No meat, dairy or eggs? No problem! Now, more than ever, there are so many vegan products to try – some are made right here in Pennsylvania! Whether you’re committed to a strict plant-based diet, or you’re just looking for some easy ways to swap out animal-based products for items that are a little more health- and eco-conscious, you are in luck. From doughnuts to trail mix to organic tofu, here are 9 PA-based companies making awesome vegan food:
COB Vegan Baked Goods (York)
COB (Crazy Over Baking) is a vegan, gluten-free bakery based in York, founded in 2015 by David and Kazumi Rogan. A godsend for people with allergies or dietary restrictions in South Central PA, COB bakes all kinds of delicious things: English muffins, bagels, flatbreads and loaves, whoopie pies, cookies, tarts, bars, cake pops, doughnuts, pies, cupcakes and more, all of it free of wheat and animal products! The Rogans say they try to keep the ingredients as simple as possible, and non-GMO, organic when possible, and always free from gluten and animal products. COB doesn’t operate a brick-and-mortar bakery, but can be found at the Farmers on the Square farmers market in Carlisle.
Bandit (Philadelphia)
Vegan cheese is having a serious moment. Forget the mass-produced, plastic-y, anti-melting mystery shreds that you might’ve once purchased from the health food store – the new wave of plant-based cheese is all about real fermentation and aging techniques informed by cheesemaking traditions. Bandit is at the local forefront of this movement; the Philadelphia-based company is making beautiful, artisan cheese and butter (mostly nut-based), that can easily pass for the dairy version. Maverick is a brie-esque vegan cheese that’s really nailed the texture and flavor of this classic French style. Its Garlic Za’Atar is right on trend with its earthy, herbal and slightly nutty flavor with zesty garlic notes. You can find Bandit’s creations at 30+ spots around the city and other locations peppered throughout the state. Use their finder tool to locate Bandit!
Crust Vegan Bakery (Philadelphia)
At better coffee shops and cafes through the Philadelphia area, you’ll find tasty treats from Crust Vegan Bakery, a woman-owned and operated small business that was founded by two friends in 2015. Its wholesale options include cookies and cookie sandwiches, scones, muffins, bars and loaves, all in delectable flavors, like peanut butter blondies, lemon blueberry scones and oatmeal cream pie chipwiches. Crust also makes fabulous custom cakes for special events, including weddings! In 2020, Crust opened a storefront in Manayunk. You can also find its vegan delights at over 50 locations in and around Philly, including Riverwards Produce in Fishtown and Steel City Coffeehouse in Phoenixville. 4409 Main St., Philadelphia; (215) 532-7867; 4134 Chester Ave., Philadelphia; (215) 825-6928.
Dottie’s Donuts (Philadelphia)
Looking for vegan doughnuts in Philly? Look no further than Dottie’s Donuts, with four storefronts – including spots in West Philly, South Philly, Society Hill and Fishtown – and a robust wholesale operation that puts its wares in plenty of markets and coffee shops’ pastry cases. The texture of Dottie’s raised donuts is light and airy, and its bakers go wild with flavor combos and creations, which rotate daily. Memorable varieties include: maple bacon French toast, espresso chai cookie dough, Dunkaroos, raspberry cheesecake and matcha pistachio. Check out the full daily selection at any of Dottie’s shops or at one of the many coffee shops that carry its doughnuts, like Milkcrate Cafe and Green Line Cafe. 4529 Springfield Ave., Philadelphia; (215) 662-0379; 509 S. 6th St., Philadelphia; (267) 761-9447; 5105 Rochelle Ave., Philadelphia; no phone; 1764 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia; no phone.
Sunneen Health Foods (Allentown)
Sunneen Health Foods is a massive vegan grab-and-go distributor for the East Coast located right here in PA. You’ll find its products at specialty markets and grocers from the Washington, DC area through New York’s Catskills, with some 50 or so sellers offering these tasty goods throughout Pennsylvania. Rave-worthy meals and snacks include vegan buffalo and Caesar chicken wraps, a Power Sandwich with a veggie patty on sprouted multi-grain bread with eggless mayo, vegan chicken, tuna and taboulli salads and knishes of all varieties. Its hummus and salads come in bulk for restaurants or advanced level meal prep. Look for Sunneen products in markets near you for scrumptious plant-based fast food alternatives. 375 W. Greenleaf St., Allentown; (610) 774-9894.
Fresh Tofu Inc. (Allentown)
Did you know there is a tofu factory in the Lehigh Valley? It’s true! For over 30 years, Fresh Tofu Inc. has been making non-GMO tofu and other soy-based products using high-quality ingredients and traditional methods. Its straight up plain organic tofu is some of the best we’ve had, and that’s just the start of Fresh Tofu’s product line. It also makes marinated baked tofu, stuffed tofu, tofu-based burgers, meatballs and no-egg salad, and more! Its pièce de résistance is its Tofu Turkey, a golden-brown tofu creation in the actual shape of a turkey, with special herb gravy. Fresh Tofu’s products can be found at locations all along the East Coast and in plenty of Pennsylvania grocers and markets, including Whole Foods Markets. 1101 Harrison St., Allentown; (610) 433-4711.
Plant Based for Life Bakery (Various Locations)
Making the farmers market circuit from Lancaster County through the Poconos and beyond is vegan maker extraordinaire, Plant Based For Life Bakery. Its products, like cupcakes, cheesecake, cookies, muffins, scones and spelt breads, garner disbelief that something vegan and plant-based could taste so decadent and downright delicious. Try the goodies for yourself at Hometown Farmers Market in Tamaqua, Green Dragon Market in Ephrata and Blue Ridge Estate Vineyard and Winery in Saylorsburg, among other locations, and contact the bakery for gorgeous custom cakes and other specialties.
Michael’s Seitan (Levittown)
The Seitan Steak at Monk’s Cafe
Seitan is a vegan meat alternative made from wheat gluten, and while that might not sound instantly appealing to some, when properly prepared, it can be an epic flavor and texture experience. Based in Levittown, Michael’s Savory Seitan is locally made vegan wheat meat and contains no dairy or animal products, refined sugars, preservatives, artificial coloring, honey, trans fat or cholesterol. It’s a nutritious, affordable alternative even for meat-eaters (we love it in burritos!). Michael’s Savory Seitan is actually the only manufacturer or traditional seitan in all of North America, so it’s extra special to have it in the Commonwealth. A number of PA-based delis and restaurants, like Monk’s Cafe in Philadelphia, The Greyhound Cafe in Malvern and Boardwalk Vegan in Havertown use Michael’s Seitan as an ingredient in vegetarian dishes. Look for Michael’s Savory Seitan in the refrigerated section of natural food markets and some bigger grocery stores, too! 4029 New Rodgers Rd., Levittown; (267) 597-7596.
Vegan Treats (Bethlehem)
Vegan cakes! Vegan doughnuts! Vegan soft serve! Vegan cannoli, whoopie pies and sticky buns! If it’s sweet and delicious, chances are that Vegan Treats makes it. Since 1998 – long before veganism was a mainstream wellness trend – this woman-owned, Bethlehem-based bakery has been cranking out some of the most awesome desserts around, with stunningly creative designs, wildly good flavors and wondrous, you-honestly-can’t-tell-it’s-vegan textures. Ask any vegan in PA: the peanut butter bomb cake is the stuff of legend. Vegan Treats operates a storefront in Bethlehem, which is an essential stop on any vegan bucket list, and its treats can be found at one of hundreds of stockists on the East Coast. 1444 Linden St, Bethlehem; (610) 861-7660.
What are your favorite locally produced vegan foods and products? Let us know in the comments here or on the PA Eats Facebook and Instagram pages!
- Feature photo: Dottie's Donuts
- All other photos: courtesy of the respective businesses
