Your child wants cupcakes for a birthday treat, but their diet is strictly dairy-free. You’ve searched the cookbooks, but all the recipes contain butter and milk. What kid-friendly, dairy-free desserts can you make that your child’s tummy can tolerate?
According to Alisa Fleming, the founder of Go Dairy Free and author of the cookbook by the same name, there are many dairy-free desserts that taste amazing and appeal to kids. “Favorites in our home,” says Fleming, “include homemade, dairy-free ice cream, chocolate chip cookies and apple crisp.”
Substituting dairy products for other common ingredients in cookbooks is easy, according to Lindsay Livingston, a registered dietitian and creator of The Lean Green Bean. “You can replace butter in a recipe with things like applesauce, other pureed fruits, avocado or oil,” Livingston reveals. “If a recipe contains milk, you can usually substitute almond milk, soy milk or another dairy-free milk product.”
Always be sure to inform the school, babysitters or any other caregivers of your child’s allergy so they’re never stuck in an uncomfortable situation. If you are looking for kid-friendly dairy-free desserts, here are some options to consider:
1. Freezer Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
No milk chocolate here! These bite-size, dairy-free chocolate and peanut butter treats from Livingston are the just the right portion for your child’s lunchbox. Ingredients such as cocoa powder, peanut butter and honey are combined and poured into muffin tins. Top with pumpkin seeds, almonds or dried fruit and freeze for 30 minutes.
2. Banana Coconut Ginger Ice Cream
Ice cream isn’t just for summer. Your child can enjoy this tasty, dairy-free ice cream from The Simple Veganista all year long. Process frozen bananas, coconut butter and coconut milk in the blender until smooth and creamy. Garnish with shredded coconut.
3. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Avocado Cookies
Kids will love these sweet and savory dairy-free cookies from Veggie and the Beast. Peanut butter, cinnamon and dairy-free dark chocolate chips are blended with avocado. Lightly flatten with your fingers and bake for just nine minutes.
4. Sweet Potato Brownies
These decadent sweet potato brownies from Deliciously Ella are a great way to get your child to eat her veggies! Mashed sweet potatoes, dates and almonds are mixed into a batter of cacao powder and maple syrup for a hearty but tasty dessert.
5. Cherry Cheesecake Pops
Kids will love these cool cherry cheesecake pops from Love and Zest on a hot and sunny day. Fresh cherries, cashews, maple syrup and coconut milk make up the sweet filling and the crust is made from dates and walnuts. Freeze for four hours and enjoy a scrumptious pie on a stick.
6. Worms in Dirt Cake
This creepy crawly worms in dirt dessert from The Naptime Chef is perfect for your child’s birthday parties or picnics. Chocolate pudding mix is stirred in with coconut milk and vegan cream cheese for the bottom layer. Top with crumbled dairy-free chocolate cake for a layer of “dirt.” Divide the mixture into clear cups and top with a gummy worm or two.
7. Strawberry Shortcake Macaroons
These fruity, gluten- and dairy-free macarons from I Sugar Coat It will be a hit at your child’s Valentine’s Day party. Freeze-dried strawberries, almond powder and confectioner’s sugar are combined for the shells. Whipped coconut cream and chopped fresh strawberry are blended for the filling.
8. Banana Cream Pie
Your child will go bananas over this light and creamy banana cream pie dessert from Namely Marley. Prepare the shell using Golden Oreos and dairy-free margarine. The filling is made with coconut milk, tofu and sliced bananas. Refrigerate for an hour or overnight. Before serving, garnish with coconut cream whipped topping.
9. Chewy Ginger Spice Cookies
The phrase “sugar and spice and everything nice” definitely applies to these chewy ginger spice cookies from The Simple Green. Nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger add a little kick to this dairy-free dessert.
10. Peppermint Patties
Your child will have fun making these minty and refreshing treats from Fleming no matter the time of year. Combine confectioner’s sugar, coconut oil, peppermint and vanilla extracts and coconut cream for the filling. Roll and form into your desired shape. After dipping in melted chocolate, top with crushed peppermint candies or sprinkles.
11. Pumpkin Caramel Almond Butter Cups
Yes, there are veggies in these candies, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t delicious. These sweet pumpkin and almond butter treats from Yummy Beet combine almond butter, nutmeg, cinnamon, unsweetened cocoa powder and molasses for a treat that’s as pretty as it is delicious.
Want more dairy-free options? Check out these Dairy-Free Cookies Any Kid Will Love.
