Author: Alisa Fleming

These allergy-friendly chocolate chip cookies are made without dairy, egg, gluten, nuts, and soy, but they don’t require any fancy ingredients. They’re even gum-free and completely butterless. Despite their simplicity, they’ve still been dubbed the “People’s Choice” cookies for their perfectly sweet flavor and lightly chewy texture. Allergy-Friendly Chocolate Chip Cookies with No Need for Special Ingredients This recipe is from Cookies for Everyone! by Leslie Hammond and Betsy Laakso. These ladies skip substitutions, and instead rely on baking basics to create sweet treats. They shun dairy alternatives, egg substitutes, and gluten-free baking blends. For the flour, they keep it simple with…

Updated March 2024! Here it is! Our complete dairy-free menu guide for Sonic. This nostalgic fast food chain offers the classic drive-in experience, complete with carhops on roller skates. And we were pleasantly surprised by all of the options they offer without dairy! This guide includes menu items, custom order options, top allergen notes, and even a separate vegan menu. Sonic Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Allergen Notes & Vegan Options As with all of our guides, make sure you read all of the information and reference any custom order notes in parentheses! For example, if it says (no cheese), you…

Updated March 2024! Playa Bowls was founded by two surfers from Jersey Shore with a passion for nourishing eats. Robert Giuliani and Abby Taylor traveled to Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, California, and Hawaii in pursuit of big waves, but they also discovered many local variations of acai and pitaya bowls. Abby and Rob started blending their own bowls at home, and eventually began selling them at a pop-up stand in front of a pizza shop in Belmar, NJ. From those humble beginnings, they’ve since expanded to an empire of counter-serve restaurants, with a rather lengthy menu. Playa Bowls…

This dairy-free mushroom barley soup has been loved by thousands of people over the past fifteen years. No exaggeration. It has wonderful depth in flavor, a comforting stew-like richness, and is generously stocked with mushrooms and barley for more satisfaction than your average soup. This recipe is also quite versatile. It’s positively delicious as is, but almost invites you to toss in leftover vegetables or herbs. The Dairy-Free Mushroom Barley Soup that Everyone Loves I originally featured this mushroom barley soup on my old blog, where it received dozens and dozens of raves from readers. It was so popular, that…

Updated April 2024! Oh how Starbucks has evolved over the years. When I first posted about this mega coffee house chain, it was to share the dairy-free versions of their “new” Vivanno Nourishing blends. Those have since vanished from the menu. And sadly, their wonderful Tazo tea menu has also been replaced by an overly sweet, floral Teavana line-up (IMHO). However, for dairy free Starbucks coffee drinkers or a quick vegan nosh on the go, the options have actually expanded. Scroll through our guide, or use these jump links to get ahead: What’s New at Starbucks Dairy-Free Drinks at Starbucks…

I was recently asked about my favorite recipes for dairy-free nutrition. And I forgot one of my favorites, simple steamed or sautéed broccoli. This powerhouse vegetable is not only a good source of calcium, it’s also rich in potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid, and several other essential micronutrients. And, I think it’s pretty tasty. But even if you aren’t a big broccoli fan, I think you’ll like this flavorful dairy-free lemon broccoli sauté. This Dairy-Free Lemon Broccoli is a Simple Side for Any Meal This dairy-free lemon broccoli was inspired by a Barefoot Contessa recipe. She…

It finally happened in 2023, Reese’s created their first dairy-free chocolate confection. Reese’s Plant-Based Peanut Butter Cups were crafted with the brand’s classic peanut butter filling, but are enrobed in a milky oat- and rice-based chocolate. The full-size vegan cups have been quite successful, so this year, they decided to make miniature plant-based cups, too! Reese’s Plant-Based Peanut Butter Cups are Unapologetically Dairy Free Some keen online shoppers spotted these treats on Rite-Aid’s website, but it looks like they were prematurely posted. Nevertheless, they are expected to be in stores soon, and we do have some details already, like the…

A couple of years ago, Hershey’s test marketed dairy-free versions of their iconic chocolate bars, and called them Oat Made Chocolate. The trial was hugely successful, so they rereleased the bars with broader distribution, and gave them a new name, Hershey’s Plant Based Chocolate. We were still skeptical about the longevity of this product, but this time around, it looks like Hershey’s is playing for keeps. How do we know? They just doubled down with the launch of Hershey’s Miniature Plant Based Chocolate Bars. Milky Dairy-Free Minis join Hershey’s Plant Based Chocolate Collection Based on the ingredients and nutrition facts,…

Updated for 2024! We are now 15 years into our annual Dairy-Free & Vegan Chocolate Easter Bunny Round-up, and have about THIRTY chocolatiers to share. We started this post with dairy-free chocolate bunnies as the focus, but chocolate eggs have been overtaking the Easter chocolate scene lately. We also have chocolate chicks, lambs, and truffles to share! And these days we get to pick between dark, semi-sweet, “milk,” and white chocolate options. Aren’t we spoiled? Vegans, gluten-free / casein-free dieters, lactose intolerant consumers, and even those with multiple food allergies and gluten-free needs can literally choose from dozens of cute and tasty…

Last Update in March 2024! We’ve created this ever-growing guide to restaurants, bakeries, cafes, ice cream shops, and stores in Ontario that are friendly to dairy-free diners. It’s a collection based on research and reader recommendations (send yours!) that’s divided into restaurants & shops by city (first) and major chains found throughout the state (second). And we’ve started a section for specialty dairy-free foods produced in this state. We Update Continuously! You can ignore the original date on this post going forward. We update the information below whenever we’re alerted to a new recommendation, change, or closure. Dairy-Free Ontario: Recommended…

Last Updated in March 2024! Most of our dairy-free listings are done by state, but this federal district stands alone. Washington DC is dense with dining and shopping establishments, and tends to be quite special diet friendly. So we’ve created this ever-growing guide to restaurants, bakeries, cafes, ice cream shops, and stores in the capital city that are friendly to dairy-free diners. It’s a collection based on research and reader recommendations (send yours!) that’s divided into restaurants & shops by city (first) and major chains found throughout the state (second). And we’ve started a section for specialty dairy-free foods produced…

Updated March 2024! I spotted Ripple Half & Half in the non-dairy case at Target when it first launched, and I couldn’t resist buying a bottle of each variety to try. At that time, they offered both Original and Vanilla varieties. Unfortunately, the Vanilla was discontinued a few years later. But the Unsweetened Original has persisted, and is still a staple in many kitchens. Ripple has recently updated the packaging and the formula a touch. Their latest iteration is reflected in the ingredients, nutrition info, and product shot in the information below. Ripple Half & Half for Dairy-Free Cooking and…

These delicious lime donuts are baked, not fried, and also happen to be oil-free and butter-free. But they still have that indulgence factor thanks to the rich chocolate-lime glaze. The original recipe is not only dairy-free, but also gluten-free. However, it does include a wheat option with classic flour, too. The recipe was submitted by Kim Van Dunk, as an entry in a recipe contest that we held. Zesty Lime Donuts with Lime or Chocolate-Lime Glaze Kim whipped up these dairy-free lime donuts for our Snackable Recipe Contest with So Delicious. Because coconut goes so well with chocolate and lime,…

Submarine sandwich shops have become as ubiquitous as burger joints in America. Which means the competition is fierce. But Jersey Mike’s has continued to gain market share with their popular “Mike’s Way” toppings and a policy to slice and grill everything fresh. Their higher quality model equates to an abundance of options without dairy, but it also presents some extra risks for allergen cross-contamination in preparation. We’ve outlined all of the dairy-free menu items along with gluten-free, vegan, custom order, and allergen notes in the guide below. Jersey Mike’s Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Allergen Notes & Vegan Options This menu…

Updated January 2024! Are you craving dairy-free fried fish? Long John Silver’s might be your solution. They offer several battered and fried options (be sure to see our allergen notes!), along with a selection of milk-less sides. This dairy-free menu guide also includes notes for egg-free, soy-free, wheat-free, and vegan needs too. Long John Silver’s Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Allergen & Vegan Notes Be aware of special order requirements in parentheses () next to the menu items, and see the Heads Up notes to help fill in the blanks. Fryer Note: Long John Silver’s uses 100% canola oil for frying,…

Updated February 2024! Did you know that Del Taco is short for Delicious Taco? Despite the very specific name, this chain serves more than tacos. They have burritos, salads, and even fried chicken tenders on their fast food menu, with dairy-free options in every category. Del Taco is also one of the most vegan-friendly major fast food chains, with a few vegan items right on the menu, and even more available by custom order. Keep in mind, Del Taco’s allergen chart is often flawed, but we research to find the most accurate information. Del Taco Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Allergen Notes…

Updated February 2024! There are a lot of sandwich chains, but Jason’s Deli is a family-owned business that goes the extra mile. They offer a very diverse menu of sandwiches, wraps, salads, pastas, baked potatoes, and build your own options. And they keep things as natural as possible by shunning trans fats, MSG, high fructose corn syrup, dyes, artificial flavors, and artificial colors. The healthier focus also means Jason’s Deli has a wide range of dairy-free choices, which we’ve outlined below. Jason’s Deli Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Vegan & Custom Order Options This menu guide includes dairy-free menu options first,…

Last Update in February 2024! I know what many of you are thinking. “Vegans don’t consume dairy, case closed!” But we’ve entered a new era of food engineering, which is blurring those once distinct lines. Most vegan food products are still dairy-free, but not all. In this post I’ll explain why, and we’ll keep a running list of vegan brands and products that aren’t dairy free, for your quick reference. Is Vegan Dairy Free? Usually, But These Products are Not! Vegan diets ban all animal-derived products, which typically includes meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, and bee products, like honey. Animal-derived is…

Updated February 2024! McDonald’s menu has shifted in recent years due to general ingredient changes, some dairy supplier contracts, and now to “improve” burger quality. Some of these shifts were frustrating, like the introduction of real butter. But according to the company, their burger upgrades in late 2023 were more about technique than ingredients. So for the most part, their dairy-free options entered 2024 without changes. Please keep in mind that the quick dairy-free menu guide below is for the United States, but we have included some notes for Canada and the United Kingdom. McDonald’s Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Custom…

Last Update in February 2024! A few years ago, Jamba dropped the Juice, on their name, not the menu. Along with the short and sweet rebranding, they began to expand their plant-based menu with colorful new options like the Vanilla Blue Sky. Soon after, Jamba made another dairy-free play, partnering with Oatly to add oat milk to their menu. They now offer four non-dairy milk beverages, scoop So Delicious Oatmilk frozen dessert as a vegan alternative to their sherbet and frozen yogurt, and have a dairy-free Cloud Whip for their newest line: iced beverages. Not to mention the new smoothie…