FAQ's: Where can I find a dairy free (free from) birthday cake?

Okay, so hands up - when it comes to birthdays, not all of us are born a Mary Berry, so who loves the idea of a ready made birthday cake??

Add your candles... and hey presto - you're all good to go!

Well, maybe not everyone, but I find I do a bit of both - I need one for the party and one for home and oh yes, another for school! No wonder I get very little blogging done when birthday season comes 'round! 

Sometimes I go all out like this:

This cake *may* just have caused me a few nightmares!

But sometimes, my fave Marry Berry Swiss Roll recipe (see here) just has to suffice - very quick, very easy and can be dressed a number of different ways! 

My absolute fave cake recipe!

Birthdays being the normal manic thing that they are, for at least one of these I love to cheat - to take the pressure off. Fortunately, as my kiddo is only dairy free it's a bit easier than I thought to find a dairy free cake... and from the supermarket too!

Asda, Tesco, Morrsion's and Sainsbury's all sell a fairly big range of celebration cakes and the good news is that quite a number of them are dairy free. Even Waitrose is now getting in on the act! 

Well, I say 'dairy free' - they are by no means marketed as 'Free From', but no milk or dairy products are listed in the ingredients of those that we've tried, and no 'may contains' either. And, maybe we've been lucky, but Kiddo has been quite sensitive to traces of milk and no unpleasant reactions have followed.

We've been 'lucky' so far - in that our Kiddo has been able to get the cake of her choice for each of her birthdays! She has already had this Lightening Mc Queen (Disney Cars) which we bought from Asda:

This is the bigger one!

Available for £10.00. For ingredients see here.

This Disney Frozen cake (bought from Tesco, but also at Sainsbury's):

Not quite as big when it's out of the box!

Which costs £10. Ingredients list here.

And also this Despicable Me Minion cake:

Not that big when out of the box either!

Serves 20 - just! But cost just £10.00. Ingredients here.

However, I've not been able to eat a single one of these cakes, as none of them are gluten free. Unless it's soya lecithin, I'm also soya free - which causes The Hub a fair bit of trouble when it comes to my birthday! 

This year, as so much was going on, there was NO cake for my birthday - cue sad face (that said we were about to go on holiday and The Hub was stressed to the eyeballs with stuff going on at work)! 

And THIS despite the fact that it's now become relatively easy to find a Free From cake - in fact all the major players now sell something gluten free (apart from Waitrose, of course) although Tesco's... well they now sell a nice looking little selection in their Free From department, but none of these are dairy free - cue another sad face! 

As of yet, despite the big Free From battle that is going on between the supermarkets, none of the cakes in any of the supermarkets are egg free. I am somewhat bewildered why it has not yet occurred to them that this section of the market remains untapped - especially as it would also appeal to Vegans. So if you are egg free, I'm afraid you will either need to contact a free from or Vegan baker like Hannah Banana (her cakes DO look amazing), or make your own, in which case, check out Lucy's Friendly Foods - she has some amazing dairy, egg and soya free recipes, including meringues!! 

However, on the plus side, Sainsbury's selection is definitely nut free too!

So lets have a little look at some of the options we've tried!

Asda

This cute little Madeira cake, priced £8.00, is just that - 'little' (678g). However it was enough just for us. Kiddo and I enjoyed it. The Hub not so much. It's free from all of the top allergens as far as I can see from the ingredients list, except for egg. However it is only described as 'Gluten Free' and 'Dairy free'. You can also get it in chocolate. However, the chocolate version (ingredients here) is made with soya beans, so is a 'no-go' for me.

Quite dinky!

Asda also make some lovely looking party cup cakes (£3.50 for 9), but sadly these are not dairy free (see here).

Morrisons

Morrisons have a nice looking Madeira Cake, which costs £8.00. It is free from the top fourteen allergens except egg, although it may also contain soya.

They also have a Vanilla tray bake, which is free of all the top fourteen allergens, except egg, although it may contain soya. It costs £3.60 and says it can serve 9 people.

There is also a chocolate traybake, which is made with egg and soya protein but is otherwise fourteen allergen free. As before, costing £3.60, it says it can serve 9 people.

But, by far and away the winners in the ready made birthday cake stakes, are, for me at the moment are...

(cue drum roll)


Sainsbury's!!

Purely because although not all are suitable for us, they now have a range of FOUR cakes that are ALL dairy, gluten, and nut free! 

We only have tried out the Madeira one (which was as pictured at the top of this post, but the design has now changed), because it is also soya free. It's priced £8.00 for 663g of cakiness, and would appeal to the more girly types among us - Kiddo loved it for sure - both the look and the flavour! 

The only one of the top allergens listed is again... you've guessed it, I'm sure... egg! 

This one, priced at £9.00, is perhaps more suitable for little ones (755g). It is also a madeira cake and really quite attractively decorated.

There is quite a nice size more adult-looking chocolate cake (743g), but it is made with soya protein, as well as the dreaded-for-some egg. It is priced at £8.00.

There is also a tray bake (726g) priced £7.00, which is a nice idea, for sharing -maybe with a class or toddler group, but which sadly contains the dreaded soya again (boo hiss). So I'm afraid those too are off my list!!

Sainsbury's, like Asda, now have some Free From cupcakes (6 for £3.50). They are plain and ready to decorate, but are not dairy free (sigh).



Tesco

Most of Tesco's ready made Free From cakes are only wheat/gluten free, but they recently produced this vanilla tray bake priced £4.00, it says it serves eight people. There is also this 'Carl the Caterpillar' cake priced £6.00.

One to appeal to the children!

So there you have it! 

Hope you've not been left too hungry after looking at all those cake pics and that this post has given you the information you need. 

Let us ALL eat cake!!!

Related posts: 

Dairy free frozen birthday party

The dairy free baby's party survival plan

Please note: 

This post is not an advert. I have not been paid to write this post. I am not sponsored in any way, even by advertising. I do not receive products free to review, although I have often been offered them. This is to try and maintain an unbiased approach. All views expressed are my own (unless I've asked for The Hub's or Kiddo's).

All I'm saying is... NEVER again!!

Eat your dairy free heart out with Alpro's new ice cream

I've been secretly lamenting my lack of dairy free and soya free ice cream recently - ever since I realised I was beginning to react to the lovely range of Tesco free from ice creams. No idea why, but eventually, as much as I loved them, the tummy discomfort that followed became too much to ignore. 'Is it the lupin?' I wondered. Well, maybe! 

I tried a few coconut-based ice creams, but they didn't really float my boat, so I ended up going back to Almond Dream's Mint Choc Chip. I love it, but sometimes you just want a bit of variety! 

Then, the other night... THESE hit my screen (courtesy of @chubbania & @_ayrtonnn on Twitter). 

'Huzzah for Alpro!' I thought!

And I wasted no time in tracking them down!

Huzzah for Alpro!

In fact Alpro has not produced just one, but actually THREE ice creams!! A Coconut flavoured iced dessert, a Chocolate and Hazelnut one, and also a Vanilla version. That one is made with soya, so no good for me, although Kiddo can have it, but the Coconut and the Chocolate and Hazelnut are just right!

What's in them?


Coconut:
Water, Soluble gluco fibre, Coconut milk (13.3%) (Coconut cream, Water), Sugar, Vegetable fats (Rapeseed, Shea), Fructose-glucose syrup, Emulsifier (Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), Stabilisers (Locust bean gum, Guar gum, Carrageenan), Sea Salt, Flavouring. 

Free from dairy and gluten. May contain traces of soya & nuts (no peanuts).



Hazelnut & Chocolate:
Water, Soluble gluco fibre, Sugar, Vegetable fats (*Palm kernel, *Palm), Fructose-glucose syrup, Hazelnuts (2.9%), Chocolate (1.7%), Fat-reduced cocoa (1.7%), Emulsifier (Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), Stabilisers (Locust bean gum, Guar gum, Carageenan), Sea salt. 

Free from dairy and gluten. May contain traces of soya & nuts (no peanuts).


Vanilla:
Water, Soluble gluco fibre, Sugar, Hulled soya beans (6.1%), Vegetable fats (Rapeseed, Shea), Fructose-glucose syrup, Emulsifier (Mono- and Diglycerides of fatty acids), Vanilla extract (0.4%), Stabilisers (Locust beangum, Guar gum), Sea salt, Vanilla seeds. 

Free from dairy and gluten. May contain traces of nuts (no peanuts).

(*Sustainable sources of Palm have been used.)

Can decide which to have? Have two or even three at once!!

What are they like??

I like them all (I had a sneaky lick of the soya and am hoping for no ill after effects. So does Kiddo! The coconut was a definite improvement on some I have tasted before. Unlike another I've tried, quite recently, it wasn't too sweet, and, although it tastes of coconut, it's not over-poweringly coconutty. It's also quite creamy. 

I really like Alpro's hazelnut milk and as chocolate and hazelnut are a classic flavour combo, I enjoyed the Chocolate & Hazelnut flavour too. I was a bit surprised that Kiddo liked this one, as she can be a fussy mutt. I was mainly worried becuase hazelnut can add a slightly acrid after-taste, but Kiddo doesn't seem to have noticed, or if she has, she hasn't minded it!

And here's the Vanilla flavour!

The Vanilla is really creamy and actually tastes (from what I could tell from my small sample) a lot like a Mr Whippy ice cream. Kiddo was ecstatic when I told her this, as it has been her ambition for a long while, to be able to have a Mr Whippy ice cream. Now *all* she wants is for me to buy a machine that will serve it like a commercial ice cream machine, in a nice little swirl!! Hmm! I've looked online... looking at the prices of them THAT isn't gonna happen any time soon!

How much?

In Tescos, which is the only place that I know of so far, that stocks the new Alpro ice cream, Each 500ml tub costs £3.50. This is pretty well comparable with the cost of Almond Dream, so not too bad. Swedish Glace is certainly cheaper, so I'll probably stick with their vanilla for Kiddo, but I would definitely buy the other two flavours again - for me, if no-one else - although I suspect that Kiddo (even though, being able to have soya, she has a lot more choice than I) will want more too!

So well done Alpro! Now, when are you going to make us a yogurt without soya?? Now that you've done it with ice cream, we know you can do it!

Pretty please??

Please note: 

This post is not an advert. I have not been paid to write this post. I am not sponsored in any way, even by advertising. I do not receive products free to review, although I have often been offered them. This is to try and maintain an unbiased approach. All views expressed are my own (unless I've asked for The Hub's or Kiddo's).

Related posts:


Mint Choc Chip Almond Dream



Choices, Choices, Tesco's Free From Ice Creams

Choices! Choices! Tesco's NEW Free From Ice Creams!!

Tesco how do I love thee? Let me count the ways... a tweet I sent to Tesco, not so long ago - just after I discovered they now sell not just one, but three, yes, THREE dairy free ice creams!! 

Joy, oh joy!! 

CHOICE!!!

Choices!! Choices!!

Toffee and Vanilla Cones

So, first up, let's take a look at their new Toffee and Vanilla Cone (yes, Cornetto, to you and me, but let's play the branding game).

Must admit, I was a bit unsure the first time I tried this one, and Kiddo wasn't won over (I preferred their strawberry flavour which they brought out last year (see here) and which thankfully they've kept), but I tried them again, and now I actually really like them. And if Kiddo don't want them, that means all the more for me! :)

Numero uno!

What's in the box??

They come in a box of four costing £2. Good value if you ask me, although I note their non-free from version only costs £1 for the same amount! However, I'm guessing that's the cost of free from again!!

Keep your eyes open for these!

Ingredients:

(Allergens listed in Bold)

Water, Sugar, Maize Flour, Coconut Oil, Caramel Flavoured Sauce, Glucose Syrup, Lupin Protein Isolate, Toffee Pieces, Maltodextrin, Dextrose, Fat Reduced Cocoa Powder, Maize Starch, Emulsifiers (*Soya Lecithins, Mono- and Di-Glycerides Fatty Acids), Acidity Regulators (Calcium Hydroxide, Carbon Dioxide), Salt, Caramel, Palm oil, Flavouring, Stabilsers (Locust Bean meal, Guar Gum), Vanilla Powder, Colour (Beta-Carotene).

Caramel Flavoured Sauces can sometimes contain milk flavouring, but this one contains:
Water, Glucose Syrup, Coconut Oil, Caramel, Stabiliser (Locust bean Meal), Salt, Flavouring.

Toffee Pieces: Sugar, Invert Sugar Syrup, Hazelnuts, Glucose Syrup, Acidity Regulator (Sodium Bicarbonate).

Also listed as suitable for Vegans.

*Soya Lecithin is made from soya but is just the oil. The protein (the allergic bit) has been removed, so it should be OK for those with a soya allergy, but this doesn't seem to hold true for all those who are allergic to soya. If you have an allergy to soya, but are not sure if Soya Lecithin is OK for you, please check with your Allergy Doctor or Dietitian.


Fruit Splits

These were a bit of a revelation to me. I've never been such a fan of fruit-flavoured ice cream, so wasn't hugely expecting me or the Kiddo to like them, but actually we both did! 

YUM!! They disappear quite quickly!

I put it down to the Tesco ice cream centres which are deliciously smooth and creamy. I'm guessing it's the one and same vanilla ice cream which Tesco they developed last year (see here), but sadly discontinued (to the disappointment of many).

Numero Dos!

What's in the box??

This box of six lollies, costing two pounds, contains two blackcurrant, two pineapple and two strawberry flavoured. Kiddo baggsied the blackcurrant, I went for the strawberry. Pineapple has had to wait, as I can't normally eat that without suffering from a sore gut.

Ingredients:

Joy oh joy - these ice creams are not only dairy free, they are also soya free!

(Allergens in Bold)

Strawberry Flavour:
Water, Sugar, Strawberry Puree, Coconut Fat, Glucose Syrup, *Lupin Protein Isolate, Inulin, Maltodextrin, Dextrose, Acidity Regulators (Citric Acid, Calcium Hydroxide, Carbon Dioxide), Concentrated Strawberry Juice, Colours (Concentrated Beetroot Juice, Beetroot Red, Safflower Concentrate, Beta-Carotene), Stabilisers (guar Gum, carob Gum, Pectin), Flavouring, Emulsifier (Mono- and Di- Glycerides of Fatty Acids), Salt, Vanilla Powder.

Blackcurrant Flavour:
Water, Sugar, Strawberry Puree, Coconut Fat, Glucose Syrup, Lupin Protein Isolate, Inulin, Maltodextrin, Dextrose, Acidity Regulators (Citric Acid, Calcium Hydroxide, Carbon Dioxide), Concentrated Blackcurrant Juice, Colours (Concentrated Beetroot Juice, Beta-Carotene), Stabilisers (Guar Gum, Carob Gum), Flavouring, Emulsifier (Mono- and Di- Glycerides of Fatty Acids), Salt, Vanilla Powder.

Pineapple Flavour:
Water, Sugar, Strawberry Puree, Coconut Fat, Glucose Syrup, Lupin Protein Isolate, Inulin, Maltodextrin, Dextrose, Acidity Regulators (Citric Acid, Calcium Hydroxide, Carbon Dioxide), Concentrated Pineapple Juice, Colours (Curcumin, Beta-Carotene), Stabilisers (Guar Gum, Carob Gum), Flavouring, Emulsifier (Mono- and Di- Glycerides of Fatty Acids), Salt, Vanilla Powder.

May contain nuts,

Suitable for Vegans.

*Lupin is a lesser-known allergen in the UK, but, like soya, is a legume. Watch out if allergic to other legumes. I wasn't sure when I first tried Tesco ice cream, but now think I am OK with it.


Choc Ices

Now THESE are my personal faves (I always believe in saving the best for last)!!

I was so excited about them, in fact, that no sooner had I bought them, I sat in my car and scoffed a whole one, before driving home. It took me a little while to eat too, because (to my surprise) it wasn't a stingy-sized choc ice (and I have quite an appetite)!!

You know me, I love my chocolate!! And the chocolate on these choc ices does not disappoint - it gives a decent covering to the same creamy dairy free ice cream, used in the other two. I loved them!

THESE choc ices are soooo good, that they will definitely be bought time and time again. AND, it seems I'm not the only one of this opinion, because they are frequently out of stock in my local Tesco!! 

DEEP JOY!!

What's in the box?

You get three really decent size choc ices in a pack for £2. We are talking proper adult-sized portions here, not kiddies!!

Numero Tres!

Ingredients:

(Allergens in Bold)

Water, Chocolate Flavoured Coating, Coconut Fat, Glucose Syrup, Sugar, Lupin Protein Isolate, Maltodextrin, Dextrose, Acidity regulators (Calcium Hydroxide, Carbon Dioxide), Emulsifier (Mono- and Di-Glycerides of Fatty Acids), Stabilisers (Locust Bean meal, Guar Gum), Salt, Flavouring, Vanilla Powder, Colour (Beta-Carotene).

Chocolate Coating:
Sugar, Cocoa Mass, Coconut Fat, Cocoa Butter, Fat Reduced Cocoa powder, Emulsifier (Soya Lecithins), Flavouring.

May contain nuts.

Suitable for Vegans.

Summing up...

So all in all, well done Tesco, and keep 'em coming!! But please, please, please, work on avoiding those pesky nuts and finding an alternative to soya, because I know there are many more who are dairy free, and would LOVE to try these out, but can't!



Please note: 
This post is not an advert. I have not been paid to write this post. I am not sponsored in any way, even by advertising. I do not receive products free to review, although I have often been offered them. This is to try and maintain an unbiased approach. All views expressed are my own (unless I've asked for The Hub's or Kiddo's).

Related Posts:

Tesco Free From Cornetto-Stye Cones

Tesco Free From Creamy Iced Dessert

Swedish Glace Strawberry Choc Ices

Ice, Ice, Baby

Tesco NEW Dairy Free Avocado Margarine

When Allergy Adventures posted about this margarine, yesterday, I have to admit I was curious!

I mean we see so many dairy free soya and sunflower margarines, but avocado?? That's a bit different and possibly, hopefully more healthy, you might think?

I've baked with avocado before - using the avocado in place of butter and actually it was quite nice.

SO I hot footed it off to Tesco, to find some of the new marg, and find out how it stacked up!!

Here it is, (well the tub, anyway)!

New at Tesco!

It turned out that there was also a new coconut margarine, but I wasn't so fussed about that, as Koko have already manufactured one of those, but avocado, that's something different, right? Although you couldn't have guessed when you opened the tub. 

Isn't avocado usually green?

What's it like??

Must admit I felt a little bit cheated, 'cos all I could see was what looked like regular margarine and I was really expecting to see something that resembled avocado - you know, something a bit green, maybe??

And to taste? No I really couldn't taste avocado either! Just regular margarine! Oh!! 
And to be honest, I thought it was a bit...well... greasy.

Today I used it to bake some biscuits, and yep, it's definitely greasy. I could have used a bit less than normal.

What's in it??

Well less than 24% avocado as it turns out! 'Cos the tub states that 24% of this 'reduced fat spread' spread is made with a blend of vegetable oils and avocado oil! NOT so much avocado then!! HMMPH!!

Ingredients:

Water, Avocado Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Palm Oil, Salt, Emulsifier (mono- and di-glycerides of Fatty acids), Colour (carotenes), Vitamin A, Vitamin D.

How much??

This bit definitely rankles! At £1.20, it costs the same (more or less) as my usual brand of dairy free margarine, BUT the tub holds half the amount, so effectively you're paying twice as much, for a product which I felt (obviously only my humble opinion) was slightly inferior. 

Will I be buying it again?? Probably not! I can't help feeling that Tesco have actually missed a great opportunity here. The interest shown by visitors to our Face Book page was immense- they were really interested in a product made with avocado - yet I suspect many of them will be as disappointed as I.

Oh well! Anyone else fancy having a go at making an avocado spread??

Please note: 

This post is not an advert. I have not been paid to write this post. I am not sponsored in any way, even by advertising. I do not receive products free to review, although I have often been offered them. This is to try and maintain an unbiased approach. All views expressed are my own (unless I've asked for The Hub's or Kiddo's).

Related Posts:

Dairy Free Butter Alternatives

Baking Dairy Free

Swedish Glace Strawberry Choc Ice

Kiddo has always loved Swedish Glace ice cream. Having had the odd sneaky lick (I can get away with that much), I can understand why. It's a great sub for normal ice cream. Several friends and family members have 'resorted' to eating it at times and have been pleasantly surprised - not least by it's price, as many free from products can be quite pricey.

Kiddo is a particular fan of their chocolate flavour, which I am very pleased to report is finally back in the shops - we recently got some from Waitrose. However, Kiddo was over the moon when she discovered the latest addition to their range.

Et voila!

Dairy Free Choc Ice - what a sight for sore eyes!

Yes! I know! A dairy free choc ice!! Huzzah! Hurrah! And Hallelujah!

What's in them?

Well soya for a start, so boo hoo, no good for me! But they are gluten free and appear to be nut free as well!! At the moment they only come in strawberry flavour. 

Ingredients:

Water, Sugar Vegetable Oils (palm, coconut, rapeseed), Dextrose, Soya Bean Powder, Strawberries, Fat Reduced Cocoa Powder, Emulsifiers (mono- and di- glcerides of fatty acids, citric acid esters of mono- and di- glycerides of fatty acids, sunflower lecithin), Salt, Stabilisers (locust bean gum, guar gum, carageenan, pectin), Red Beetroot Juice Concentrate, Flavouring, Acidity Regulator (citric acid).

Also suitable for Vegetarians.

Where can you buy them?

Although initially just available in Sainsbury's, I've also spotted them in Waitrose and Tesco - so they're fairly widely available.

What to look out for

How much??

For a pack of five mini-Magnum sized choc ices, it will cost you £3.00 in Sainsbury's and just under that, at £2.99 in Tesco, and similar in Waitrose.

Are they worth it?? I'd say so!!


Update:

A vanilla version is now also available - £2.99 at Tesco, £3.32 with Ocado.

Please note: 

This post is not an advert. I have not been paid to write this post. I am not sponsored in any way, even by advertising. I do not receive products free to review, although I have often been offered them. This is to try and maintain an unbiased approach. All views expressed are my own (unless I've asked for The Hub's or Kiddo's).

Similar Posts:

Tesco Free From Cones

Mint Choc Chip Almond Dream

The Great Big Dairy Free Easter Egg Hunt 2015

Well I think I'm a bit behind this year, 'cos the Easter Hols are almost upon us, but I've been waiting for the goods to appear on the shelves and Waitrose has certainly taken their time over it!!

Usually, I try to make the list as exhaustive as possible, but this year... well there's so much out there, that I'm not sure I can do it all justice! However, that's great for me and you, though, as it means we have CHOICE!! YAY!!

I'm planning to cut the waffle this year, by providing easy to read tables, containing the information YOU need to know! I've tried to make sure the information I've supplied is as accurate as possible, but if you spot anything amiss, please let me know!

To help you make your choice, here is an overview of the dietary information:

	Dairy Free	Gluten Free	Soya Free	Nut Free	Vegan
Booja Booja	Y	Y	Y	-	Y
Choices	Y	Y	Soya Lecithin	Y	Y
Hotel Chocolat (dark)	*Made without	Made without	Soya Lecithin	-	-
Hotel Chocolat (Milk-Free Milk)	Made without	Made without	Y	-	-
Kinnerton	Y	Y	Soya Lecithin	Y
Moo Free	Y	Y	May Contain	-	-
Montezumas	May contain	Y	Y	May contain	-
Plamil	Y	Y	May Contain	Y	Y

Y = yes

Please note: 'Choices' does not say 'nut free' on the packaging, but a nut free mum interrogated them on this issue and was happy with their response. Montezumas may contain milk traces, but I'm not clear as to whether they have Vegan accreditation. Just to be clear, I think my little one has reacted to their chocolate in the past, but I believe others have been okay.

Also Hotel Chocolate is 'made without' this indicates a certain risk. We seem to be okay with it, but I would not like to make that guarantee for anyone else. If you're not entirely sure, as to whether their products are okay for you, it may be worth contacting them, before making a decision regarding their products.

Hopefully, this table will help you as you read this post, so you know which brands will be suitable for your requirements and can scan down to the bits that are relevant for you.

Now, let's not waste any more time faffing, let's get straight to business, with the more affordable eggs, which are fairly easy to get hold of!!

Choices/Celtic Chocolates

A great dairy free 'milk' chocolate brand, from Ireland. They have their usual offerings available, some larger, some small, with the option of a 'white chocolate' egg and 'milk' and 'white chocolate bunnies'. 

Here's the bunnies in Asda.

They have a dark chocolate egg too. However, although they're widespread some of the packaging might vary, as most of the supermarket own brands are just the same, but with their own pretty packaging on top. 

See:

Sainsbury's? It's Choices!

And in Asda, like so:

Better value!

This year, in Sainsbury's, in a little bit of a new departure, they have themed their chocolate discs in Easter foil. Very pretty too!

Easter discs. Cute!

Price:

	Small White Egg	Small Milk Choc.Egg	Milk Egg with Choc. Disc	Milk Egg with Caramels	Dark Choc. Egg	Choc. Bunny
Asda	-	-	*£3.00	-	-	£0.99
Tesco	-	£2.50	-	-	-	£1.00
Morrison’s	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sainsbury’s	*£2.49	-	*£3.49	£3.49	£3.49	£1.00
Waitrose	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ocado	£3.50	-	-	-	-	£1.00
Holland & Barrett	£2.79	£2.79	£4.50	-	£4.50	-
TKMaxx	-	-	-	-	£3.99	-

*Supermarket ‘own brand’

The small egg and the bunny in Tesco, disappeared for a month or so, and have reappeared again, so no guarantees that you'll actually find them there!

Moo Free

A very popular choice of 'milk' chocolate for dairy free chocolate lovers, this company's profile has just grown and grown! Their organic medium size egg come in four flavours: Original, Bunnycomb (honeycomb) and Orange.

New packaging, this year!

Price:

	Moo Free Milk Chocolate	Moo Free Orange Flavour	Moo Free Bunnycomb
Asda	-	-	-
Tesco	-	-	-
Morrison’s	-	-	-
Sainsbury’s	£3.99	-	-
Waitrose	£3.99	£3.99	£3.99
Ocado	£3.99	-	-
Holland & Barrett	£4.50	£4.50	£4.50

Please note: Holland and Barrett have had a buy one, get one half price promotion. There may be other promotions to come!

Kinnerton

Kinnerton produce a dark style dairy free chocolate. Speaking as someone who prefers milk chocolate, this one is fairly easy on the palate.

No change here, then!

Price:

	Kinnerton Dark Chocolate Egg	Kinnerton Dark Chocolate Bunny
Asda	£4.98	£1.98
Tesco	£5.00	£3.00
Morrison’s	-	-
Sainsbury’s	£5.99	-
Waitrose	-	-
Ocado	-	£3.00 (2 for £5)
Holland & Barrett	-	-
Home Bargains	£1.99	-

Tesco was stocking the egg, but sold out 'round our way ages ago! You may still find the bunny, though!

Mark's and Spencer also stock this egg, but in their own packaging. See here:

You'd never know it was the same egg, from the packaging!

Curiously enough and rather confusingly, they do not claim it's nut free, as Kinnerton do with theirs!

Plamil

Made with organic chocolate, until fairly recently, they were only available online (via Plamil's online shop, or online Free From or Vegan sites) or in independent health food stores, these are now widely available through Holland and Barrett. 

Cute packaging!

Plamil make a medium size egg and a packet of mini chocolate halves- perfect for Easter egg hunts, especially when they're encased in these plastic eggs from Poundland!

Pack of small plastic eggs from Poundland. £1 for 18.

They also make Holland and Barrett's 'own brand' egg! 

Price:

Easter Egg:

Holland and Barrett £4.99, although Holland & Barrett's 'own brand', which is the same thing costs £3.50.
Direct from Plamil (plus P&P) £3.69

Easter Egg Halves:

Holland and Barrett £5.99
Direct from Plamil (plus P&P) £4.95

If you're not milk allergic, or don't need to worry about 'may contain', then there are more options, check out the Dark Chocolate from Divine and Green and Blacks.

Made without dairy but not suitable for those with milk allergy

Moving onto the luxury brands, these include:

Booja Booja

Booja Booja Easter eggs are made with papier mache, which contain a packet of their rather sumptuous truffles. The outer eggs are a feast for the eyes and make a wonderful souvenir ornament (or could be re-used next year, if you refill them with more of their truffles)!

I must say, I was under the impression that they had three sizes of egg last year, but this year, I have only come across two!

Sumptuous to look at and sumptuous to eat!

	Large Booja Booja Egg	Small Booja Booja Egg
Asda	-	-
Tesco	-	-
Morrison’s	-	-
Sainsbury’s	-	-
Waitrose	-	-
Ocado	£24.99 (buy 2 save £10)	£9.99 (buy 2 save 20%)
Holland & Barrett	-	£9.99

You can usually also find these in independent health food shops, where prices may vary!


Hotel Chocolat

Update Good Friday 2015:  I have just heard via a Twitter contact that Hotel Chocolat will not guarantee their new 'milk-free  milk' chocolate is free of all traces of dairy. I was unable to find the information on their website, when I was researching their products. I cannot help but feel that they should have made this clear from the start. Please read the rest of this entry on Hotel Chocolat in the light of this new information.

Much of Hotel Chocolat's dark chocolate is made without dairy and gluten. They have strict procedures regarding cleaning equipment, which has not caused trouble for my little girl, as far as we are aware.

This year, in a new departure, Hotel Chocolat have extended their range to include a 'Milk-Free Milk Chocolate' made with almonds.

Must admit, their new range is quite appealing, including these Easter treats: 

Classy!

Milk Free Goose Egg £10

Already a fave with 'Baby'!

Bunny Lick £2.50

See their full milk free range (including dark chocolate) here. 

Montezumas

I've included Montezumas range in this post, despite the fact they are not (as I would see it) completely dairy free, but purely because I know some dairy free people have no adverse reaction and love them. They are an organic brand and are available online, through their small chain of shops and in Holland and Barrett.

Price: 
Holland and Barrett £7.50
Montezumas £7.99


Meanwhile, online, this year, the following options have caught my eye:

Ayni

Ayni's range is all handmade raw chocolate, which is  dairy, gluten, nut and soya free and suitable for Vegans. I haven't tried it, so can't vouch for the quality, although Umm assures me it is lovely, but there is plenty of choice on the website (there are two pages of Easter products, if you follow the link above. 


Cocoa Libre

This chocolate I have tried and can vouch for! They are very yummy indeed!! A full review of what I made of them can be found by following this link. They have just brought out some Easter chicks, but I think these little lambs are just as topical!

'Scuse the poor piccy quality! 

You can buy Cocoa Libre online from their website, or through the stockists listed on their website, see here. From what I understand, some of Cocoa Libre's range can also be bought online from Holland and Barrett.


D and D Chocolates

Now these, I have tried! From what I understand, their chocolate is supplied by Plamil, so meets the same standard. Their range is great for any dairy free Easter egg hunts. Follow this link for the current range. 

These small solid chocolate eggs (they have new packaging this year) have proved very useful in the past!

We love these!

These eggs are currently priced £6.95.

For those who prefer it, they also do a range of carob.



Online

There are a number of online shops that stock dairy free Easter eggs, some of which have already mentioned, along with a few other tasty treats. These stores include:

Alternative Stores
Animal Aid
Free From for Kids
Goodness Direct
Tasha's Dairy Free Delights
The Vegan Store


Right, well, that should be enough to keep you busy enough for a while! SO, I'll save some other little Easter treats for another post - to follow soon!

Meanwhile, why not check out some related posts?

Related posts:


Howzat! On turning a 'normal' Easter egg into one which is Dairy Free!



Have yourself a Dairy Free Easter Egg Hunt!



Hotel Chocolat's Milk-Free Milk Chocolate



Cocoa Libre Dairy Free Milk