A Jewish specialty originated in Poland, bagels are a uniquely prepared bread item with a shiny exterior. So, how is this achieved?

To make a bagel, a simple bread dough mixture is prepared using flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and water. Next, the batter may be mixed or adorned with poppy seeds, spices, chocolate chips, raisins, or other flavorful ingredients for a special touch. It's then shaped into a donut-like form and actually boiled! Finally, it's dried and baked to reveal a curious, chewy single-serve piece of bread with a brilliant crust.

Bagels are often paired with jelly, cream cheese, or nut butters. They can also be enjoyed as a sandwich by filling it up with cheese, deli slices, veggies, and toasting it all together. This item has become an American breakfast staple, which is why we think it's so important you have all the info you need to enjoy bagels on your vegan diet! Keep reading for the complete breakdown.

Plain Bagels Are Mostly Vegan!

As mentioned earlier, the basic ingredients required to make bagels (flour, yeast, water, sugar, and salt) are totally vegan! That's why plain bagels are usually vegan-friendly. Some recipes may call for some sort of fat, meaning there is an off chance that butter or lard may be added to your bagel. However, because of the lower cost, vegetable shortening (which is usually vegan) is more commonly used than these animal-based ingredients.

You'll also want to watch out for certain additives used in store-bought bagels, which may contain hidden animal derivatives. Keep reading and learn to easily identify these sneaky ingredients!

Non-Vegan Ingredients Found in Bagels

Although plain bagels are usually a green flag for vegans, other varieties may contain milk, eggs, honey, and other animal products you'll want to be aware of. They could also be topped with dairy products, fish, or meat, like ham and cheese, turkey, caviar, prosciutto, lox, cream cheese, and more.

However, aside from these more obvious non-vegan ingredients, there are some trickier ingredients to watch out for in your store-bought bagels. Even seasoned vegans may have trouble identifying these seemingly-harmless additives without a some in-depth research. So, we've made things easier for you by compiling a list of possibly non-vegan ingredients you may find in your bagels. Check it out!

Lecithins

In bagels, lecithins are used as a stabilizer and/or as an emulsifier. Derived from either soybeans or egg yolks, vegans may choose to take a gamble on this one or not. (This means you'll also want to avoid this ingredient if you have an egg allergy!) However, if it's labeled as 'soy lecithin', you can rest assured that it's vegan-friendly.

Sugar

Although it's totally animal-free, refined sugar produced in the U.S. is not always vegan. This is because it may have been refined using bone char. More info on this here!

L-Cysteine Hydrochloride

While the name itself may already seem scary and unnatural enough to turn you away, this is an ingredient vegans should specifically watch out for. Why? It's often derived from duck/chicken feathers or pig bristles! (Not very appetizing, at least to me!) However, in bagels, this additive is used to soften the dough and improve the final product's texture.

Mono- and Diglycerides

This is another tricky additive, because it could be derived from plants (soy or palm oil) or from animal fats. So, unless the product is labeled 'vegan' or 'vegan-friendly', you may feel better going for a safer alternative if possible. Why are mono- and diglycerides used in bagels? This additive helps to improve the texture of your bagels and increase its shelf life.

Lactic Acid

When produced from a natural source, lactic acid is simply the result of sugar fermentation. While it's often vegan, there's a chance it may have been derived from a dairy-based source. Because this is not usually specified on the label, you could try looking for a vegan certification or label on the product to be sure.

Ascorbyl Palmitate

We're diving pretty deep with this one, so you can decide how selective you'd like to be with your vegan bagels! The issue here is, the antioxidant known as ascorbyl palmitate can be derived from either palm oil or stearic acid. If derived from palm oil, it can be considered vegan-friendly (Palm oil is still not totally harmless. More info here!). However, stearic acid may be sourced from either plant or animal fats. So, simply keep this in mind when choosing the right brand!

Calcium Lactate

Derived from lactic acid, the chances that this one is non-vegan are slim, but never zero, unless the product is labeled 'vegan!' So, no need for perfection, but we believe it's still important to know about.

Sodium Stearoyl-2-Lactytate

This emulsifying/thickening agent is derived from either stearic or lactic acid. This means, it could come from an animal source.

We understand this is a lot of info to process, and could be quite difficult to remember! So, take this info as you will and simply prepare yourself with the knowledge you need to make a decision you can feel good about.

Your Quick Guide to Vegan-Friendly Bagel Shops!

Now that we've covered how to read the label on your store-bought bagels to make sure they're vegan, let's check out what vegan options you'll find at the most popular bagel shops and cafés!

Vegan Bagel Options At Starbucks

Great news! Both the Plain and Cinnamon Raisin Bagel at Starbucks are totally vegan! You can even order your plain bagel with their creamy avocado spread for some extra flavor.

Vegan Bagel Options At Noah's Bagels

Did you know you can enjoy 21 totally vegan options at Noah's Bagels?! These include: Ancient Grain, Blueberry, Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Raisin, Everything, French Toast, Garlic, Onion, Peppercorn Potato, Plain, Poppyseed, Pretzel, Pumpernickel, Salt, Sesame Seed, Sourdough, Whole Wheat Sesame, Apple Cinnamon, Potato Roll, and Protein Power.

You can even pair these select items with their vegan toppings, including avocado, hummus, jelly, peanut butter, sauerkraut, and tomato salsa!

Vegan Bagel Options At Dunkin Donuts

As a vegan, feel free to go for all of Dunkin's bagels with the exception of their Multigrain and White Cheddar Bagels, which contain honey and milk derivatives, respectively. However, you'll also want to keep in mind that all of their bagels contain refined sugar, which is listed above as a questionable ingredient for vegans.

So, their Cinnamon Raisin, Everything, Plain, and Sesame Seed Bagel are all likely vegan-friendly.

Vegan Bagel Options At Panera Bread

You're in luck! The Plain, Everything, and Blueberry Bagel at Panera are all vegan-friendly. However, they sadly do not yet carry a vegan spread. So, you can either order it plain or take it home and enjoy it with your favorite vegan cream cheese!

Vegan Bagel Options At Einstein Bros

You can totally enjoy a morning bagel at Einstein Bros! Go for their popular Ancient Grain, Cinnamon Raising, Cranberry, Everything, Garlic, Onion, Plain, Poppy Pumpernickel, Sesame, Blueberry, Chocolate Chip, French Toast, or Pretzel bagels for a quick bite.

Among their Thintastic selection, you can go for their Ancient Grain Thin, Plain Thin, or Whole Wheat Thin Bagels. And finally, you can even enjoy their Gourmet Bagels: Apple Cinnamon or Power Protein!

However, the truly tough decision is selecting the right topping. For us vegans, they currently offer hummus, peanut butter, and strawberry jelly!

Vegan Bagel Options at Bruegger's Bagels

Bruegger's is also an incredibly vegan-friendly choice, with 15 different options for you. Try their Apple Cinnamon, Blueberry, Bruegger Bites, Cinnamon Sugar, Everything, Garlic, Jalapeño, Onion, Plain, Poppy, Pumpernickel, Rosemary Olive Oil, Sesame, or Sourdough bagels! Then, top your selection with either jelly, hummus, or peanut butter.

Store-Bought Vegan Bagels To Enjoy Today!

If you're not up for a trip to the bagel shop, you can always pick up some vegan-friendly bagels next time you shop for vegan groceries! Check out our favorite options below for a surefire vegan treat.

We hope you were able to find the right vegan bagels for your taste and convenience! For more vegan tips, info, and recommendations, make sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Thanks for reading!

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