We all love to hunker down and indulge in a chocolatey treat from time to time – some of us more than others! 

But if you've been diagnosed with a dairy intolerance or you're choosing to cut dairy out of your life for other reasons, you're probably wondering whether you'll be able to savour the rich sweetness of chocolate again.

Well, the answer is yes, you can.

Dairy-free chocolate allows you to enjoy the melt-in-your-mouth goodness without the dairy content, so you certainly don't have to miss out on your favourite chocolate snacks. It's an ingredient that we use in many of our cakes, like our Celebration Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Tiffin slices, offering the perfect balance of rich, creamy indulgence and free-from-goodness.

Let's crunch into a bit more about the facts on dairy-free chocolate.

Is Chocolate Dairy-Free?

The answer to this question is yes and no. Ultimately, it depends on the type of chocolate we're talking about.

Regular milk chocolate and white chocolate are not dairy-free because they contain dairy milk, typically from cows, and often milk powder. Milk is added to chocolate to give it its creamy and smooth texture and make it lighter in colour.

Pure dark chocolate, on the other hand, doesn't usually contain any milk or milk products. The rich and bitter taste that we know and love in dark chocolate tastes as such because it's not made with any dairy and has a lower sugar content compared to milk and white chocolate. 

However, some chocolatiers or food manufacturers may add milk to their dark chocolate, so you should always check the label.

So, is chocolate naturally dairy-free? Dark chocolate typically is, but milk and white chocolate are not dairy-free.

What is Dairy-Free Chocolate?

The solution to getting that delicious chocolate flavour without the dairy is to opt for dairy-free chocolate. This type of chocolate is made without – you guessed it – any of the dairy you'd find in chocolate, i.e. milk and milk products.

You can get dairy-free alternatives for milk, white, and dark chocolate varieties. 

Cocoa butter and cocoa mass are used to give the chocolate its classic flavour and texture, but you’ll find this in regular chocolate, too. Coconut oil can also be used in replacement of dairy.

    What is Cocoa Butter?

    Cocoa butter is a fat that's extracted from cocoa beans.

    What is Cocoa Mass?

    Cocoa mass is the purest form of chocolate ground from cocoa seeds. Nothing is added to the chocolate at this stage.

What Chocolate is Dairy-Free?

The easiest way to identify dairy-free chocolate is to look for products that are labelled "dairy-free" or "vegan".

You'll find dairy-free chocolate bars located in the free-from aisle in supermarkets or sometimes in the confectionary aisle (if you're not sure, ask the store’s staff!).

Dairy-free chocolate is also used in dairy-free or free-from food products, most commonly cakes, bakes, and other sweet treats. Take our cakes, for example. Everything in our range, like our Vanilla Sponge Cake, Chocolate Cake Bars, and Celebration Chocolate Cake, is dairy-free and contains <5ppm whole milk.

Dark Belgian Chocolate

We use real dark Belgian chocolate in many of our recipes, and it's become a bit of a signature ingredient! The dark chocolate we use doesn't contain milk or any other milk byproducts, making it dairy-free. Instead, it's made purely from cocoa butter, cocoa mass, sugar, and a few essential ingredients.

It's the staple ingredient in our Celebration Chocolate Cake and Belgian Chocolate Cake Bars for the rich cocoa sponge and mouthwatering chocolate frosting. We also use it in our Mini Vic The Vegan Caterpillar Cakes, Chocolate Cornflake Clusters, and our traybake Stackers range.

Dairy-Free White Chocolate

Another one of our dairy-free signature ingredients is dairy-free white chocolate, which is used to create our Mini Vic's sweet face decoration and for decoration on our other snacks. 

Instead of adding dairy milk, our white chocolate is made using cocoa butter and coconut oil, among other ingredients that give it our classic Lazy Day taste.

Does Dairy-Free Chocolate Taste Different?

One of the most important questions that's probably on your lips is whether or not dairy-free chocolate still tastes as delicious as regular chocolate. And yes, it does!

Dairy-free chocolate is just as tasty as chocolate that contains dairy, and you're not even likely to tell the difference. It still contains the core ingredients needed to make chocolate (cocoa mass, cocoa butter, and sugar), so it’ll still have that classic, sweet taste.

It has the same impossible-to-resist texture as classic chocolate, too – smooth and seriously scrummy. The only main difference is that it won't contain any dairy products, making it a great option for those who need or prefer non-dairy treats.

Who Should Eat Dairy-Free Chocolate?

Dairy-free chocolate is ideal for those who need a non-dairy treat due to dietary restrictions or preferences, including people who are

  • Vegan/plant-based

  • Dairy-free (suffer from dairy intolerances or allergies)

  • Milk-free

  • Lactose-intolerant

Many people also choose to reduce their dairy consumption for other reasons, like ethical concerns or for potential health benefits, so dairy-free chocolate is a great option for them as well.

The Verdict: Yes, You Can Still Get Your Chocolate Fix!

Whatever the reason for you being dairy-free, you don’t have to miss out on the deliciousness of chocolate. With dairy-free chocolate, everyone can tuck into their favourite chocolate cake, bar, or treat with the same pleasure.

Discover our range of dairy-free and free-from treats by shopping through our online shop or dropping into your local Lazy Day stockist.

FAQs

  • Chocolate does technically count as dairy because it usually contains dairy products, like milk and sometimes butter or cream.

  • Yes, milk is one of the main ingredients of milk chocolate – it's what's used to give it its colour and 'lighten' the bitterness. Dairy-free milk chocolate alternatives are available, often made with plant-based milk, like oat or almond milk.

  • Pure dark chocolate doesn't contain dairy unless it's added in by the manufacturer or chocolatier. The dark Belgian chocolate in our cakes and treats doesn't include any dairy.

  • Vegan chocolate can be considered dairy-free because it contains no animal-derived ingredients, including dairy products like milk. However, dairy-free chocolate containing ingredients like honey won't suit vegans, so always check the label.