The Ultimate Guide to a Vegan Burns Night
Burns Night (25 January) marks the birthday of Scotland’s most beloved poet, Robert Burns, and what better way to celebrate him – and his compassion for animals – than with a vegan Burns supper?
Here’s how you can make it happen, lassies and laddies:
Address the Vegan Haggis
Sheep deserve a happy Burns Night, too, so leave them off your plate by opting for a vegan haggis. You can make your own with this vegan haggis recipe or treat yourself to the Stahly vegetarian haggis or Macsween’s award-winning one. Both are suitable for vegans and pure dead brilliant. Finding vegan haggis is easy – you can either order online or pick some up from supermarkets like Waitrose or Sainsbury’s.
Make Neeps and Tatties Barry
Dairy sees babies ripped from mothers, and cows killed when they stop producing enough milk. So bring this Burns Night staple into the 21st century by making it cruelty-free with vegan butter and a splash of vegan cream.
Enjoy a Dram
Good news for lovers of whisky and animals: virtually all whiskies are vegan, unless they’re labelled as containing honey. So grab your favourite Scotch – and if you fancy the classic Scottish Iron Monkey, the Irn Bru – and raise a glass. Slàinte mhath!
Delight with Vegan Cranachan
Get yourself some coconut milk, raspberries, maple syrup, whisky, and oats to veganise this traditional Burns Night dessert. Easy-peasy maple syrup squeezy.
Wow With Wool- and Leather-Free Garb
Tartan is a must on Burns Night, and thankfully for the sheep exploited in the wool industry and the cows abused for their skin, there are many vegan options if you want to rock a kilt for the occasion. Kiltmaking companies like St Kilda and Scottish Kilt have vegan options, or have a sustainable kilt custom-made from repurposed and environmentally friendly materials by Rare Bird Sewing Studio – and pair it with a vegan sporran. Accessorise with a stylish tartan bag from Vivienne Westwood.
Revel in a Burns Recital
In his famous poem “To a Mouse”, Burns apologises to a mouse and “fellow-mortal” for accidentally overturning her nest with his plough:
I’m truly sorry Man’s dominion Has broken Nature’s social union
What’s more, he recognises that both mice and men have the capacity to suffer and feel “grief an’ pain” – a realisation crucial to the philosophy of animal rights and ideal to recite on a vegan Burns Night.
Brighten up the evening with soya candles
Ditch candles made of beeswax – for which many bees die or are killed, sometimes after their wings or legs are torn off – and look for eco- and animal-friendly soya-based candles instead for a nice way to show your burning (com)passion for animals on Burns Night. Eden Perfumes offers some great vegan candle options.
Dinnae Forget the Vegan Cheeseboard with Bannocks
The night’s not over ’til the vegan cheeseboard’s polished off – though be warned that this might happen pretty quickly if you opt for the tasty options listed in our vegan cheese guide, in which you’ll find delectable classic flavours for all cheese lovers to enjoy, or those by Scotland-based brands Left Coast Culture and Earthy Vegan Cheese.
Remove All Animals From Your Plate
If you’re new to vegan living or feel inspired to go plant-based in 2026, you can order our free vegan starter kit today to help you on your way.
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