Whether we’re talking about the cream in ice cream or the butter in cupcakes, dairy tends to make its way into a lot of the best desserts. That’s bad news for folks who are lactose intolerant. But we have good news if dairy is a don’t for your digestive system: There are some pretty damn good non dairy desserts at the grocery store. From the best non dairy ice cream (in all the best flavors) to a plant based chocolate chip cookie dough that blew us away, these are the best dairy free desserts from our taste tests. (As always, we are taste testers, not nutritionists. If you’re on a strict dairy free diet, always inspect labels for yourself!)
- Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert
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If you’re a freak for mix-ins, this is the best non dairy ice cream you can buy. It consists of a chocolate almond milk base with swirls of (vegan) marshmallow and caramel, plus those little fudge fish Phish Food is known for. Honestly, this does not taste like non dairy ice cream—in fact, we bet you’ll find yourself double checking the label after you take a bite. This is one frozen dessert that is downright ice cream-like.
Read the full ranking of the best vegan ice cream
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Gelato Boy Dairy Free Coffee Fudge Swirl Gelato
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Okay, this list of the best dairy free desserts gets off to a pretty ice cream-heavy start, but just go with it, because there’s good stuff here! In fact, this non dairy ice cream actually isn’t even the best vegan ice cream on our list of the best coffee ice cream, but we’re including it here because the fudge swirl makes it feel like a more complete “dessert.” Gelato Boy ice cream is decadent with a capital D. As one taste tester put it, “It’s like mocha almond fudge ice cream without the almonds,” and the oat milk-coconut milk base is so creamy, even the dairy tolerant will love it. Promise.
Read the full ranking of the best coffee ice cream
Credit: Liv Averett / Sprouts
- Ben & Jerry’s Non-Dairy “Milk” & Cookies
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Leave it to Ben & Jerry to make yet another non dairy ice cream that absolutely slaps. And in this case, it’s no small feat—cookies and cream ice cream is, ostensibly, very reliant on cream to taste how it’s supposed to taste, but this one pulls it off with a decadent sunflower butter base. Also in the mix? Three different cookie situations: chocolate chip cookies, chocolate sandwich cookies, and a chocolate cookie swirl. Kind of unreal. If you want an ice cream that eats like a full dessert—cookies, ice cream, and all—this is the best dairy free dessert to buy.
Read the full ranking of the best cookies and cream ice cream
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Mauna Loa Strawberry Guava Macadamia Milk Frozen Dessert
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If you like your dairy free desserts very simple, very fruity, and very refreshing, this is the way to go. This is one of the best dairy free desserts—and it’s one of the few we’ve ever tried that’s made with macadamia nut milk rather than regular ol’ oat or almond milk. That macadamia milk base melds perfectly with the tart, tropical flavor of guava, although this is definitely still a strawberry ice cream at heart—and one of the best dairy free desserts we’ve tried.
Read the full ranking of the best strawberry ice cream
Credit: Merc / Sprouts
- Cado Deep Dark Chocolate Non-Dairy Avocado Frozen Dessert
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Chocolate ice cream, but make it avocado? Yeah, sounds weird, but this is a pretty brilliant non dairy dessert for people who can’t stomach regular chocolate ice cream. The chocolate flavor is deep and dark, and the avocado base is smooth, creamy, and rich. Best part? There’s no weird non dairy dessert aftertaste. Make a banana split with this and some non dairy whipped cream, and you’ve turned a pint of vegan ice cream into one of the best dairy free desserts ever.
Read the full ranking of the best chocolate ice cream
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Jell-O Strawberry Cups
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Jell-O may not be vegan, but it is dairy free. And these little individual cups of strawberry Jell-O make one of the best non dairy desserts, especially if you don’t want any muss or fuss. Grab a cup! Grab a spoon! That’s dessert, my dude. The strawberry flavor is just so nostalgic. As one taster put it, “It’s the strawberry of your fondest old memories. It’s the strawberry that’s in those grandma candies.” Best part? You won’t have a stomach ache later.
Read the full ranking of the best Jell-O flavors
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Sprouts Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries
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Dark chocolate is a total lifesaver for people who don’t eat dairy. And it really shines in this format. If you can find these chocolate dipped strawberries at Sprouts, buy them immediately. The chocolate is flavorful and rich, and the berries are sweet and pleasant. Hell, you could even top your bowl of dairy free ice cream with a couple of these and have one of the best dairy free desserts ever.
Read the full ranking of the best chocolate covered strawberries
Credit: Liv Averett / Sprouts
- Simple Truth Plant Based Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
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Most cookie dough isn’t safe for people with dietary restrictions, but this Simple Truth cookie dough (sold at Kroger-owned grocery stores) rounds out our list of the best dairy free desserts. The cookies come out buttery even though there’s no butter in sight. They even crisp up around the edges. Pro tip: Use a couple of these cookies as the “buns” for a heaping scoop of dairy free ice cream to make a killer dairy free ice cream sandwich.
Read the full ranking of the best chocolate chip cookie dough
Credit: Merc / Ralphs
Best Non Dairy Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Non Dairy Coffee Ice Cream
Rating:
7/10
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Best Non Dairy Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
Rating:
6.5/10
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Best Non Dairy Strawberry Ice Cream
Rating:
7.5/10
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Best Non Dairy Chocolate Ice Cream
Rating:
7.5/10
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Best Jell-O Flavor
Rating:
10/10
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Best Chocolate Covered Fruit
Rating:
9/10
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Best Non Dairy Cookie Dough
Rating:
9/10
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Are the cookies in Ben & Jerry’s cookies and cream gluten free?