Donuts are one of the most popular treats in the world. They come in different colors, and glazes, with every filling imaginable. But can lactose intolerant people or vegans enjoy these magical treats? Let’s find out if donuts have dairy!
So, do donuts have dairy? Almost all donuts contain dairy. The recipe for donuts contains milk, eggs, and sometimes yogurt. Therefore, donuts are not lactose-free. It is possible to create dairy-free donuts by substituting cow’s milk for plant-based milk such as almond or oat milk.
What Are Donuts Made Of?
Donuts are made of flour, milk, sugar, eggs, water, salt, and yeast. These are the main ingredients. To create icing, fillings, and decorations, everything from fruit to cream to chocolate is used.
There are two kinds of donuts – yeast donuts and cake donuts. Yeast donuts are made with yeast, while cake donuts are made with chemical leavening (baking soda, for example). As a result, they are different in taste and texture. Yeast donuts have more air inside, so they are fluffy and chewy. At the same time, cake donuts have a more dense texture.
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Are Donuts Made With Eggs or Milk?
In most cases, donuts are made of several base ingredients, including eggs and milk. There are vegan donuts that are made without eggs and use plant-based milk. However, these are not standard!
What Dairy Products Are in Donuts?
The classic recipe of donuts contains more than one dairy product. These sweets have milk, butter, yogurt, and whey. So if you are lactose intolerant, you should skip traditional donuts and find special vegan donuts!
Dairy ingredients in donuts are indispensable. They make donuts as we know them – with the right texture and wonderful taste. Also, any type of glaze and icing always has at least one dairy product. They are crucial for taste and texture.
Although it can be challenging to find non-dairy donuts, do not give up. With recent trends of replacing animal products with plant products, one can find such donuts in small shops or better make them by yourself.
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Do Donuts Have Dairy? Comparison Table
| Donuts brand | Variety | Flavor | Dairy products |
| Dunkin’ donuts | Boston Crème Donut | Vanilla flavor with chocolate frosting | Contains dairy |
| Chocolate Frosted Donut | Chocolate crème filling | Contains dairy | |
| Eclair | Dark chocolate filling with strawberry buttercream | Contains dairy | |
| French Cruller | Egg-like, slightly vanilla flavor | Contains dairy | |
| Glazed Donut | Maple, coconut, chocolate butternut, blueberry glazed, strawberry frosted, Bavarian crème, etc. | Contains dairy | |
| Krispy Creme | Original Glazed | Chocolate filling dipped in milk | Contains dairy |
| Cinnamon Sugar | Cinnamon flavor | Contains dairy | |
| Powdered Cake | Traditional cake covered with powdered sugar | Contains dairy | |
| Double Dark Chocolate | Glazed and filled with dark chocolate | Contains dairy | |
| Sugar Doughnut | Traditional soft donuts covered with sugar | Contains dairy | |
| Tim Hortons | Chocolate Dip | Soft donut dipped in chocolate fondant | Contains dairy |
| Honey Cruller | Eggy flavored with glazing | Contains dairy | |
| Double Chocolate | Chocolate donut dipped in chocolate fondant | Contains dairy | |
| Football Donut | Donut dipped in chocolate and white stripes imitating a football | Contains dairy | |
| Apple Fritter | Filled with pieces of apples and covered in donut glaze | Contains dairy |
Of course, there are some dairy-free donuts, but the most popular ones still contain dairy products.
Glazed Donuts
Glazed donuts are among the most popular ones. Instantly in your head, you imagine a fluffy, round ring-shaped donut covered with a glaze. The glaze and the topping can blow up your imagination.
The taste of glazed donuts depends on the glazing. For example, caramel glazed donuts will have a wickedly sweet caramel flavor, while chocolate iced donuts will have a rich cocoa flavor. Overall, these donuts have a soft and tender taste and fluffy texture. Glazed donuts are easy to make. All you need is milk, flour, sugar, yeast, eggs, butter, salt, and oil. Almost all of the ingredients can be found at home. You will be surprised how easy you can treat yourself and your loved ones with glazed donuts.
What Are Glazed Donuts Made Of?
Glazed donuts are made of flour, sugar, milk, butter, eggs, yeast, salt, and oil. For the glaze, you will need butter, cream or milk, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and salt. If you prefer other kinds of glaze, you can make chocolate, maple, or colored glaze.
Do Glazed Donuts Contain Milk?
Glazed donuts, like any other kind of donuts, do have dairy. All famous donut brands, such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Krispy Kreme, and Tim Hortons, create donuts with dairy in them. Some of them offer limited versions of vegan donuts, but the majority still have dairy in the recipes.
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Krispy Kreme Donuts
Krispy Kreme is one of the most popular brands of donuts in the world. It was founded in 1937 in the United States and since then has supplied the world with soft, rich, and oh-so-satisfying treats. The company has more than 50 donut flavors and constantly develops new ones. The menu includes such donuts as a double chocolate eclair, cinnamon twist, as well as limited baseball and basketball donuts. Krispy Kreme’s success is based on its donuts always being fresh, their incredible smell, and perfect glaze.
What Are Krispy Kreme Donuts Made Of?
Even though the recipe for Original Donuts is top-secret information, Krispy Kreme donuts are made of donut dough mix, sugar, yeast, and different fillings. Glazed donuts have a 12-hour shelf life, therefore, you will always find fresh donuts in the shops.
Do Krispy Kreme Donuts Have Dairy?
According to the information Krispy Kreme provides for consumers, their donuts indeed contain eggs and dairy products, including milk, yogurt, butter, whey, nonfat whey, and nonfat milk.
Dunkin Donuts
Another famous donut producer is Dunkin’ Donuts, or after the name change, just Dunkin’. Even though Dunkin’ offers much more than donuts, originally, they became famous for their delicious round treats. Every year Dunkin’ sells around 2.9 billion donuts. That’s impressive! The company constantly tries to experiment with recipes. For example, now, all colors used in donuts are made of natural ingredients. Interesting fact – Dunkin’ offers different donuts based on local cuisine. Thus, you can try donuts with shredded pork in China or red bean donuts in South Korea.
What Are Dunkin Donuts Made Of?
Dunkin Donuts are made of seven basic ingredients – flour, milk, butter, sugar, yeast, salt, and eggs. However, other ingredients are added to create unique fillings, glazes, and toppings.
Do Dunkin Donuts Have Dairy?
Donuts are not usually dairy-free, Dunkin’ is not an exception. Recently, Dunkin’ considered adding dairy-free donuts to their menu, but for now, they do not offer such donuts.
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Tim Hortons
Unlike other popular brands of donuts, Tim Hortons was founded in 1964 in Canada by a hockey player. Now they offer their wide range of donuts across the globe. The menu includes Boston Crème, considered one of the most delicious, Sour Crème Glazed, Honey Cruller, Canadian Maple, Apple Fritter, Double Chocolate, and a lot more.
What Are Tim Hortons Donuts Made Of?
As with any other donuts, Tim Horton’s donuts are made of flour, yeast, eggs, milk, butter, and oil with different fillings and glazing.
Do Tim Horton Donuts Have Dairy?
Tim Horton’s donuts indeed contain dairy in them. They are made with milk, butter, and eggs. Therefore, it is not an option for lactose-intolerant people. But they have some vegan-friendly choices for bagels.
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How to Make Dairy-Free Donuts? Dairy-Free Donut Recipe
Since most donuts you can find in cafes and restaurants are not dairy-free, the best solution is to make them by yourself. And the easiest way to do so is to substitute dairy ingredients with dairy-free products, for example, soy margarine and coconut milk.
There are a lot of ways to substitute dairy ingredients in the donuts. Here is an easy recipe!
For dairy-free donuts (12 donuts), you will need:
- ¼ cup of vegan margarine
- ½ cup of soy milk (can be any plant milk)
- 2 tablespoons of oil for the dough and 4 cups for frying
- 2 cups of flour
- ½ cup of caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder and
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- Flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder are mixed, while soy butter, coconut milk, and oil are mixed in a pan on low-medium heat.
- Once the butter mix is rested, gently mix it with flour to make a thick dough.
- Form small balls with a hole in the middle and fry them in the oil.
- Soak the donuts in excess oil and fry
- Afterward, decorate donuts according to your preferences.
- And Voila! Homemade dairy-free donuts are ready to bring happiness into your life.
Do Donuts Have Dairy FAQ
Do Donuts Have Milk or Eggs?
The majority of donuts have both milk and eggs in them. They are the main ingredients and are responsible for donuts’ lovely texture! If you want to avoid milk and eggs and still enjoy donuts, you need to find special vegan donuts.
Can I Eat Donuts if I Am Lactose Intolerant?
Since most donuts have dairy products in them, they are not recommended for lactose-intolerant people. If you are lactose intolerant, you should look for donuts that use dairy substitute ingredients, such as soy margarine or coconut milk.
Are There Any Dairy-Free Donuts?
Dairy-free donuts are not that easy to find. However, some brands started the production of dairy-free donuts. Dunkin’ Donuts launched several dairy-free donuts options, but only in Belgium. Right now, the best option is to cook dairy-free donuts at home.
Can You Make Dairy-Free Donuts?
You can easily treat yourself with homemade dairy-free donuts. All you have to do is substitute cow’s milk with plant-based milk such as soy and butter with vegan margarine.
