Is Bourbon Biscuits Vegan?
Contains butter and milk.
Contains or is derived from animal products.
Detailed answer
No. Classic bourbon biscuits are usually not vegan. The chocolate-flavored sandwich cookies typically contain butter and/or milk powder in the biscuit or cream filling. Some supermarket own-brand versions are accidentally vegan, so the label on your specific pack is decisive.
Bourbon biscuits verdict at a glance
- Classic bourbon biscuits (major brands)
- Not vegan — butter and/or milk common
- Own-brand supermarket versions
- Some are accidentally vegan — check label
- Name origin
- Bourbon whiskey style, not the spirit — unrelated to alcohol vegan status
- Cream filling
- Often buttercream with milk solids
- Vegan labeled alternatives
- Available from several UK supermarkets
The verdict on bourbon biscuits
Traditional bourbon biscuits, the oblong chocolate-flavored sandwich cookies with chocolate buttercream filling, are not vegan in most major-brand recipes. Butter gives the biscuit its short, rich texture, and the cream filling often includes butter, milk powder, or whey. Despite the name, bourbon biscuits are not made with bourbon whiskey; the name refers to a type of vanilla flavoring associated with the cookie style. Vegan shoppers should not assume any bourbon cream is plant-based. A growing number of supermarket own-brand bourbons use vegetable fat instead of butter and omit dairy from the filling.
Typical non-vegan bourbon biscuit ingredients
- Wheat flour
- Sugar
- Butter or palm oil with butter
- Glucose syrup
- Cocoa powder
- Milk powder or whey powder (biscuit or filling)
- Raising agents
- Salt
- Flavorings
- Emulsifier (soy lecithin)
Non-vegan ingredients to look for
- Butter — standard in many premium and classic recipes
- Milk powder — common in biscuit dough and chocolate cream
- Whey powder — appears in some budget fillings
- Egg — less common but used in some biscuit recipes
- Lactose — indicates dairy derivatives
- Vegetable margarine with milk — some brands use blended fats that still contain dairy
Why most bourbon biscuits contain dairy
UK biscuit tradition relies on butter for flavor and snap. Bourbon creams follow the same pattern as custard creams and digestives with chocolate flavoring added. The filling is a simple buttercream whipped with icing sugar and cocoa, which naturally calls for butter unless the manufacturer switches to palm oil or another hard fat. Cost-driven own-brand recipes sometimes replace butter with vegetable oil entirely, which is why accidental vegan bourbons exist alongside classic dairy versions.
Classic brand vs own-brand bourbon biscuits
| Major brand bourbon | Some own-brand bourbons | |
|---|---|---|
| Fat source | Butter common | Palm or vegetable oil possible |
| Milk in filling | Often yes | Sometimes omitted |
| Vegan? | Usually no | Sometimes yes — verify |
| How to tell | Read ingredients every time | Same — never assume |
Country and brand differences
- United Kingdom — largest market; widest range of own-brand accidentally vegan options
- Ireland — similar products; check local supermarket labels
- International exports — recipes may differ from UK originals
- Free-from aisles — some supermarkets sell explicitly labeled vegan bourbon-style cookies
- Premium vs budget lines — butter content varies; budget lines more likely to use vegetable fat
Related products
- Lotus Biscoff — speculoos cookies usually vegan by ingredients
- Oreo — chocolate sandwich cookie with a different recipe
- Custard creams — typically contain butter; similar check required
- Digestives — chocolate or plain; many contain milk but some are vegan
Vegan alternatives to bourbon biscuits
- Supermarket own-brand bourbons confirmed dairy-free on the label
- Explicitly labeled vegan chocolate cream sandwiches
- Homemade bourbons using plant butter, cocoa, and dairy-free cream filling
- McVitie's-style vegan copycat recipes from specialty bakeries
- Other vegan sandwich cookies such as certain Oreo or Newman-O's varieties
How to find vegan bourbon-style biscuits
- Read the full ingredient list for butter, milk powder, whey, and lactose.
- Do not trust the cookie appearance — visually identical own-brand packs differ inside.
- Check the free-from or vegan section for labeled alternatives.
- Compare palm oil versions against your stance on palm sourcing.
- Use the Product Checker when a new supermarket line catches your eye.
Found an own-brand bourbon that might be vegan? Check the ingredient list
Frequently asked questions
- Are bourbon biscuits vegan?
- Usually not. Classic recipes contain butter and often milk powder in the biscuit or filling. Some own-brand versions are vegan — check the label.
- Do bourbon biscuits contain butter?
- Most traditional bourbon biscuits do. Some budget or own-brand recipes replace butter with vegetable oil.
- Do bourbon biscuits contain milk?
- Many do, either as milk powder in the dough or in the chocolate cream filling.
- Are bourbon biscuits named after bourbon whiskey?
- No. The name refers to a style of vanilla flavoring. The biscuits do not typically contain alcohol.
- Are there vegan bourbon biscuits in the UK?
- Yes. Several supermarket own-brand bourbons omit dairy. Formulations change, so verify each pack.
- Are bourbon biscuits vegetarian?
- Yes. They contain dairy but not meat or fish, so they suit lacto-vegetarians but not vegans unless dairy-free.
- Are gluten-free bourbon biscuits vegan?
- Not automatically. Gluten-free versions often still use butter or milk. Read both allergen and ingredient sections.
- Can I make vegan bourbon biscuits at home?
- Yes. Use plant butter or hard vegetable fat for the biscuit and a dairy-free buttercream with icing sugar and cocoa for the filling.
Evidence
Last verified August 2026
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Checked by Is This Vegan? · August 2026