Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Pinterest Twitter Instagram RSS Facebook
    Buy GO DAIRY FREE and EAT DAIRY FREE today!
    Go Dairy Free
    • Need to Know
      • Newbies Start Here!
      • Take the Challenge!
      • Dairy-Free FAQs
      • Latest News
      • Milk Allergies
      • Lactose Intolerance
      • Other Health Issues
      • Testimonials
      • Calcium Guide
      • Holidays & More
      • Best Books
      • The Community
    • Recipes
      • Recipes by Category
        • Alisa’s Recipes
        • Sarah’s Recipes
        • Appetizers
        • Beverages
        • Bread
        • Breakfast
        • Cheese Substitutes
        • Condiments & Dressings
        • Cream Substitutes
        • Desserts
        • Entrees
        • Kids Can Cook
        • Milk Substitutes
        • Pasta
        • Salad
        • Sandwiches
        • Sauces
        • Sides
        • Snacks
        • Soup
      • Full Dairy-Free Recipe Index
      • Gluten-Free Recipe Index
      • Vegan Recipe Index
    • Reviews
      • Dairy Substitutes
        • Butter
        • Cheese
        • Cream
        • Creamer
        • Dessert Toppings
        • Ice Cream
        • Ice Cream Novelties
        • Milk
        • Yogurt
        • More Kitchen Essentials
      • Sweets & Snacks
        • Protein Shakes
        • More Creamy Beverages
        • Snack & Protein Bars
        • More Snacks
        • Chocolate
        • Cookie Dough
        • Cookies & Brownies
        • Pies & Cakes
        • Pudding & Mousse
        • More Sweet Treats
      • Meal Makers
        • Baking Mixes
        • Bread Products
        • Breakfast Pastries
        • Cereal & Granola
        • Cheesy Pasta & Rice
        • Frozen Pizza
        • More Entrees
        • Dip and Spreads
        • Salad Dressing
        • Sauces
      • All Product Reviews
        • New Product Reviews!
        • Browse by Product Type
        • Full Review Index
        • Gluten-Free Review Index
        • Vegan Review Index
    • Grocery Guide
      • Alisa’s Dairy-Free Kitchen
      • Brands We Love
      • Dairy Substitutes
      • Dairy Ingredient List
      • Understanding Food Labels
      • No Dairy Product Lists
      • Ordering Specialty Foods
      • Best Grocery Stores
    • Eating Out
      • Fast Food Listings
      • Recommended Restaurants
    • My Books!
      • Go Dairy Free 2nd Edition (best seller!)
      • Eat Dairy Free 1st Edition (full color!)
      • eBooks & Printables
      • Book Supplements & Resources
    • About Us
      • Meet Us
      • Contact Us
      • Join Us
      • Work With Us
    Go Dairy Free
    You are at:Home»Ask Alisa»Does Cocoa Butter Contain Dairy? Is Cacao Butter Dairy Free?

    Does Cocoa Butter Contain Dairy? Is Cacao Butter Dairy Free?

    1
    By Alisa Fleming on December 14, 2006 Ask Alisa

    I know many of you are wondering, “Does cocoa butter contain dairy?” It’s actually one of the most common questions that I receive. Fortunately, I have good news. Cocoa butter is plant-based and naturally dairy-free, and so are many other “butters.”

    Does Cocoa Butter Contain Dairy? No! Cocoa Butter is a Naturally Dairy-Free Food from Plants. Learn more ...

    Does Cocoa Butter Contain Dairy? No, It’s Dairy-Free!

    Cocoa butter, sometimes referred to as cacao butter, is the fat extracted from cocoa beans. Yes, beans, that grow on trees! It has absolutely no relation to cows, or any other mammals for that matter.

    What many people don’t realize, is that the term butter isn’t used exclusively for dairy. In fact, many foods with the word butter in their title are okay for dairy-free and vegan consumers. They’re rich, fatty, and buttery in consistency, but don’t contain a drop of dairy. Here are some examples of buttery foods that are completely plant-based, and thus free from milk.*

    • Cocoa Butter / Cacao Butter
    • Coconut Butter*
    • Peanut Butter*
    • Tree Nut Butter (almond, cashew, macadamia nut, etc.)*
    • Seed Butter (hempseed, tahini [sesame seed butter], sunflower seed, pumpkin seed, etc.)*
    • Fruit Butter (pumpkin, apple, pear, etc.)*
    • Shea Butter**
    • Mango Butter**

    * They are dairy-free in the pure form. Fancy and flavored versions of foods are everywhere. Always check ingredients on these “butters” to ensure no milk ingredients have been added. 

    ** Used exclusively in skincare and beauty products.

    Is their a Difference Between Cocoa Butter and Cacao Butter?

    Some might argue one is raw and the other isn’t, or one is food grade and the other isn’t. But in reality, there is no legal or formal difference. By definition, cacao butter and cocoa butter are variant words of the same product.

    That said, if you are purchasing cocoa butter to use in recipes, make sure you choose a FOOD-GRADE cocoa butter. I’ve found that most brands labeled as cacao butter are food grade, so I often use that term for searching brands to buy. Some food-grade brands that I have personally used include Terrasoul Organic Cacao Butter, Navitas Organics Naturals, and Blue Mountain Organic Cacao Butter. They have each worked well in homemade dairy-free white chocolate, raw chocolate desserts, and other dairy-free recipes.

    Cocoa butter is also used in beauty products, so some brands are not considered food grade. And cocoa butter lotions (with other ingredients added), are definitely not food grade.

    But Why Do So Many Chocolate Products Contain Milk?

    Chocolate itself comes straight from cocoa beans, and doesn’t contain any dairy. The cocoa or cacao butter, chocolate liquor, cocoa solids, and other pure chocolate ingredients that you might see on the label are all dairy free. You can read more about how chocolate is made here. But many chocolatiers add dairy to their formulas. Milk chocolate, white chocolate, and even many dark chocolates have milk added in some form to lend a creamier finish.

    This is further complicated by the fact that dairy-free dark chocolates and milk chocolates are often produced on the same line. So it isn’t uncommon to see a “may contain milk” statement on a chocolate bar that’s dairy-free by ingredients, due to the potential for cross contamination in manufacturing.

    For More Dairy-Free Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!

    Go Dairy Free 2nd Edition - The Ultimate Guide and Cookbook for Dairy-Free Living with Over 250 Recipes!

    Alisa Fleming
    • Website

    Alisa is the founder of GoDairyFree.org, Food Editor for Allergic Living magazine, and author of the best-selling dairy-free book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living, and the new cookbook, Eat Dairy Free: Your Essential Cookbook for Everyday Meals, Snacks, and Sweets. Alisa is also a professional recipe creator and product ambassador for the natural food industry.

    1 Comment

    1. Pingback: Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips: Your Complete Guide to All Varieties

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Go Dairy Free - The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance and Casein-Free Living
    Over 50 Delicious Vegan Breakfast Recipes for Mother's Day and Beyond! Dairy-free, egg-free, and tons of gluten-free options.

    50 Sensational Vegan Breakfast Recipes for Mom

    Simply Almond Milk Copycat Recipe - Just like the store bought version, but cheaper, and made at home in just 3 minutes. Versatile, sustainable, scalable, fast, easy, healthy, and no soaking required!

    Simply Almond Milk Copycat Recipe in Just 3 Minutes!

    Enjoy Life FoodsEat dairy free book
    Go Dairy Free is the leading website for information on the dairy-free diet. We share dairy-free recipes, product reviews, news, recommendations and health guides to aide those with milk allergies, lactose intolerance or a general need or desire to live without dairy. Dairy-free does include milk-free, lactose-free, casein-free and whey-free, too! We also offer ample resources for gluten-free, soy-free, food allergy, vegan and paleo diets. Please note that ingredients, processes and products are subject to change by a manufacturer at any time. All foods and products should be considered at risk for cross-contamination with milk and other allergens. Always contact the manufacturer prior to consumption. Disclaimer - All Rights Reserved - Privacy Policy Go Dairy Free © 2005-2023 Fleming Marrs Inc.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.