{"id":5800,"date":"2025-11-11T14:59:37","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T18:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/?p=5800"},"modified":"2025-11-11T14:59:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T18:59:44","slug":"the-peoples-place-choice-awards-vegan-pastries-ranked-from-better-to-best","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/2025\/11\/11\/the-peoples-place-choice-awards-vegan-pastries-ranked-from-better-to-best\/","title":{"rendered":"The People’s (Place) Choice Awards: Vegan Pastries Ranked From Better To Best"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As a long-time vegan and brand-new communications associate at Hendricks Chapel<\/a>, I was super excited to rank the vegan pastries at People\u2019s Place<\/a>. Even though I love some more than others, they\u2019re all amazing and great options! People\u2019s Place receives their vegan pastry shipments from Fatcat Baking<\/a> on Tuesdays and Thursdays around 9 a.m. They usually sell out within the day, so make sure to head over quickly, especially for those seasonal pastries! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the rankings below (#1 is my all-time fave!) along with a recommended drink pairing for each pastry. Below the rankings, you\u2019ll find more info about People\u2019s Place and Fatcat Baking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pastry Ranking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

10. Lemon Basil Scone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t go wrong with any of the scones. In my opinion, this one is a little bit more geared towards people with an adventurous palate, like People\u2019s Place barista Grace Stecher, who loves it! The basil is just a little too culinarily sophisticated for me in a sweet pastry, but it\u2019s balanced out nicely with the lemon icing. This is Fatcat\u2019s most popular flavor, though, so maybe I need to try it again!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pairs Best With:<\/strong> Earl Grey tea<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Pumpkin Seed Muffin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This muffin is the pastry equivalent to a hug from your grandparents. It\u2019s the epitome of autumnal comfort, and the pumpkin flavor is not overpowering at all. The muffin itself is not crumbly, which is one of my biggest pet peeves with the texture of vegan baked goods. So don\u2019t be scared to grab this one for an on-the-go breakfast! The pumpkin seeds on top are a prefect addition for a little crunch and are evenly salted to add some flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pairs Best With:<\/strong> Hot coffee with almond milk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Mixed Berry Pop Tart<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Confession, I did not grow up in a Pop-Tarts family. If I did, though, I think this would have been my go-to as a 10-year-old. In fact, it might have been the one thing to drag me out of bed back in those 5th grade mornings. Maybe I would have even gotten a couple less tardy notes. It\u2019s super sugary, but the flakey crust evens out the sweetness. The founder of Fatcat says someone once approached them at a farmers market asking if they sold gallon sizes of the berry filling\u2014so he could drink it. If that\u2019s not a ringing endorsement, I don\u2019t know what is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pairs Best With: <\/strong>Iced green tea<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Snickerdoodle Cookie<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Veganism doesn\u2019t have to mean giving up the things you love; I think this classic cookie is a perfect example of that. So many family recipes can easily be adapted to a plant-based version, and that\u2019s something the Rydzeks, who own Fatcat, are always working toward. Sometimes the new version turns out even better\u2014which is the case with these sweet treats. Vegan butter often has a nutty element, usually when it\u2019s made from oat milk, that lends itself to spices like cinnamon more naturally than dairy does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pairs Best With:<\/strong> Iced chai with oat milk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Scone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you ever felt left out of fall festivities because you cannot stand the taste of pumpkin spice, this is the perfect pastry for you to finally join in on the fun. The chocolate chip scone, spoiler alert, is one of my favorites, and this is like its cousin visiting for the holidays. The pumpkin flavor is subtle in the icing, and unlike the lattes that litter cafe menu boards this season, it tastes like it is made from a natural puree. So don\u2019t hesitate to pick one up and take a stroll in the crisp October air! This is Gigi\u2019s favorite, and you must trust the experts (she\u2019s a People\u2019s Place manager!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pairs Best With: <\/strong>Apple cider<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Vanilla Cupcake With Sprinkles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ever have an exam that takes every bit of academic confidence out of you? Or maybe a paper that makes you envy your elementary school days when writing your name at the top of the paper was enough to get an A+? First, my condolences. Second, I have just the thing to cheer you up! This cupcake is perfectly playful and reminds you not to take college too seriously. The consistency is just fluffy enough without venturing into flavorless air territory. And, really, you can\u2019t be too sad when there are sprinkles involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pairs Best With:<\/strong> Iced coffee with oat milk and vanilla syrup<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Brown Sugar Pop Tart<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Me and the brown sugar pop tart go way back. This was the first pastry I ever tried, and it\u2019s how I found out People\u2019s Place had vegan options. The icing on top is silky smooth, and again, the crust is perfectly buttery and flakey. The inside is what really sets this recipe apart, though; it\u2019s the consistency and taste of that gooey center of a cinnamon roll without making you go through all the work to get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pairs Best With:<\/strong> Hot black coffee<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Chocolate Chip Scone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned in the pumpkin prequel, this is my favorite of the scone trilogy. Growing up, my summer camp treated us to chocolate chip scones once during our month-long term; it was always my favorite morning. When I went vegan six years ago, I was especially pained to give them up. So these have a special place in my heart! The chocolate chips melt in your mouth, even when the pastries sit at room temperature, and Fatcat said it best when they called the consistency \u201ca cross between a biscuit and a muffin top.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pairs Best With:<\/strong> Iced coffee with almond milk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Oreo Cupcake<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Did you know Oreos are already vegan? The iconic shelf staple doesn\u2019t advertise it often, but they are one of the few name brand snacks that don\u2019t contain milk or eggs. Turning an already great cookie into a cupcake is a recipe for perfection! The cake part of the pastry is a vanilla base with bits of Oreo incorporated, meaning the chocolate does not overpower it at all. The bakers carefully dust the icing with finely crushed Oreo, which is my favorite part for aesthetics and taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pairs Best With:<\/strong> Pepsi (add oat milk for my favorite “dirty soda” drink!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And now, for my all-time favorite…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Apple Cinnamon Pop Tart<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, so naturally, this pastry was destined to be my favorite. With real apple pieces in the filling that have been caramelized with sugar and cinnamon, it\u2019s the perfect substitute for the traditional pie without all the work. When finals have begun and it\u2019s getting to the point of cold that pushes past cardigans and into puffer jackets, homesickness often creeps in. Stop by People\u2019s Place for one of these, close your eyes and take a bite\u2014I promise it will transport you the coziest place you know for at least a few moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pairs Best With:<\/strong> Iced coffee with oat milk and hazelnut syrup<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Pumpkin
Pumpkin seed muffin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Snickerdoodle
Snickerdoodle cookie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Brown
Brown sugar pop tart<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Oreo
Oreo cupcake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Hidden Gem of People’s Place: Vegan Pastries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People\u2019s Place Cafe is one of Syracuse University\u2019s \u201cbest kept secrets,\u201d but the vegan pastries they offer might just be their own hidden gem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It all started in 2020, when the cafe noticed a rise in demand for plant-based milks in their beverages. If you time it right, the chorus of \u201cI\u2019ll take an iced coffee with oat milk\u201d is nearly constant throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hendricks Chapel is \u201ca home for all faiths and place for all people.\u201d The stewards of People\u2019s Place want to ensure that the cafe echoes the same sentiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost people order their drinks with oat or almond milk,\u201d said Gianna Taft, People\u2019s Place manager. Taft orders the baked goods for People\u2019s Place and keeps a close eye on the pastry shelves. She looks out for the customers who have allergies and dietary needs. \u201cWe want to be inclusive. It really sucks if you go somewhere and they don\u2019t have any options for you,\u201d Taft said. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to know that everyone can eat at People\u2019s Place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pastries are created at Fatcat Baking, a local wholesale bakery founded by Megan Rydzak. Megan\u2019s husband, Alex Rydzak, is a Syracuse alum who spent many of his undergrad days taking refuge in the cafe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People\u2019s Place has a standing order for Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the bakery gives students first access to seasonal flavors, like Taft\u2019s favorite, the pumpkin chocolate chip scone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both People\u2019s Place and Fatcat have debated whether to prominently label the baked goods as vegan. While Fatcat continues to go back and forth on the decision, Taft wants to ensure that students with allergies or those who follow a plant-based diet know their options are available. She keeps a printed ingredient list at the counter for anyone who asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just vegan, it\u2019s good,\u201d Alex said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written By Georgia Hudson<\/strong>\u00a0\u201928, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and College of Arts and Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article was originally published on the Hendricks Chapel website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a long-time vegan and brand-new communications associate at Hendricks Chapel, I was super excited to rank the vegan pastries at People\u2019s Place. Even though I love some more than others, they\u2019re all amazing and great options! People\u2019s Place receives their vegan pastry shipments from Fatcat Baking on Tuesdays and Thursdays around 9 a.m. They…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":324,"featured_media":5810,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[528,186,151,566,565,478],"class_list":["post-5800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-life","tag-campus-cafes","tag-hendricks","tag-hendricks-chapel","tag-pastries","tag-peoples-place","tag-snack-ranking"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/324"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5800"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5809,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5800\/revisions\/5809"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5810"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}