Guittard Chocolate, Disney's Dole Whip, and More Vegan Food News of the Week

It seems that every week in the world of vegan food news is more exciting than the last and this week is no exception. As the weather warms, we’ve got nothing but frozen treats on the mind and 16 Handles and the Dole Company has got us covered. For cookie lovers, new dairy-free chocolate chips are on the way from San Francisco’s Guittard Chocolate. And, PKN’s new pecan creamers are a new sustainable addition to your morning cup. Read on for more. 

1Disney’s vegan Dole Whip

For Disney lovers everywhere, hitting the theme park typically means making a quick stop for a Dole Whip. In 1984, Dole invented the dairy-free treat, releasing at the Magic Kingdom in a pineapple flavor. The frozen treat soon spread across Disney theme parks and expanded to other flavors. 

Disney’s famous frozen treat is coming to your freezer—in pineapple, mango, and strawberry flavors—and is expected to launch at retailers soon. VegNews got an early taste of the freezer Dole Whip at this month’s trade show Natural Products Expo West. We thought it tasted as good as the original with all of its creamy, tangy glory. 

Dole

The launch of Dole Whip is part of 11 new products—which range from smoothie bowls to juice drinks—to be launched by Dole Packaged Foods this year. These new products are crafted its “Dole Promise” in mind which focuses on products without processed sugars, increasing access to fruit-based nutrition, and reducing waste. 

Want other ways to Dole Whip? In honor of its 100th birthday, The Walt Disney Company also recently re-released 20 recipes, including one for DIY Dole Whip in the classic pineapple flavor. 

And if eating Dole Whip on your couch isn’t your thing, stopping by any of the Disney parks and resorts for a treat these days opens up a plethora of vegan food options at every turn. 

2Dairy-free creamer from pecans

These days, a creamy coffee can be achieved with many different kinds of plant-based creamers made from almonds, soy, coconut, cashews, and so much more. But, we will never say no to a new way to enjoy a cup of Joe, especially when it’s good for the planet. 

This month, Texas-based company THIS PKN is launching two unique pecan milk-based creamers: PKN Original Pecanmilk Creamer and PKN Sweet Vanilla Pecanmilk Creamer. 

Why pecans? CEO Laura Shenkar explains that the homegrown nut has a leg up on the rest. “While alternative milks are always a more sustainable choice than traditional dairy milk, not all nut milks and creamers are created equal,” Shenkar said in a statement. 

“We chose to make pecanmilk because pecans are the only commercial tree nut indigenous to the US,” she said. “As native plants, pecans are not dependent on water imported from dwindling remote sources.” 

In addition to its new creamers—which have a buttery, pie-like flavor—the company offers vegan milk made from pecans, which have the added bonus of containing the highest ratio of antioxidants of all commercial nuts.

The PKN Pecanmilk is on shelves at Sprouts and other retailers while the new pecan creamers will initially launch on the company’s website. 

3Lemon icebox cake vegan cinnamon rolls 

DIY vegan cinnamon roll chain Cinnaholic has been delighting us with its endless combination of frostings and toppings since its first opened in 2009. But Cinnaholic’s specials lure us into the store every time. What’s new for spring? 

The chain is launching three treats. First up is the Lemon Icebox Pie Roll, a tangy cinnamon roll topped with lemon Icebox frosting, fresh lemon zest, homemade pie crumble, and powdered sugar. Next, Cinnaholic’s new Coconut Cream Pie Roll is a tall order with French vanilla frosting that gets a scoop of homemade coconut custard, graham cookies, and pie crumble. 

Cinnaholic

Last up is a new Lemonberry Coffee Cake that will replace the seasonal Banana Bread as Cinnaholic’s grab-and-go option. 

The chain began franchising in 2014 after appearing on investment reality show Shark Tank and now operates 82 locations nationwide—with 25 new outposts planned for 2023 and 40 in development. 

In addition to the new flavors, the chain is launching a reward program, Cinnaholic Rollwards, which gives members who make a purchase a free Old Skool Roll (a classic cinnamon roll). 

“Ever since Cinnaholic appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank, we have continued to spark a nationwide love affair with gourmet cinnamon rolls,” Leanne Cavallaro, Vice President, Operations at Cinnaholic, said in a statement. 

“And between the roll-out of the Rollwards app, innovative new flavor launches and continued growth plans, we are rewarding Cinnaholic loyalists for all the love they’ve shown us over the years,” she said. 

As Cinnaholic rolls out its reward program, members will get additional benefits such as free rolls on their birthdays, special offers, and 10 points for every $1 purchase that can be redeemed for a variety of vegan treats. 

4Banana soft serve at 16 Handles

With warmer weather just around the corner, we’re ready to get back into our soft-serve habit at 16 Handles. And it looks like the chain is ready for us, as well. 

16 Handles

This week, 16 Handles expanded upon its existing partnership with vegan company Oatly with the launch of a new dairy-free soft serve flavor: Chocolate Banana. Made with a blend of Oatly’s creamy oat milk, cocoa, and bananas, soft-serve lovers can get the treat at 16 Handles’ 30 locations across five states. 

“When I see a chocolate fountain, my first dip is always a banana slice. We think this flavor is going to be a crowd pleaser this Spring,” 16 Handles CEO Neil Hershman said in a statement. 

“At 16 Handles, we are committed to creating the best frozen desserts and appealing to many different pallets, that’s why our new non-dairy chocolate banana flavor is a perfect addition to our menu,” he said. 

The new Chocolate Banana flavor is the first Oatly collab of the year and previous flavors included Pumpkin Spice, Chocolate Peppermint, and Marshmallow & S’mores. 

5Guittard gets into dairy-free chocolate

Not many things are better than a warm cookie dotted with slightly melted chocolate chips. San Francisco’s legendary chocolate company Guittard Chocolate is helping to make this experience even more delectable with a new set of dairy-free chocolate chips coming to the baking aisle in June. 

Guittard Chocolate

“Guittard is already beloved for its high-quality baking staples, and shifting some of our most requested products to dairy-free will continue to bolster trust and usability with allergen-conscious consumers,” Gary Guittard, Guittard Chocolate CEO, said in a statement. 

“The introduction of these products expands diverse benefits for consumers, industrial customers, and professionals looking for allergen-friendly and kosher pareve options,” he said.

Guittard’s new dairy-free chocolate chip line will include three options: semisweet chocolate chips, extra dark chocolate chips, and Akoma organic extra semisweet. Maybe a monster vegan cookie with all three is the best way to celebrate the 155-year-old company’s move into dairy-free? 

Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior News Editor at VegNews and is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco, CA and everywhere else.