Dairy-Free Cake Mixes from Duncan Hines
If you’re looking for a cake mix that is both egg-free and milk-free, look no further than your regular grocery stores. Lurking in the middle of the Betty Crocker and Pillsbury boxes are cake mixes from Duncan Hines that are dairy free!
I discovered this just recently after a tip given to me by a fellow mom. I’ve assumed that the regular cake mixes always contained milk and eggs, so I limited my search to health food stores. I also went the ‘from scratch’ route (and made some rather inedible cakes in the process!). But, finally, I went and looked very carefully at each box at the store, and found that there are some varieties of Duncan Hines that I can use for my allergic sons.
The instructions on these boxes do say to add eggs, but I use Ener-G Egg Replacer instead. I’ve tried the Moist Deluxe Lemon Supreme and Classic Yellow mixes, and both resulted in excellent cakes. There are even chocolate-flavored varieties that are egg- and milk-free. Just read the labels to find them!
In addition to the cake mixes, Duncan Hines also makes dairy-free frosting. I’ve used the French Vanilla Creamy Homestyle Frosting. It was a bit too sweet, but still pretty good.
I’ve been so happy to find a good cake mix that I can just whip up in a jiffy without worrying about allergens! Whoohoo! Thank you, Duncan Hines!
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POSTED IN: Cooking, Product News and Reviews
28 opinions for Dairy-Free Cake Mixes from Duncan Hines
Dinosaur Cake
Feb 20, 2008 at 11:51 pm
[…] cake mix was the Duncan Hines Yellow Cake mix with Ener-G Egg Replacer, instead of real eggs. The frosting was 1 1/2 tubs of Duncan Hines French Vanilla frosting, colored […]
J gray
Apr 21, 2008 at 11:42 am
Thanks so much! I was disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to make my sons 1st birthday cake due to an extreme milk allergy. So excited now!
Maricar
Apr 21, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Hi J gray, I’m happy to help! I’ve been there. I wish I’d known about Duncan Hines cakes when my son was 1. :)
Sharon
May 7, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Thanks Maricar, I’m going to make an Elmo birthday cake from my daugters second birthday party this friday using your idea, and ener-g egg replacer instead of real eggs. And i think i might also make cupcakes with melted carob chips mixed with a little rice milk to ice the cup cakes!
Jessica
May 22, 2008 at 12:05 am
Thank you so much for this, my son is allergic to the protein in milk and was hospitalized before he was two. I have been endlessly working on homemade and other remedies to not exclude him on his bday, even gingerbread but this is wonderful! Thank you so much for this simple but hard to find - find!!!
Caroline
Jul 1, 2008 at 12:37 pm
PLEASE beware… in the past, Duncan Hines has added milk into the mixes and then taken it back out. I called them and really never learned why. Please be sure to read the labels EVERY time. The mixes are truly wonderful for those of us who can’t have certain ingredients. Enjoy them while you can… just be aware that ingredients may change again.
Maricar
Jul 1, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Thanks for the reminder, Caroline. I always check all food labels, even those I’ve bought previously. I hope Duncan Hines don’t change their ingredients.
Kristy Hite
Jul 4, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I have a Pilsbury cake mix that may be milk free. It has monocalcium phosphate and dicalcium phosphate. Are these derived from milk? Is there a good resource available to see all the weird names milk may be disguised as?
Maricar
Jul 5, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Hi Kristy,
You can check this list for milk-based ingredients:
http://kidshealth.org/teen/misc/milkallergy_cutout.html
I always carry a small card that has the items to avoid for milk allergies. The list above can be printed out.
AJ
Jul 11, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Do you know if JELLO Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix is dairy free/non-dairy
Maricar
Jul 11, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Hi AJ, Unfortunately I can’t tell you that since I don’t know what’s listed in the ingredients. I will try to check on that next time I’m at the grocery store.
Melanie
Jul 14, 2008 at 8:36 am
My daugher will be two this month and she is very lactose intolerant. Took us a few months to diagnose…but at least now we have her diarrhea under control. Thank God for Lactose free products. I know the fun of checking every label and making sure she doesn’t get half of what my older daughter gets. Its so sad, but it’s better for her health. Thanks for the post so I can make her a dairy free cake for her birthday!
Maricar
Jul 15, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Hi Melanie, I’m glad I can help. Please still remember to check on the labels of the cake mixes. Sometimes, manufacturers change their ingredients. I wish your daughter a happy birthday!
Kristy Hite
Jul 15, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Thanks again for your helpful information! I’m now sharing your site and information to some of the people on Cake Central. It came at a time where other people were asking about diary free/vegan cakes too. From there I learned about a great cookbook (haven’t tried yet, but has rave reviews) Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World. Hope this helps someone!
info on dairy free baking and types of restricted baking. - Into The Oven Forums
Jul 16, 2008 at 7:37 am
[…] on dairy free baking and types of restricted baking. Dairy-Free Cake Mixes from Duncan Hines __________________ make, bake, decorate……what else do you […]
Maricar
Jul 17, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Hi Kristy, thanks for that! I’ll check out that book.
Jessica
Jul 20, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Does anyone know of any dairy-free icings, even homemade? Thanx.
Rachel
Jul 22, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I am so glad to find you! I just found out today that my 11-month old still has a milk allergy and I was worried about what to do for her birthday. Thank you also for the link to the milk-based ingredients. I am so grateful!
Maricar
Jul 23, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Hi Jessica, I’ve used one of the icing mixes from Duncan Hines, the French Vanilla Creamy Homestyle Frosting. I’ve also made icing from scratch using the Wilton recipe. I just substituted soy margarine for butter.
Maricar
Jul 23, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Hi Rachel, you’re welcome. I’m really glad to be able to help others who have these same allergies.
Kristy Hite
Jul 23, 2008 at 10:21 pm
The Wilton recipe for decorators icing calls for all Crisco (no butter) and water can be used for the few tablespoons of liquid needed. Is cocoa dairy free? If so, you could even make their chocolate recipe dairy free. I like the idea of using soy butter vs Crisco. It’s got to be healthier! I recently learned that something in the bleaching/processing makes sugar non-Vegan. Are there brands of Vegan sugar out there somewhere?
Melanie N
Sep 4, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I am so glad I came accross this website….after 16 years of being able to provide my son with a birthday cake this year was going to be the first year he would have to miss out….but not anymore I was so excited to text him….chocolate or yellow!
Kim
Sep 5, 2008 at 10:31 am
My neice has milk, egg, nut allergies and I’m always looking for fun things to make. You can make your cake using the DH cake mix and a can of soda - that’s it! I’ve used Cool Whip as a topping, also made it into a Jello cake by poking holes and pouring a jello (not pudding) flavor over the top. You can do cobbler by mixing a pie filling and can of fruit (cherry/pear or pineapple) in a 9×13, then pour the dry cakemix over the top. Layer Fleischman’s no salt stick butter (soy) over the top and bake till browned. I’ve made rice crispie treats (reg, fruity & choco) with marshmallows and the Fleischman’s butter. These are great to let them cut with cookie cutters. Next treat - baking the cake in icecream cones and topping with icing! There are a lot of options now, just gotta be creative. Good luck!
Maricar
Sep 6, 2008 at 12:31 am
Hi Melanie, did your son just recently develop allergies?
Hi Kim, thanks for those tips! Someone else has told me about the soda and cake mix, but I haven’t tried it. I think I will, now that you mention it. Doesn’t Cool Whip have a milk ingredient?
Ideas for Using Dairy-Free Cake Mixes
Sep 6, 2008 at 4:12 am
[…] are available to them. So many of the commercial products contain milk and eggs, so that finding a dairy-free cake mix like Duncan Hines is a cause for […]
darlene
Oct 27, 2008 at 7:34 pm
if you want to make a yellow cake with the soda…..what kind of soda do you use?
Maricar
Oct 28, 2008 at 11:19 am
Darlene, I’d use a clear soda like Sprite or 7-up.
darlene
Nov 7, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Do you bake the pop receipe as you would on the box?
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