Food and Recipes Desserts 21 Dairy-Free Desserts Every Guest Can Enjoy These dairy-free desserts are just as delicious. By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is an Associate Digital Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on May 23, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke For those without food allergies or intolerances, it can be hard to understand how difficult restricted diets can be, especially in the South. When you think of the beloved dishes of our region, delicious comfort foods like fried chicken, casseroles, towering layer cakes, and cobblers come to mind. Unfortunately for anyone with allergies or sensitivities, many Southern foods aren't exactly inclusive of many diets. Whether you're lactose-intolerant, vegan, or choose to stay dairy-free for other reasons, we've got plenty of dairy-free recipes that ensure you can still indulge in the Southern food you love. These dairy-free desserts are just as delicious as their butter-laden counterparts, and nobody will notice the difference. Even if no one in your immediate family has a dairy sensitivity or allergy, keeping these food tolerances in mind when hosting is essential. If you're in charge of Thanksgiving or the neighborhood's monthly dinner party, a gracious host always asks about allergies or dietary restrictions before the big event. You want guests to feel energized and comfortable because they can't enjoy the beautiful spread you've prepared. With these easy dairy-free dessert recipes, no one will have to go without something sweet at the end of a meal. 01 of 21 Chocolate-Coconut Pavlova Cake Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos This dairy-free and gluten-free dessert will be the most beautiful star of your holiday dinner. This flourless dessert layers crisp meringues and coconut cream in an alternating formation. Coconut cream adds a subtle sweetness and rich texture. 02 of 21 Spiced Coconut-Pumpkin Pie Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns No one at the holiday table will realize this silky-smooth pie differs from last year's, and your dairy-intolerant guests will thank you. Earthy pumpkin and sweet coconut combine to create this innovative dairy-free dessert. It's richly spiced and not too sugary. 03 of 21 Peppermint Divinity Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer We gave the classic divinity recipe you remember from Grandma's a festive touch with peppermint. Pecans add a delightful crunch to this old-fashioned favorite. Place the candies in an airtight container between layers of parchment paper until you are ready for dessert. 04 of 21 Pear Pie Micah A. Leal This pie filling is dairy-free, but be sure to buy your own refrigerated pie crusts or use our Coconut Pie Crust for a completely dairy-free dessert. Pear pie is delicious warm or chilled at any time of the year. Adding cardamom and bourbon complements the pear-filling and buttery crust. 05 of 21 Red-and-White Meringue Kisses Southern Living Add a kiss of holiday cheer to the dessert table with these simple meringues. This versatile meringue recipe will be light and crisp if baked at the right temperature. Oven temperatures that are too hot will burn, and too-low temperatures will dry out the desserts. 06 of 21 Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies Southern Living It doesn't get simpler than this classic four-ingredient cookie recipe. It's a perfect after-school project for the kids or a last-minute dessert for when you forget to plan ahead. Add some variety to these cookies by adding chocolate morsels, toffee bits, or chopped peanuts. 07 of 21 Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs These adorable apple pies make a great treat for kids or on-the-go adventures. Peel Granny Smith apples and cut them into small cubes to mix with sugar, warm seasonal spices, and caramel candy. Sprinkle with sea salt. 08 of 21 Spiced Coconut-Cherry Mold Hector Sanchez There's nothing like an old-school gelatin salad to get everyone in the nostalgic holiday spirit, and unlike yesteryear's lime creation, this one is beautiful and delicious. This dessert takes at least six hours to chill, so make this mold with enough time to form. 09 of 21 Cranberry Apple Pie Photographer: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen The filling of this seasonal pie is dairy-free, but be sure to use store-bought refrigerated pie dough or make our Coconut Pie Crust homemade for an entirely dairy-free dessert. While this pie takes about four hours to bake, it only requires 40 minutes of hands-on time. Apples and cranberries blend perfectly with the brown sugar, apple butter, cornstarch, orange juice, and spice mixture. 10 of 21 Apple Bread Micah A. Leal Make one loaf for your family and give one as a sweet hostess gift. Packed with small cubes of Granny Smith apples, this sliceable loaf made with brown sugar, honey, and applesauce is just as delicious for breakfast as it is for dessert. Add a generous amount of cinnamon to create this sweet, spice-filled loaf. 11 of 21 Our Best Homemade Marshmallows Hector Sanchez Perfect atop a warm mug of hot chocolate on Christmas Eve, these fluffy marshmallows would also make precious homemade gifts in a cup with hot chocolate mix. Dust the knife with powdered sugar in between cuts for smooth slices. Substitute half of the vanilla extract with peppermint extract for even more holiday flavors. 12 of 21 Shaker Lemon Pie Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Ana Kelly This old-school Junior League recipe is a fun, dairy-free way to showcase winter citrus on your holiday. This citrus dessert is simple to make, requiring only four ingredients and 15 minutes of hands-on time. Leave enough time for the lemon slices to sit in a shallow sugar-filled bowl for at least four hours—or overnight. 13 of 21 Christmas Snow Salad Jennifer Causey This recipe from our November 1982 issue has all the old-school charm you could ask for from a congealed salad. Combine unflavored gelatin, crushed pineapple, whipped topping mix, mayonnaise, and powdered sugar with chopped red and green maraschino cherries, chopped pecans, and walnuts. This red-and-green dessert will look spectacular on the table. 14 of 21 Freezer Peach Pie Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox This summer, save the best of the season, and you'll have a freezer full of pie fillings waiting to enjoy just as you're missing fresh summer peaches. The peach pie uses sugar, cornstarch, ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon for a flavorful filling. 15 of 21 Lemon Cupcakes with Lavender Frosting Hector Sanchez While the frosting uses dairy, the lemon cupcakes are dairy-free. Shortbread cookies create the base for this lemon juice, coconut, and sugar dessert. This dish is a fresh, modern version of a traditional gelatin salad. 16 of 21 Angel Food Cake Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke This light-as-air cake is the perfect fluffy finale for your meal. Top with our festive Sparkling Cranberries or any red or green fruit for Christmas. Try one of these varieties to make this treat extra special: Pineapple Angel Food Cake, Lemon Angel Food Cake, or Chocolate Angel Food Cake. 17 of 21 Mama Mae's Ambrosia Salad Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood Don't let the title fool you—it's a salad in name only. Toss this classic mix of pineapple, oranges, and coconut flakes for a lighter treat that still hits all the satisfyingly sweet notes. Add mint leaves, pomegranate seeds, and chopped pecans for extra-fresh flavor and a little crunch. 18 of 21 Pomelo Olive Oil Cake Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Thanks to adding olive oil, you won't miss the butter in this dessert, which makes every slice especially rich and moist. The olive oil also complements the citrusy zip of the pomelos, which taste similar to grapefruit but are typically about the size of a small melon. 19 of 21 Chocolate Water Cake Micah A. Leal Celebrate your dairy-averse, chocolate-loving crew with a cake free of the usual suspects. For the frosting, choose your own adventure: Ice with a dairy-free option for an entirely vegan dessert, or serve our frosting (made with cream cheese and butter) on the side for those who can enjoy it. 20 of 21 Gâteau de Sirop (Syrup Cake) Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Cane syrup is this Louisiana specialty's star, an easy stir-and-bake sweet that requires just 10 minutes of hands-on time. To make it entirely dairy-free, grease the pan with baking spray rather than butter and skip the optional whipped topping. 21 of 21 Applesauce Snack Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis Ditch the brown sugar frosting for a dairy-free dessert that's sure to be a hit at all your fall gatherings. Warm up leftovers (if there are any) for breakfast. This cake gets its zesty flavoring from the hints of lime zest and ginger. Frequently Asked Questions What are suitable dairy substitutes for desserts? Dairy dessert substitutes include milk alternatives, including rice, oat, almond, coconut, or hazelnut milk. Substitute butter for vegan butter, applesauce, dairy-free yogurt, coconut oil, or coconut butter. Is angel food cake dairy-free? Yes, angel food cake is dairy-free as it does not contain butter, milk, or cream. However, angel food cake has egg whites. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit