I Tried Dunkin’s New Avocado Toast and Here’s What I Really Thought

The sign on the Dunkin' shop near my apartment screamed out Avocado Toast, and I couldn't have been more excited. This tiny little cheerful oasis next to the subway station on 77th and Lexington is nearby my normal commute, but for years, ever since eating plant-based, I've had to steel myself to pass by, undeterred by the temptation of the donuts, everything bagels, and muffins that lay on the racks inside. None of them were plant-based unless I brought my own Tofutti plant-based cream cheese and smeared it on a bagel, or had it dry. But now, with Dunkin' adding avocado toast to its menu, there was finally something for me.

Watch the video of this recent trip inside for my first taste of their avocado toast. (It won't be my last.)

Growing up, DD (as I used to know it), was always a favorite destination, and my mom would take us there on special occasions for their jelly donuts, or glazed donuts (her favorite), and of course their coffees. I supported my own daughter's West Side Soccer team's halftime and post-game snacks with orange slices and a white box of donuts, a box of coffee for the parents, during the time in my life when I still ate dairy (and coached soccer!).

For the past two years, DD has been off-limits, until now. Yes, they had introduced the Beyond Sausage Breakfast Sandwich but honestly, by the time I removed the egg and cheese (not plant-based), there wasn't much left to it, and I'm no fan of real sausages, so I felt no need to go out of my way to replace a food I thought disgusting with a product that mimicked a taste I didn't like. On a positive note, the chain has added Oat Milk Lattes nationwide, so it's feeling more like a place I can go and enjoy a fully plant-based breakfast.

Now, avocado toast beckoning me from the street, I could go back in again and order something that I could actually eat, enjoy and feel good about.

The Avocado Toast which just dropped a few days ago is made of pure avocado spread (ingredients are avocados, lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper) so that's a promising start. I watched the worker toast the sourdough bread, spread the avocado on it, and then sprinkle the top with Everything Bagel Seasoning. Now perhaps I am biased, but so far, these ingredients get a 10 out of 10. Who knew there was such a thing as Everything Bagel Seasoning? I would have ordered that and told them to hold the bagel. I love the mix of sesame and poppy seeds, onion flakes, and sea salt. It's pretty magical, so the avo-toast had an advantage right out of the gate.

Not to be COVID-selfish, I wanted to make room for others to enter the tiny store and took my little baby box of toast outside of the store, opened it, and ate it right there standing by the window. People heading to the subway on the crowded Lexington Avenue sidewalk passed by and looked, practically sniffing it as I took a bite ... and ... drumroll. It was GOOD. Better than good. It was great.

I vowed to take home the half of the slice that I didn't eat on camera, but my tastebuds got the better of me, and four quick bites later that avo-toast was history. Put it this way: If you make your own you might toast the bread a little stiffer, and perhaps they would do that for you if you asked them for well-done toast. But other than that, this thing gets a 10 out of 10.

You will see me back there at DD. I'll be the one asking if they could run that toast through the toaster one more time to make it well done, and please add a little extra Everything Bagel Seasoning while they're at it.

For more on vegan options on the go, check out these stories: 

A Guide to Vegan and Plant-Based Options at Starbucks

The 6 Best Fast Food Chains With Plant-Based Options

Dunkin Releases Meatless Sandwich Made With Beyond Meat

Califia Farms Almond Creamer is made with real almonds and coconut cream to give a rich, full-flavored texture and has 2 grams of added sugar. The consistency is so thick it’s more like a heavy cream rather than a creamer substitute. Regardless, it froths up well and is very creamy. The almond taste is noticeable but the creamer isn’t bitter or grainy. You don’t need to use a lot of it; a little goes a long way!

Silk Original Dairy-Free Original Soy Creamer has only 1 gram of added sugar, but sadly it does not froth up well when I heated it due to a thinner, more watery consistency. It didn't combine well with coffee, no matter how much was added. Because of the underwhelming flavor, this was my least favorite.

This Natural Bliss Coconut Milk Creamer/Sweet Cream is the best one I’ve found for both frothing and taste, especially if you miss the consistency and flavor of half-and-half. It’s creamy and has a hint of coconut, but no overwhelming coconut flavor. Note: it is made with pea protein, unlike the other ones, which is probably why it’s thicker. Always check ingredients if you have food allergies because unexpected ingredients such as peas can be hiding in the product, and you would never know by the taste.

So Delicious has been marketing dairy-free frozen desserts, yogurt alternatives, and smooth plant-based beverages for over 30 years. Besides the coconut milk, they also have “Original,” “Snickerdoodle.” “Caramel” and “Creamy Vanilla” flavors. I only sampled the coconut milk flavor. This is the only one in this taste test with 0 grams of added sugar. It has a very rich coconut taste and froths up nicely in coffee like milk. It’s not as thick as some of the others but is a good alternative to ultra-sweet creamers if you want to be careful about your sugar intake. The coconut flavor is powerful but not overwhelming.

Natural Bliss Oat Milk Creamer, Vanilla Natural Flavor, with 4 grams added sugar is similar to Coffee Mate’s Coconut creamer but without the coconut flavor. It’s super-rich and creamy with a hint of oat flavor but not bitter at all. My new favorite! This is the best one I’ve found for frothing and taste especially if you miss the consistency and flavor of half and half. It’s like the real thing as it’s creamy, fluffy and not grainy. Remember to shake it up before putting in your frother. Use a little and be happy with your non-dairy latte!

The Original Oat-Ly Oat Milk Barista Edition contains 4 grams of sugar but its full-flavored taste makes it a rich choice. It doesn’t market itself as a creamer but it does advertise as the choice for the barista community. It’s slightly less frothy than real milk when mixed but the flavor is pleasant, not bitter, and I would choose it again.

Silk Oat Yeah Oat Milk Creamer, the Vanilla One has 4 grams of added sugar and is also at the top of my list. While it’s sweet, it’s also incredibly rich which means you can use less of it in your coffee. It was thick and creamy when frothed and it adds a fluffy cap to your coffee as lattes make with real cream. Note that pea protein is an added ingredient in this creamer as well. This can rival the real thing but choose this one only if you like a strong vanilla aftertaste!

The Silk Almond Creamer Vanilla boasts that it’s “America’s #1 Almond Creamer. But with 4 grams added sugar you may want to use it sparingly. It did taste sweet and was nice and thick, so someone who likes rich creamers will love it. The vanilla aftertaste was pretty strong. And it's a little too syrupy sweet for my taste.

Nutpods is the closest you'll get to the real thing! Tasters immediately gave this dairy-free creamer a 5 out 5. The texture is smooth and mixes with coffee instantly. Unlike soy creamers, this almond and coconut-based creamer doesn't separate once your done stirring. Nut Pods is the most comparable to half and half in the whole list of creamers!

Forager is cashew milk and coconut cream based that mixes for a unique and flavorful taste. The consistency was on the thinner side, and if you're a heavy cream or half-and-half devotee this is probably not the creamer for you, although those who like a lighter flavor will enjoy it.

This creamer is rich, round and doesn't taste too overtly of coconut. You only need a splash to achieve a nice, creamy effect in your coffee, and there's no watered-down consistency, so if you swear by heavy cream or half & half, give this Trader Joe's option a try! At only $1.69 per carton, this product is a steal.

The thickest consistency of the bunch, resembling a heavy cream rather than half and half. Malk has only 5 ingredients, making it super clean and healthy! The almond flavor might be overpowering to those who like less flavor in their creamer. Add the Maple Pecan flavor to your coffee for an even sweeter taste.