From crackers to Cheez-Its, chickpeas to cheesy puffs, delicious snacks are proving more popular than ever – but are they vegan? By vegan, we mean foods made without “ingredients produced by or derived from animals”. In short, a plant-based diet.
As one of the most popular cheesy snacks in the world for over 100 years, many people want to know if Cheez-Its are vegan – and this guide is here to help you find out, as well as offer some tasty alternatives too.
What are Cheez-Its?
Unveiled by Green & Green Company in 1921, Cheez-Its are rectangular baked crunchy crackers that combine cheese, paprika and wheat flour (along with a few other ingredients) for an unmistakable orange colour and cheesy flavour.
After producing a jaw-dropping 6.5 million pounds of crackers for the United States military during World War One, Green & Green Company was sold – and changed hands a few more times. Before finally ending up as part of Kellogg’s in 2001. One of their first big ad campaigns was to emphasise Cheez-Its ‘Big Cheese Taste’.
Why might Cheez-Its not be vegan?
This ‘Big Cheese Taste’ is often compared to a classic baked rarebit dish, where a hot cheese sauce is poured over toasted bread. As you might expect, creating that flavour means that Cheez-Its do have cheese in them – if the ‘Made with 100% real cheese’ sign on the box hadn’t already given it away.
Specifically, the ingredients list cheddar cheese (white and regular), buttermilk and butter, along with lactic acid and whey. In short, a wide range of dairy and animal-sourced ingredients that might give these crackers the taste people love, but also make them extremely non-vegan.
Is there a vegan version of Cheez-Its?
Unfortunately, Kellogg’s don’t produce Vegan Cheez Its. But, if you are looking for that same Cheez-Its magic in your cheesy snacks, and also want them to be vegan friendly – there are several alternatives to be found in your local grocery store or online.
From The Ground Up, Cauliflower Cheddar Crackers: Plant-based, made with real cauliflower and certified as both vegan and gluten-free, these crunchy snacks pack a real punch of cheese flavour.
Mary’s Gone Cheezee Crackers: If you like a crispier cracker, these ‘terrifically toasty’ vegan squares have a nice crunch, mild cheese favour – and are even organic too.
Earth Balance Vegan Cheddar Squares (DISCONTINUED): One of the most popular vegan alternatives to Cheez-Its, Earth Balance recently confirmed they have sadly discontinued the snack. However, many fans hold out hope they could make a comeback in the future, so keep your eyes peeled.
Other vegan snack options
If crackers aren’t quite cutting it, there are plenty of other vegan snack options out there waiting for you to discover, including:
Ka-Pop Dairy-Free Cheddar Puffs: As the packet says, 100% sorghum, oil and seasoning – that’s it! These light and airy chips are the perfect dairy-free treat for any time of day, and only 140 calories a bag.
AshaPops Vegan Cheese: Perhaps the most unusual vegan item on this list, what could be more plant-based than popped water lily seeds? Perfectly flavoured with nutritional yeast, onion powder, sea salt and a dash of olive oil for that perfect cheesy tang, discover your new favourite superfood snack right here.
Hippeas Take It Cheesy: 3.5g of protein and only 91 calories per serving? These more-ish chickpea puff snacks are cheesy without the cheese…or gluten or palm oil for that matter!
Of course, if you truly want to enjoy Cheez-Its that you know are vegan, there’s only one real solution – making them yourself! Thankfully, they’re very easy to make at home in just a few simple steps…
1) Add ½ a teaspoon of garlic power, ½ a teaspoon of sea salt and ½ a teaspoon of smoked paprika to a food processor – along with 2/3 – 1 cup of all-purpose flour. And, for flavour, one cup of shredded vegan cheddar or a tablespoon of nutritional yeast.
2) Add up to two tablespoons of olive oil or vegan butter while pulsing your ingredients. Once you’ve reached a crumbly texture, start adding cold water a tablespoon at a time until a ball of dough forms.
3) Place your dough on a floured surface and roll it out as thin as you can. Then cut it into squares using a knife or pizza cutter, poking a hole in the middle of each one for that real Cheez-Its look.
4) Lastly, transfer all your cut-out crackers to a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet, and bake for 14-17 minutes in a 350-degree preheated oven until golden brown. Give them a bit of time to cool off, and enjoy!
Reading ingredient labels
As a vegan, knowing how to read ingredient labels is one of the most valuable skills you can develop, whether you are looking at Cheez-Its or any other snack. A few common things to look out for include:
Product naming: Foods labelled as ‘dairy-free’, ‘free from’ or ‘lactose-free’ aren’t always vegan as a result, so be careful.
Vitamin D: Commonly used to fortify foods – make sure the label has the vegan approved D2, rather than the animal-derived D3.
Watch-outs: In general, keep an eye on food labels for common animal ingredients. Including – casein, lard, lactose, collagen, keratin, gelatine, whey, shellac, cod liver oil, honey, royal jelly and albumen.
Frequently asked questions
What are the health benefits of a vegan diet? While research is still ongoing, vegan diets are usually higher in fibre and lower in cholesterol – which studies have shown can lower the risk of heart disease. Overall, a balanced vegan diet is one of the healthiest you can adopt.
Are vegan snacks healthier? All snacks can be unhealthy if you eat too many, but vegan snacks in general contain plenty of nuts, seeds and fruits – which can ensure a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals.
Is a vegan diet expensive? While plant-based meat alternatives can be on the pricier side – fruits, vegetables and grains aren’t. Plus, frozen fruit and veg are a great option for long-lasting meal prep, especially with rice or spices to give it some bulk and flavour.
So, what did we discover? Firstly, and most importantly, Cheez-Its are sadly not vegan, but there are plenty of delicious vegan snack alternatives waiting to be discovered. Plus, it’s quick and easy to make your own instead.
What’s more, we got the chance to explore a little more about veganism in general, to start you on the path to making healthier food choices for the planet and yourself.
Ready to take the next step? Find a vegan blog or Facebook group you like for more info and FAQs. Or if, like us, you’re all about the snacks – try a vegan snack subscription service for tasty treats you’d never even have thought of trying!
