Each year our review staff samples hundreds of new dairy-free products. We are constantly scouring the shelves for the latest natural goodies to challenge the myth that dairy-free living is anything less than delicious. This year we had so many new innovations to choose from that it was mind-boggling, but we finally narrowed it down to ten wonderful foods. Oh yes, and our selections are completely unbiased, unsponsored, and personally sampled, so you can bet these are foods we happily spend our own hard-earned money on …

Number 4: Amy’s Organic Cakes

What do you get when you cross insane convenience with vegan ingredients and a tender, moist cake? The perfect dessert, from Amy’s of course. As someone who would choose cookies over cake any day, I really didn’t expect to like this product, let alone love it. But, I have learned, never underestimate Amy’s Kitchen.

The original two flavors of Amy’s Cakes were Chocolate and Orange (the newer Lemon Poppyseed flavor is not dairy-free). In our usual flavor fashion, I favored the Orange, while the other tasters leapt at the Chocolate. Going above and beyond your ordinary pre-packaged cake, Amy’s Cakes are made with organic ingredients, are vegan (that is dairy-free and egg-free), and taste amazingly fresh.

But what really tips them over the top is how unbelievably convenient they are. Simply open the package and let the cake defrost for a bit. No baking or additional work required, and each tea cake is served in an adorable little baked-in package. My fantasies of opening a box and heading to a party with no fuss, and a wonderfully attractive and delicious dessert in tow finally came true.

Amy’s is coming out with a gluten-free version of these cakes, just to round out the mix. If they are half as good as the original wheat-based cakes, then Amy’s Kitchen will undoubtedly have another winner on their hands.

For more information:

• Read Alisa's Amy's Cakes Review and Hannah's Amy's Cakes Review
• Visit the Amy's Kitchen website

Article and top photo by Alisa Fleming, founder of GoDairyFree.org and author of Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook. Lower photo by Hannah Kaminsky, author of My Sweet Vegan.