Enjoying a hot cup of tea with a biscuit is a quintessential British pastime, and vegans needn’t miss out as there are plenty of accidentally vegan biscuits readily available on the UK high-street.
We Brits love a cup of tea. In fact, we drink 60 billion cups of the stuff every year1! And there’s nothing more satisfying than dunking a cheeky biscuit into a cuppa.
But if you’ve ever wondered which biscuits are vegan in the UK and where can you buy them, you’ll be pleased to hear there are plenty of readily-available options in supermarkets.
Don’t worry, we’ve compiled a list of the best vegan biscuits you can find in UK supermarkets for a delicious 100% plant-based dunking experience.
1. Jammie Dodger
This British classic has flip-flopped its way from being vegan to non-vegan and back to vegan again over the past few years. Fingers crossed the new vegan Jammie Dodger recipe is here to stay!
Two golden shortcake biscuits are sandwiched together with a fruity jammy filling, revealed by a small cut-out heart on the top layer.
Aside from the Original Raspberry flavour, you can also find Magical Strawberry, Gooey Apple, and Cherry Burst flavours.
And if you’re feeling really adventurous, the brand recently unveiled two controversial varieties: Choccie Dodgers and Cola Bottle flavour. There’s a Jammie Dodger for every taste bud!
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2. Lotus Biscoff
Probably the holy grail of vegan products, Lotus Biscoff is one of our favourite things… ever!
The thin and crunchy caramelised biscuits are delicious on their own and dipped into a cup of tea, or hot chocolate, or coffee, or milkshake. The possibilities are endless!
As well as its classic cookies, the brand has also released a cream-filled version of its popular cinnamon cookies that is also suitable for vegans.
And if a Biscoff biscuit on the side of your morning beverage wasn’t enough, the brand also launched biscuit spreads in crunchy and smooth varieties so now you can have Biscoff toast, porridge or pancakes with your cuppa too.
3. Oreo
American Oreo cookies are a childhood favourite and are surprisingly suitable for vegans.
The two dark chocolate halves twist apart easily, revealing a creamy vanilla frosting that you won’t believe is vegan!
But be warned, they are extremely addictive, and before you know it the entire packet will be gone. Trust us, we’re speaking from personal experience!
What’s more, you can find lots of different flavours of Oreo including Birthday Party, Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Brownie, and even Golden Oreos – which taste like Custard Creams. We love them all!
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4. Party Rings
Another nostalgic accidentally vegan biscuit is the humble Party Ring.
A favourite at children’s parties, these pretty pastel-coloured rings of sugary icing and crispy biscuit are the perfect weekday pick-me-up.
And they fare very well after being dunked into a cuppa which of course is the real test! What’s not to love?
5. Gingernuts
These fiery spiced ginger biscuits are the ideal winter warmer and a classic elevenses treat for Brits.
With warming notes of ginger and lemon balanced out with sugar and molasses, the crunchy biscuits are hard to resist!
What’s more, they are allergen-friendly as they are free from soy, nuts, and milk, making them great for all the family.
Thankfully, there are plenty of vegan-friendly gingernuts available in UK supermarkets, including at Tesco, Asda, and Morrison’s.
Major biscuit brands McVitie’s and Belmont also offer vegan ginger nuts.
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6. Bourbons
Britain’s favourite chocolatey biscuit is the humble Bourbon, and every supermarket has an own-brand version from as little as 22p.
Despite featuring a silky chocolate cream filling, many supermarket brands of Bourbon biscuits are vegan.
Currently, the following supermarket own-brand Bourbons that are suitable for vegans are: Waitrose bourbons, Sainsbury’s bourbon biscuits, Morrison’s bourbons, Asda bourbons, and Tesco bourbons.
Alternatively, some of the major biscuit brands including McVitie’s, Belmont, and Crawford’s bourbons are all vegan.
However, Bourbons you need to avoid are two branded versions: Fox’s Bourbon Creams and Schar Gluten-Free Bourbon Biscuits as these contain milk.
But always make sure to check the packaging of whichever Bourbons you find to make sure they’re definitely milk-free before purchasing.
7. Pink Wafers
Aesthetically pleasing pink wafer biscuits are the perfect addition to any party platter or teatime treat.
With layers of crispy wafer and a creamy filling, the pretty-in-pink biscuits are oh so delicious!
Excitingly, Crawford’s Pink Wafers, McVitie’s Tasties Pink Wafer, and Pink Panther Wafers are all vegan and widely available in supermarkets.
However, some pink wafers aren’t suitable for vegans. The version to avoid currently are Caxton Pink & White Wafers.
Pink wafers definitely make us feel a bit fancy, so if you want to make your afternoon tea more bougie, these are the biscuits to delicately dunk into your best china teacups!
8. McVitie’s Hobnobs
The Hobnob is a firm favourite in many British households, providing a sweet and oaty biscuit that makes a great dunker.
McVitie’s Hobnobs are suitable for vegans, as are the majority of supermarket own-brand versions with oat-related names.
Just be warned, it’s very hard to stop nibbling these addictive vegan biscuits, so be prepared to demolish the entire pack with your mug of tea.
If you like your biscuits studded with extra chocolate, McVitie’s Chocolate Chip Hobnobs are also vegan.
9. Maryland Vegan Cookies
Before we were vegan we used to love Maryland cookies, and now we don’t have to miss them anymore as the iconic cookie brand has launched a vegan variety.
Maryland Vegan Cookies taste just how we remember the original version but are completely animal-free.
The only noticeable difference is the green packaging as opposed to the signature red colour, indicating a greener product.
The cookies are great cinema snacks, as well as a delicious addition to your afternoon cuppa as the chocolate chips melt in the hot tea making a biscuity chocolatey treat.
10. Digestives
The iconic British digestive biscuit is thankfully vegan. If you’re unfamiliar with them, the digestive is a deliciously wheaty biscuit that is arguably the best vessel for dunking in tea.
While some supermarket own-brand digestives such as M&S and Asda’s have been vegan for a while, McVitie’s recently removed the milk powder from their original recipe to make them suitable for an animal-free diet.
When it comes to the chocolate topped versions, McVitie’s chocolate digestives aren’t vegan as they contain butter oil.
11. Tesco Dark Chocolate Digestives
Although McVitie’s is yet to offer vegan-friendly chocolate digestives, UK supermarket chain Tesco’s dark chocolate digestives are vegan.
The supermarket’s own-brand biscuits are made with cocoa butter and 30 percent dark chocolate and priced at just 60p a pack.
According to the company, they’re “generously dipped in rich chocolate for a dunkable treat” so are perfect for any biscuits fans looking for their chocolate fix.
However, despite their popularity, the biscuits have previously been discontinued by the store before being bought back in 2020.
Happy dunking!
12. Fig Rolls
With a lightly-spiced fig filling encased in a soft biscuit dough, Fig Rolls are a beloved British biscuit that have been a nostalgic treat for over 100 years.
While they’re often made with milk due to the pastry-like biscuit exterior, both McVities and Bolands offer vegan-friendly fig rolls.
So, while some people mistakenly believe vegans don’t eat figs, they can certainly enjoy a vegan fig roll with a cuppa!
13. Rich Tea Biscuits
Despite being labelled as “suitable for vegetarians”, McVitite’s classic Rich Tea biscuits are suitable for vegans as they don’t contain any animal products in the ingredients.
To give consumers peace of mind that there are no sneaky ones hiding in the ingredients, the company has confirmed2 that they are entirely vegan.
There’s more good news for fans of these crisp, sweet biscuits as Tesco and Asda also offer own-brand versions that are vegan-friendly too.
Additionally, Sainsbury’s has confirmed to vFL that its own-brand Rich Tea biscuits are also suitable for vegans.
14. Fruit Shortcake Biscuits
Another snackable accidentally vegan biscuit from McVitie’s is its crispy yet chewy Fruit Shortcake biscuits. Unlike traditional buttery shortcake, these shortcake biscuits are made with oil instead of dairy so are entirely vegan.
Crisp and crumbly with a sprinkle of raisins and sugar crystals, they’re the perfect companion to a warm cuppa when you need a sugar fix.
Plus, Tesco sell their own-brand version which are also vegan too – perfect for a mid-morning pick-me-up.
Did you enjoy this round-up of our favourite vegan biscuits for tea dunking?
If you did, check out the best vegan sweets.
