ingredients)
These brands didn’t set out to make vegan products — they just happen to be dairy-free by formulation:
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Pillsbury Grands! Southern Homestyle Original — Uses soybean oil instead of butter; solid texture and available widely[wholygoodness]
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Pillsbury Grands! Flaky Layers Sweet Hawaiian — Slightly sweet; works better as a dinner roll alternative[iamgoingvegan]
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Pillsbury Flaky Layers Buttermilk Biscuits — Despite the name, currently dairy-free (always verify current label before purchasing)[iamgoingvegan]
What to Avoid
Pillsbury flavors that do contain milk include Grands! Honey Butter, Grands! Southern Recipe, and Flaky Layers Butter Tastin’. The allergen statement is your fastest check.[iamgoingvegan]
In the UK
Over 70 biscuit varieties are accidentally vegan in UK stores, including:[bakedbyclo]
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McVitie’s Ginger Nuts — Hard, spiced, no dairy
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Bourbon Biscuits — Chocolate cream filling; no animal products despite the rich flavor
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Party Rings — All varieties, including chocolate
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Biscoff / Lotus Biscuits — No dairy in the original formulation[bakedbyclo]
Health Profile: What’s Actually in a Vegan Biscuit
Vegan biscuits are not automatically health food — and it’s worth being honest about that. A standard serving can run around 700 calories for a large biscuit portion, with significant sodium content. That said, there are meaningful differences from conventional biscuits:[snapcalorie]
Where vegan biscuits tend to have an edge:
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Lower saturated fat — Plant-based butters typically contain less saturated fat than dairy butter, which matters for cardiovascular health[guavabrighton]
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Zero cholesterol — No animal products means no dietary cholesterol[snapcalorie]
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Higher fiber potential — Recipes using whole wheat or almond flour add meaningful fiber; almond flour in particular contributes healthy fats and protein[avirtualvegan]
Where to manage expectations:
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Sodium can be high depending on baking powder and salt quantities[snapcalorie]
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White flour-based versions have similar glycemic impact to conventional biscuits
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“Vegan” doesn’t equal “low-calorie” — fat content from vegan butter remains comparable
For a meaningfully healthier version, oil-free recipes using whole wheat flour and almond flour have been tested to bake and serve in under 15 minutes while cutting fat significantly.[avirtualvegan]
Industry Applications: Where Vegan Biscuits Are Showing Up
Vegan biscuits aren’t just a home-kitchen trend anymore. The global biscuit market was estimated to approach $110 billion by 2025, with plant-based formulations capturing a growing share as consumer interest shifts toward dairy-free, gluten-sensitive, and nutritionally enhanced options.[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih]
Food service and hospitality: Brunch menus at plant-forward restaurants now commonly feature scratch-made vegan biscuits as a differentiator — particularly in markets like Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and London where vegan dining has moved from niche to mainstream.
Packaged food sector: Brands like TasteGood have launched commercially produced vegan biscuits made with 100% whole wheat flour, soy, moong, and prebiotics — targeting health-conscious consumers who want plant-based options with added functional benefits.[tastegood]
Bakery and specialty retail: UK retailers saw a market consolidation of accidentally vegan products — what started as incidental dairy-free formulations is now being actively marketed as a consumer feature.[bakedbyclo]
Foodtech and ingredient innovation: Research institutions are exploring substitutions using chickpea flour, baobab fruit pulp, and sprouted pseudocereal grains (amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat) as both gluten-free and nutrition-enhancing alternatives in biscuit formulations.[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih]
Future Trends: Where Vegan Biscuits Are Heading in 2026 and Beyond
The next wave of vegan biscuit development isn’t just about swapping butter — it’s about rebuilding the nutritional profile entirely.[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih]
Functional ingredients going mainstream. Prebiotics, adaptogens, and protein-rich legume flours are moving from health-specialty products into everyday biscuit formats.[tastegood]
Precision fermentation fats. Companies are developing animal-free dairy fats that replicate the exact fatty acid composition of butter at the molecular level. When these reach cost parity (projected mid-to-late 2020s), the texture gap between conventional and vegan biscuits will effectively close.
Gluten-free crossover. Demand for biscuits that are simultaneously vegan and gluten-free is growing. Oat flour, cassava flour, and 1:1 GF baking blends are enabling this — though the technique adjustments are significant.[avirtualvegan]
Sustainability-labelled products. Consumers are increasingly factoring in supply chain transparency, not just ingredient swaps. Brands that can demonstrate sustainably sourced plant fats and packaging will have a positioning advantage.[guavabrighton]
At-home baking continues growing. Post-pandemic baking habits have not fully reversed. Searches for homemade vegan biscuit recipes continue to rise year-over-year, and recipe content creators focused on plant-based baking are seeing sustained audience growth.[minimalistbaker]
External Resources Worth Reading
For anyone wanting to go deeper on plant-based baking, ingredient science, or market context, these are the most substantive resources available:
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Minimalist Baker — The Best Damn Vegan Biscuits — One of the most tested vegan biscuit recipes online with community feedback from thousands of readers[minimalistbaker]
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A Virtual Vegan — Healthy Oil-Free Vegan Biscuits — Detailed exploration of oil-free technique with gluten-free adaptation notes[avirtualvegan]
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I Am Going Vegan — Vegan Biscuit Brands — Comprehensive breakdown of every major US store brand and which flavors are vegan[iamgoingvegan]
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Baked By Clo — 70+ Accidentally Vegan Biscuits UK — The most thorough UK-specific resource for dairy-free biscuits currently available[bakedbyclo]
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PubMed Central — Functional Meal-Based Biscuits Research — Peer-reviewed study on biscuit formulation using alternative plant flours[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih]
The best vegan biscuits aren’t a compromise — they’re a different path to the same destination. Cold fat, a little acid, minimal handling, high heat. That’s the whole secret, whether you use dairy or not.
