We all knew this day would come. The day when Beyond Meat would step Beyond meat and into the Great Beyond. “The Great Beyond” in this case, of course, refers to the realm of hand-held frozen snacks. The brand has long been known for its cadre of plant-based proteins, from beef to steak to sausage to popcorn chicken, but they’d yet to venture into the world of fully fledged meals. But now there is now an option available from Beyond (which I’m aware makes it sound like heaven is gifting us with fake meat CPG products) and, yes, it is their plant-based take on Hot Pockets. They will be called Beyond Bakes Plant-Based Pockets, and they have already been spotted at Hy-Vee stores, although no official announcement has been made.
So what are Beyond Bakes exactly? Will they be similar to Hot Pockets or live in more of a plant-based calzone zone?
Well, based on images of the new Beyond Bakes, they look an awful lot like Hot Pockets, right down to the two flavors, which are Meaty Italian-Style Pizza and Pepperoni Pizza. Both are completely plant-based, so yes, the cheese is non-dairy as well. The Pepperoni one is described on the package as having “Beyond Pepperoni Plant-Based Pieces, non-dairy mozzarella style cheese, and sauce in a toasted crust.” The Meaty Italian-Style Beyond Hot Pocket looks to have “Beyond Beef Plant-Based Crumbles and Beyond Pepperoni Plant Based Pieces, non-dairy mozzarella style cheese, spices, and sauce in a toasted crust.”
Notably, the plant-based beef crumbles in the Italian-style pocket have existed for a while now, but the Beyond Pepperoni is new with this product. Hopefully, it is only a matter of time before we can buy the pepperoni on its own! Both flavors of Beyond Bakes contain 22g of protein per serving (if you are a vegan watchin’ your macros), and it looks like they take just two minutes to heat up in the microwave. They come in packs of two that cost $6.99 at the Hy-Vee grocery store where they were photographed. Pricing will likely vary depending on store and region.
It’s tough to predict exactly how these will taste. The form factor and heating method make them seem very similar to Hot Pockets, but the crust looks more like it belongs in the Calzone zone. We’ll just have to try them to find out where they land on the spectrum of pocket foods—or if they’re something totally new altogether. We’re “Beyond” excited to find out.
