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Dairy Substitutions Guide

A comprehensive reference for replacing dairy ingredients in any recipe. Every substitute listed is one we've tested and trust.

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Wondering when to use cauliflower, cashews, or a dairy-free roux in creamy recipes?

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Milk & Cream

Whole / Skim Milk

  • Soy milk · 1:1
  • Oat milk · 1:1
  • Almond milk (unsweetened) · 1:1
  • Canned light coconut milk · 1:1
  • Rice milk · 1:1

Soy and oat are the two to keep on hand. Soy behaves the most like dairy milk in cooking, and oat wins on texture in anything creamy.

Half-and-Half

  • Oat milk + coconut cream · ¾ cup + ¼ cup

Mimics richness in coffee and sauces

Heavy / Whipping Cream

  • Coconut cream · Equal amount
  • Cashew cream · Equal amount
  • Silken tofu + plant milk · Equal amount

Whip coconut for desserts; cashew for soups/sauces

Evaporated Milk

  • Simmered oat or soy milk · Reduce by 50%

For pies, casseroles, creamy soups

Sweetened Condensed Milk

  • Coconut condensed milk · 1:1

For desserts, fudge, caramel

Buttermilk

  • Soy milk + lemon juice or vinegar · 1 cup + 1 tbsp acid
  • Oat or almond milk + acid · 1 cup + 1 tbsp acid
  • Dairy-free yogurt thinned with plant milk · 3/4 cup yogurt + 1/4 cup milk
  • Plant milk + cream of tartar · 1 cup + 1.75 tsp

Nothing special to buy here. Plant milk plus an acid covers nearly every recipe that calls for buttermilk.

Powdered Milk

  • Coconut milk powder · Equal amount
  • Soy milk powder · Equal amount

Mixes, dry baking blends

Butter & Fats

Salted / Unsalted Butter

  • Vegan butter · 1:1
  • Refined coconut oil · 1:1
  • Olive oil · ¾ amount

Vegan butters behave like real butter in most recipes

Clarified Butter (Ghee)

  • Refined coconut oil · 1:1
  • Avocado oil · 1:1

High smoke point for sautéing and Indian cooking

Cream Cheese

  • Plant-based cream cheese · 1:1

For frostings, spreads, cheesecakes

Mascarpone

  • Silken tofu + coconut cream + sweetener (blended) · Equal amount

For tiramisu, creamy desserts

Cheese

Soft Cheeses (Ricotta, Cottage)

  • Crumbled firm tofu · Equal amount
  • Blended cashews · Equal amount
  • Almond ricotta · Equal amount

For lasagna, stuffed shells, dips

Mozzarella

  • Vegan mozzarella shreds · 1:1
  • Homemade cashew-tapioca mozzarella · 1:1
  • Dairy-free ricotta · 1:1

Whatever brand you buy, give it heat and moisture. A covered pan or a hot oven fixes most vegan mozzarella complaints.

Cheddar / Hard Cheeses

  • Dairy-free cheese sauce or queso · 1:1 in melted applications
  • Nutritional yeast · Start with 2 tbsp per cup of sauce
  • Vegan cheddar shreds · 1:1
  • Aged cashew cheese · 1:1

For melted dishes, build a sauce instead of relying on shreds. Save the shreds for spots where you want distinct melty pieces.

Parmesan

  • Cashew parmesan (cashews, nutritional yeast, salt) · To taste
  • Store-bought vegan parmesan · 1:1
  • Nutritional yeast alone · To taste
  • Toasted breadcrumbs with miso · To taste

Make the cashew version once and keep it in a jar in the fridge. It covers pasta night for weeks.

Blue Cheese

  • Vegan blue-style cheese · 1:1
  • Miso + tahini blend · To taste

For salads and dressings

Cheese Sauce

  • Nutritional yeast sauce
  • Blended potatoes + carrots + spices

For mac and cheese, nachos

Desserts & Beverages

Ice Cream

  • Coconut-based ice cream · 1:1
  • Oat-based ice cream · 1:1
  • Cashew-based ice cream · 1:1

Creamy and indulgent

Whipped Cream

  • Whipped coconut cream · Equal amount
  • Aquafaba (whipped) · Equal amount

Coconut for richness; aquafaba for light topping

Yogurt (Plain / Greek)

  • Unsweetened soy yogurt · 1:1
  • Unsweetened coconut yogurt · 1:1
  • Unsweetened almond yogurt · 1:1
  • Cashew cream + lemon juice · 1:1

Unsweetened is the whole game. Sweetened yogurt has ruined more savory dairy-free dinners than any other swap.

Coffee Creamer

  • Oat-based creamer · To taste
  • Coconut-based creamer · To taste

Oat gives best texture without separation

Milkshakes

  • Plant milk + frozen banana
  • Plant milk + non-dairy ice cream

Keeps smooth consistency

Baking Ingredients

Milk Chocolate

  • Dark chocolate (70%+ cacao, dairy-free label) · 1:1

Check labels for 'may contain milk' warnings

White Chocolate

  • Vegan white chocolate (cocoa butter + rice milk) · 1:1

Works in cookies and drizzle toppings

Sour Cream

  • Coconut yogurt · 1:1
  • Silken tofu + lemon juice · Equal amount

Adds tang to cakes and dips

Custard / Pudding

  • Coconut or oat milk + cornstarch
  • Coconut or oat milk + agar

For thick, creamy desserts

Caramel / Toffee

  • Coconut cream + dairy-free butter + sugar

Smooth, rich texture

Prepared Foods & Sauces

Cream-based Soups

  • Puréed cauliflower base
  • Puréed potato base
  • Cashew cream base

Add veggie broth for balance

Alfredo Sauce

  • Blended cashews + nutritional yeast + garlic

Excellent creamy pasta sauce

Ranch / Caesar / Blue Cheese Dressing

  • Mayo + plant milk + herbs
  • Miso-tahini base

Keeps flavor and texture

Mashed Potatoes

  • Plant milk + vegan butter · 1:1

Oat milk gives best creaminess

Baked Goods (general)

  • Plant milk + vegan butter · 1:1

1:1 substitution; no flavor loss if balanced

Creamy Dressings / Toppings

  • Mayo or cashew cream base · 1:1

Keeps flavor and texture