Vegan Food News of the Week: Free Ben & Jerry’s Cones, Animal-Free Breyers, and Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Spring is in the air and tiny vegan cinnamon rolls and other brightly colored treats just rolled out at national chain Cinnaholic. 

Unilever-owned Breyers is stepping up its ice cream game with a new animal-free chocolate flavor made in partnership with Perfect Day.

Perhaps the biggest ice cream news of the week is Ben & Jerry’s annual Free Cone Day, which gives fans a chance to try the company’s new oat milk-based Strawberry Cheezecake flavor for free. 

Read on for more. 

Vegan food news

When it comes to vegan burgers, we’d say we have quite a lot of options to choose from. However, meatless steak is another story, and this week at trade show Expo West, Hong Kong’s OmniFoods is wowing us with a mushroom-based steak that’s perfect for a meaty meal. 

Part of the Omni Garden series, the new Lion Mane’s Mushroom Steak highlights OmniFoods’ prowess in creating plant-based alternatives that don’t skimp on the taste or texture meat lovers seek.

OmniFoods

“Omni is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of plant-based food and delivering remarkable culinary experiences,” David Yeung, Omni co-founder and CEO, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to unveil the Lion Mane’s Mushroom Steak at Expo West, and we believe it will become the new generation of fungi innovation and revolutionize the way people perceive plant-based alternatives.”

“The Omni Garden series is a testament to our commitment to innovation and our mission to create exceptional plant-based products,” Yeung said. 

In addition to its new mushroom steak, OmniFoods is also introducing four new dessert bao flavors, including velvety molten chocolate, delicate matcha, luscious red bean, and fragrant black sesame.

For your coffee fix, two companies are working to bring dairy-free innovation to ready-to-drink lattes. Elmhurst just launched a line of creative lattes made with a blend of nut milk bases and its Arabica Cold Brew. 

The lineup includes Pistachio Crème, with notes of vanilla and sweet cream alongside pistachio; Brown Sugar Oat, capturing the essence of a shaken espresso; Caramel Cashew, blending buttery caramel for a creamy sweetness; and Maple Walnut, a mix of maple syrup and toasted walnuts. 

Táche, known for its pioneering pistachio milk, is also launching a pistachio latte this week—which will start shipping on March 19. Developed over two years with input from specialty coffee roasters, the Táche Pistachio Milk Latte aims to fill a market gap with a pistachio milk-based latte that prioritizes pistachio’s distinct taste for an innovative beverage with a balanced nutritional profile. 

Breyers

If you’re craving a little dessert, Unilever-owned Breyers has an exciting new flavor. While the company offers non-dairy flavors made with plant-based milk, its new Breyers Lactose-Free Chocolate is uniquely made with animal-free whey protein developed in partnership with Perfect Day. 

“As we’ve seen demand for alternative ice creams continue to grow, it is important to us to provide Breyers fans with frozen treats that meet their dietary needs and preferences, without compromising on the creamy taste and flavor that Breyers has offered for more than 150 years,” Lisa Vortsman, Chief Marketing Officer for Unilever Ice Cream North America, said in a statement.

This collaboration between Unilever and Perfect Day, a pioneer in creating whey protein through precision fermentation, is a major step towards more sustainable dairy alternatives. Perfect Day’s process mirrors cow’s whey protein in taste and function while drastically reducing environmental impacts, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 97 percent and blue water consumption by up to 99 percent.

Vegan grocery news

We’re grabbing the keys and heading immediately to Costco because meal delivery company Daily Harvest just launched its plant-based meals at the big-box retailer. Initially rolling out in 82 warehouses across 12 Midwest states, Daily Harvest’s first Costco offering is its most popular smoothie: the Strawberry + Peach Smoothie which features a blend of sweet and tart fruits, oats, and flax seeds.

Daily Harvest

This launch expands Daily Harvest’s physical retail presence, following its success in more than 1,000 Kroger family stores and recent additions to Wegmans and New Seasons Market. 

If you’re a Publix shopper, you’ll be pleased to know that plant-based meat company Abbot’s has recently made its debut at more than 1,300 locations of the grocery chain across eight states. This new availability brings Abbot’s chorizo, ground beef, and Fajita Chick’n to the supermarket chain, offering shoppers a range of wholesome protein options made from a base of pea protein, mushrooms, and extra virgin olive oil.

“Food is information; it can either heal or harm,” Kerry Song, founder and CEO of Abbot’s, said in a statement. “At Abbot’s, we’re deeply committed to crafting plant-powered proteins that not only taste absolutely delicious but give your body what it needs to thrive.”

“Thanks to Publix, we’ll be able to share the transformative power of good, clean food with more and more people,” Song said. 

Abbot’s is also expanding its product line with a Whole Burger that is now hitting select Whole Foods Markets. Like other Abbot’s products, this new offering is made from wholesome ingredients, including vegetables, healthy fats, and superfoods like spinach, chia seeds, and flaxseeds. The Whole Burger features 22 grams of protein per patty and a unique blend of mushrooms, herbs, and spices for a satisfying taste and texture.

Abbot’s

“We recognize a growing interest in wholesome options within the plant-based community,” Kara Maloney, Category Merchant at Whole Foods Market, said in a statement. “Our shoppers want to trust what’s in their food, so it made sense to collaborate with Abbot’s on their launch of the Whole Burger.”

While shopping at Whole Foods, you can also find Good Planet Foods’ latest additions: Sharp Cheddar and Smoked Gouda cheese slices, suitable for topping burgers or other dishes. These slices utilize olive oil as their base, providing an alternative for those looking for plant-based cheese options with lower saturated fat and cholesterol levels.

Vegan restaurant news

Since its Brooklyn, NY soft-serve shop opening in 2019, Urban Dessert Lab has been capturing our attention with its oat milk desserts with gooey centers covered in perfectly dispersed toppings. And we have good news for Los Angeles residents as the Black-owned family business has hopped across the country to open its second location in West Hollywood, CA. 

Urban Dessert Lab

The new WeHo store features a mix of plant-based creations similar to the New York flagship, including artisanal soft serve; a Bakery Collection of cookies and other baked goods; brûléed croissants creatively coined “Brûléesants”; and the signature deconstructed brûléed cake collection. Exclusive to the new WeHo location will be hard scoop ice cream. 

“Urban Dessert Lab is a platform to express our creativity and to foster culture and community,” Zan B.R. and Courtney Blagrove, Urban Dessert Lab’s founders and sisters, said in a statement. 

“Because West Hollywood is known as a creative, trendsetting, and community-driven area, we are excited to call WeHo our newest home,” the duo said. 

Cinnaholic

Who’s ready for spring break? The bakers at Cinnaholic sure are with a new lineup that celebrates the season’s vibrant flavors and colors.

The vegan chain is rolling out specialty spring flavors, including the Lemonberry Crunch and Rainbow Sorbet Roll, which combines lemon cake frosting, fresh blueberries, lemonberry coffee cake bites, and crunchy almonds for a colorful and flavorful treat. 

Also featured is the Rainbow Sorbet Roll, a zesty creation topped with citrus sorbet frosting, fresh strawberries, marshmallows, homemade key lime drizzle, and rainbow sprinkles.

For fun pastel hues, the Spring Break Baby Bun Box offers mini cinnamon rolls in pink strawberry, zesty orange, and purple frostings, all adorned with rainbow sprinkles. Additionally, the Lemonberry Coffee Cake brings a homemade touch with its lemon and blueberry filling, streusel topping, and lemon glaze.

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations get a sweet addition with the Over-the-Rainbow Baby Bun Box, featuring baby buns with shamrock green marshmallow frosting, Cnnadoodle pieces, marshmallows, and rainbow sprinkles. All of these seasonal offerings are available at Cinnaholic’s locations nationwide until May 1. 

Ben & Jerry’s

And if you love free ice cream (who doesn’t?), mark your calendars for April 16. That day, Ben & Jerry’s will host its annual Free Cone Day when you can go try the ice cream company’s newest vegan flavor, Strawberry Cheezecake, made with creamy oat milk at scoop shops nationwide for free. 

Free Cone Day originated in 1979 as a gesture of thanks from co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield to their community in Vermont, following a particularly harsh winter. The popular global event returned last year after a four-year hiatus and fans scooped up approximately 970,000 free ice cream cones. 

This year, the company is challenging customers to beat its record by giving away one million free cones. Flavors vary by location and there is no limit to how many times you can hop back in line for a free cone. We’re on it, Ben & Jerry’s! 

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.