The Complete Vegan Donut Guide: Where to Find Them and How They Taste

A decade ago, vegan donuts were an afterthought — dry, crumbly, and tasting more like cardboard than pastry. That era is over. Today, some of the most celebrated donut shops in America are entirely plant-based, and even traditional bakeries are adding vegan options that rival their classic recipes.

Whether you follow a vegan diet, have dairy or egg allergies, or are simply curious, this guide covers everything you need to know about the vegan donut landscape in 2026.

Why Vegan Donuts Have Gotten So Good

The quality leap in vegan donuts comes down to three factors:

Better ingredients. Plant milks like oat and coconut have become vastly better at mimicking the fat and richness of dairy. Aquafaba (chickpea liquid) replaced eggs in many recipes with surprisingly similar binding and leavening properties. Vegan butter brands now have the fat content and melting point needed for proper pastry work.

Dedicated vegan bakeries. When an entire shop commits to plant-based baking, they refine their recipes obsessively rather than treating vegan options as an afterthought. Shops like Beacon Doughnuts in Chicago and Dottie's Donuts in Philadelphia have proven that all-vegan menus can attract mainstream donut fans.

Consumer demand. The plant-based food market has grown significantly, pushing bakeries to invest real R&D into vegan recipes. When customers are willing to pay premium prices for quality vegan pastries, bakeries respond with premium products.

The Best Vegan Donut Shops in America

Fully Vegan Shops

Beacon Doughnuts — Chicago, IL

Hidden in a Lincoln Park alley, Beacon went viral for a reason: their 100% vegan brioche doughnuts are so rich and light that most people cannot tell they are plant-based. The 24-hour rise brioche dough creates an incredibly tender texture. Available through a walk-up window until sold out.

Dottie's Donuts — Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia's first all-vegan doughnut shop has expanded to four locations. Rotating daily flavors range from apple fritters to glazed gingerbread with chocolate-apple spiced cake. Everything in the store is vegan, so there is no risk of cross-contamination for those with allergies.

Cloudy Donut Co. — Brooklyn, NY

This Black-owned, 100% vegan shop in Bushwick makes incredibly light and fluffy donuts that challenge every stereotype about plant-based baking. The churro cloud and berry lavender are outstanding. They operate on a weekend pop-up model with online pre-orders.

Donut Friend — Los Angeles, CA

This punk-rock-themed vegan donut shop in Highland Park lets you customize your own donuts with fillings and toppings. The menu features music-inspired names and creative flavor combinations. Everything is 100% vegan.

Cartems Donuts — Vancouver, BC (with US shipping)

While based in Canada, Cartems ships to the northern US and has become famous for their plant-based options. The Earl Grey and salted caramel are exceptional.

Traditional Shops with Excellent Vegan Options

Do-Rite Donuts & Chicken — Chicago, IL

One of the few premium shops that genuinely serves excellent vegan and gluten-free options daily alongside their traditional menu. The vegan chocolate cake donut is a fan favorite.

Blue Star Donuts — Portland, OR

Portland's beloved brioche donut shop offers several vegan flavors that use the same careful 24-hour rise technique as their standard donuts. The vegan chocolate coconut is a standout.

Mighty-O Donuts — Seattle, WA

All donuts at Mighty-O are organic and vegan. They have been doing plant-based donuts since before it was trendy, with multiple locations across Seattle.

Common Vegan Donut Flavors and Styles

Vegan baking handles some donut styles better than others:

Best vegan styles:

• Cake donuts — Dense [cake donuts](/blog/glazed-vs-cake-donuts) adapt most easily to vegan recipes. The structure comes from flour and leavening, so removing eggs and dairy has minimal impact on texture.
• Chocolate donuts — Cocoa powder adds richness and moisture that masks any differences from traditional recipes.
• Old fashioned donuts — The craggy, dense texture is very achievable with plant-based ingredients.
• Apple fritters — The chunky, fried dough style works beautifully without animal products.

Improving but trickier:

• Glazed yeast donuts — The light, airy texture of a classic glazed requires careful formulation without eggs and dairy. Shops like Beacon have cracked the code, but it took years of recipe development.
• Cream-filled donuts — Vegan pastry creams have improved enormously with coconut cream and cashew-based fillings, but the mouthfeel still differs slightly from dairy custard.
• Brioche-style donuts — Traditional brioche is extremely butter and egg-heavy. Vegan brioche requires significant reformulation but the best versions are remarkable.

How to Find Vegan Donuts Near You

Finding vegan donuts in your area is easier than you might think:

• Use our directory. Search [NearbyDonuts.com](/search) and filter for shops that mention vegan options. Many listings in our database include specialty tags.
• Check our Near Me finder. Our [geolocation-based finder](/near-me) shows nearby donut shops — call ahead to ask about vegan options if not listed.
• Look at chain options. Several [major donut chains](/chains) now offer at least one vegan option. Dunkin' has tested vegan donuts in select markets, and local chains often lead on dietary accommodations.
• Try grocery store brands. Brands like Katz Gluten Free and Rule Breaker ship vegan donuts nationally. They are not bakery-fresh, but they satisfy a craving.

Making Vegan Donuts at Home

If there is no great vegan donut shop near you, home baking is very achievable:

Basic vegan cake donut recipe swaps:

• Replace eggs with 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce per egg, or use a commercial egg replacer
• Swap dairy milk for oat milk (the fat content is closest to whole milk)
• Use vegan butter — look for brands with at least 80% fat content
• Replace buttermilk with oat milk plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice per cup

Tips for success:

• Do not overmix the batter — vegan batters can become gummy if overworked
• Fry at 365-375°F for best results
• Let donuts cool slightly before glazing so the glaze sets properly
• A simple glaze of powdered sugar, oat milk, and vanilla works perfectly

For an overview of how traditional donuts are made and where vegan modifications fit in, check our [how donuts are made](/blog/how-donuts-are-made) guide.

The Future of Vegan Donuts

The trajectory is clear: vegan donuts are becoming indistinguishable from traditional ones. As plant-based ingredients continue improving and more talented bakers commit to vegan recipes, the gap shrinks every year.

The best vegan donut shops have already crossed the threshold where the "vegan" label is no longer a qualifier — they are simply excellent donut shops. Whether you are fully plant-based or just donut-curious, there has never been a better time to try a vegan donut.

Browse our [complete donut shop directory](/search) to find shops near you, or check out our [types of donuts guide](/blog/types-of-donuts-complete-guide) to explore the full range of donut styles available in both vegan and traditional versions.