VEGPICKS

PICKS veg

Searching for today’s hottest vegan products? Look no further. VegNews tasted and tested dozens of them, and here are the ones you don’t want to miss.

illustrations by RUBY ROTH

Approved

Non-Alcoholic Apéritif

The holidays don’t have to be all about schmoozing and boozing. Opting to go zero-proof is becoming increasingly trendy, and GHIA’S bold botanicals (think lemon balm, yuzu, fig, and elderflower) inspired by the coasts of France and Italy offer a glamorous non-alcoholic beverage option for your holiday soirées.

Sizzle and Drizzle Extra Virgin Olive Oil

At VegNews, we say a dish is only as good as the oil that’s used. That’s why GRAZA’S single-origin Spanish olives are cold-pressed for high-quality oils specifically designed for either “sizzling” (aka cooking) or “drizzling” (as a beautifully smooth finishing oil). Do like we do and complete a chocolate tart with floral-and-fruity olive oil and a pinch of flaky salt for a to-die-for dessert.

Plant-Based Butters

If there’s one thing we absolutely cannot do without during the holidays, it’s vegan butter. But now, our sautéeing, baking, basting, and drizzling has gotten an upgrade with New York-crafted, artisanal small-batch butters from MONTY’S. Made with only cashews, coconut oil, almond oil, and sea salt, this high-end spread comes in sustainable glass jars and makes a unique gift for your kitchenobsessed loved one.

Marc de Champagne Truffles

Opening a golden WILLIE’S CACAO box to find a dozen soft and fudgy, dark chocolate praline truffles is an experience in and of itself. But one bite into these UK-imported sweets— filled with the smooth tang of Marc de Champagne brandy and crunchy roasted hazelnuts, and finished with a light dusting of cacao—and you’ll be in heaven.

Blue Cheese Crumbles

Stuffed dates, autumnal salads, fig and cheese tarts … FOLLOW YOUR HEART’s tangy, funky, complex blue cheese crumbles offer endlessly dreamy ways to add a dose of fancy flavor to nearly any holiday dish. That is, if you can stop snacking on them straight from the container.

Pumpkin Spice Cocktail Syrup

Pumpkin spice season is anything but basic with PROOF’S small-batch, artisanal pumpkin tincture cocktail syrup with aromatic cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger. Make a fall-inspired, smoky Old Fashioned, drizzle into creamy oat milk nogs, stir into hot toddies, or try swirled into rich hot chocolate for a warm and toasty twist.

Honeycrisp Apple PieDrizzled Popcorn

Fragrant, nostalgia-inducing apple pie straight out of the oven, but in a bag. This light, sweet kettle corn from The SAFE + FAIR FOOD COMPANY marries chunks of real apple with a melt-in-your-mouth, sweet cinnamon drizzle for the ultimate popcorn snack. But trust us, forget the tree decorating—try these sugarand-spice kernels in classic popcorn balls instead.

Cracked Black Pepper Bacon

Smoky, crispy, salty … OZO has nailed all the tantalizing qualities that come to mind when thinking of conventional bacon—sourcing not from pigs, but from rice, peas, soy, and wheat. These convincing strips feature fatty marbling and a cracked pepper crust, and will work wonders in everything from maple Brussels sprouts to fully loaded baked potato casserole.

Caramelized Onion Cheese Spread

Make room on your charcuterie boards—there’s a new cheese in town. KITE HILL’s soft, spreadable almond milk cheese pairs sweet caramelized onions and roasted garlic for a dip that’ll have all of your guests clamoring for the last cracker. But don’t feel relegated to a wooden plank—this smooth and mildly sweet cheese can turn mashed spuds from ho hum to a main dish-worthy.

Vegan Maple Marshmallows

Campfire marshmallows may be a distant summer memory, but thanks to DANDIES’ maple marshmallows, our obsession is still going strong. These chewy, bouncy bites are a treat enough on their own, but their nutty, caramellike notes are intensified when melted into Halloween-ready crispy rice treats, roasted atop sweet potato casserole, or piled into hot mugs of cocoa.