Logically, all pretzels should be vegan, right? What could possibly go wrong with flour, water and yeast that would complicate your life? Although pretzels are a satisfying and reliable snack for nearly everyone, there are some things to look for before you start eating.
Unique Pretzel Bakery is a 120-year old family-owned business founded in Reading, PA, during the late 1890s, and we’ve continued baking pretzels for six generations. Our most famous brand is Unique Pretzels “Splits”, a split-open pretzel which was accidentally invented in the early 1950s after the dough was left to set too long and the pretzels split during baking. The result was a one-of-a-kind crispy, yet crunchy, hard pretzel with lots of bubbles and crevices.
While soft pretzels were a European invention which may date back to the 7th Century, our hard pretzels are a truly American creation with Pennsylvania Dutch roots. In fact, Reading, PA, the home of Unique Pretzel Bakery, holds the title of Pretzel Capital of the World.
Traditional European and American hard pretzels are vegan-friendly because there are no animal products in the recipe.
But Aren’t All Pretzels Vegan?
Not necessarily. In the old days, some pretzel bakers added lard to their soft pretzel dough (and, on rare occasions, to their hard pretzels) to create a softer, richer-tasting pretzel. Most modern recipes have replaced the lard with butter, margarine or vegetable oils. Always check the ingredient list to make sure the pretzels don’t contain butter or margarine.
Vegans should also be careful with sweet pretzels, flavored pretzels and dipping sauces. Sweet pretzels and dipping sauces often contain dairy products and sugars processed with bone char. Your favorite mustard sauce may have a touch of honey. And beer-flavored pretzels or sauces may also be made with non-vegan ingredients.
New Sprouted Grain Pretzels
Our newest pretzel on the block is made with a revolutionary new sprouted flour from Essential Eating® Sprouted Foods. We call them Unique Pretzels Sprouted “Splits” and Sprouted Shells, and they are the only 100% Whole Grain Sprouted Flour pretzels in the industry. They are also the only pretzel made with olive oil, the only ones to naturally provide 4 grams of fiber per serving, and the only pretzel with over 35% whole grains that doesn’t use any sugar or malt additives.
Unique Pretzels Sprouted “Splits” and Sprouted Shells are vegan, kosher, organic, non-GMO, cholesterol-free, diabetic-friendly, and chock full of nutritious whole grains and phenomenal flavor.
They’re made with sprouted wheat flour that digests like a vegetable. When whole grains are sprouted (germinated), they are converted into a living food with more vital nutrients. And those nutrients are now in a form that the body can easily absorb. Pretzels can’t get more vegan-friendly (or nutritious) than this!
You’ll find delicious pretzels nearly everywhere you go – baseball stadiums, shopping malls, amusement parks, and pubs. Overall, they make a delightful snack for vegans; just be sure to read the ingredient labels to avoid surprises.
Make sure your family is getting the best nutrition from its vegan pretzels. Order Unique Pretzels Sprouted “Splits” and Sprouted Shells, or one of our other varieties from our online store, or look for them at your local Wegmans, Fresh Market, Whole Foods and Giant stores.