My Favorite Vegan Dairy Replacements

Here is a curated list of my favorite dairy replacements:

Milk - A classic non-dairy milk option, almond milk replaces cow's milk well in baking, cooking and stands alone with ease. I use it over my granola for breakfast, in all my baking and as a pairing for fresh baked cookies. My favorite one for years has been the Almond Breeze Unsweeted Origional. I buy the shelf stable cartons and always keep a few in the pantry for back ups.

When it comes to making a latte I always suggest oat milk. Oat milk has a thick and creamy consistency with a natural sweetness that makes it the perfect choice for a latte or cappuccino. This milk also froths incredibly well and most brands offer a barista blend for the perfect foam. My favorite brands since going vegan continue to be Oatly and Califa Farms.

Yogurt - I was never a big yogurt person before going vegan because of all the added sugars but there are a lot of non-dairy yogurt options with minimal sugar that I have found and loved. Vegan yogurt tends to be one of the pricier replacement options but if you find store brand versions they can be easier on your wallet. Trader Joe's sells cultured coconut yogurts in a variety of flavors and around the holidays the apple cinnamon flavor is worth hunting down. The coconut varieties are a lighter consistency similar to coconut milks -- think skim milk vs whole milk. Cashew based yogurts tend to be creamier similar to a greek yogurt and Trader Joe's has a few flavor options!

Outside of store brands, Forager's cashew based yogurt, So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk Yogurt Alternative, and So Delicious Oat milk yogurt are great options. The good news is Whole Foods almost always has a sale on non-dairy yogurts.

Ice Cream - The first non-dairy ice cream I ever tried still stands to be my favorite. If you're a a coffee lover the Ben and Jerry's Coffee Caramel Fudge Non-Dairy ice cream is to die for. The chunks of chocolate give it some texture and the coffee flavor isn't overwhelming. This options is made from almonds. For a classic vanilla flavor I enjoy Oatly's original flavor paired with granola over top or pressed between two chocolate chip cookies.

If you're feeling a little nostalgic grab the Trader Joe's Soy Creamy Mini Vanilla Sandwiches -- these sandwiches are half the size of a traditional ice cream sandwich but with all the flavor.

Cheese - The best shredded cheeses have to be Follow Your Heart. Cheddar, mozzarella or fiesta blend are all incredible when melted and have that satisfying stretch. To replace parmesan on top of pastas, garlic bread or in pesto I also use Follow Your Heart brand option. They come in a tub and should be enjoyed melted.

For cheese slices I cannot recommend Chao slices enough. This cheese taste incredibly similar to american style slices and non-vegans and vegans alike have told me they could be fooled into thinking its as a dairy product. I use this in my grilled cheeses or just on crackers as an hors d'oeuvres.

The same brand makes a frozen mac 'n cheese called Mac n' Chao -- if you like Stouffer's frozen mac or the mac and cheese form Panera this is for you. My other favorite prepared mac is from Annie's and its their boxed Vegan Mac in the cheddar flavor -- they also offer a sweet potato and pumpkin variety but that one is a little to sweet to be considered a mac and cheese in my opinion. I love to mix the Annie's with Upton's Chorizo Seitan for a lazy comfort meal.

The last two cheese based vegan alternatives I have to share are frozen pizza and a cashew queso. Bold brand vegan pizza can be hard to find, I first found it was carried by the Acme chain of super markets and fell in love. Bold makes veggie options and classic cheese both of which I would recommend. The next time you're at Whole Foods, grab a jar of Siete Cashew Queso from the refrigerated section and heat it up to enjoy with chips as a dip or over any Mexican style meal.

Condiments - Vegan butter is readily available at any major grocery store but if you're lucky enough to find Miyoko's grab it. Their cultured vegan butter has a cashew base and is the closest thing to real butter I've found yet. Miyoko's can be expensive but its my guilty pleasure to have a few dinner rolls with their butter. For baking and cooking I grab a more economical and easy to find option -- Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks. This brand sells tubs of butter as well as stick form but the sticks make replacing butter in baking and recipes a breeze. Be careful of butter options that sound like they're dairy free, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter's original recipe still had dairy milk in it and some oil based butters also carry cows milk or the dairy protein casein.

Tofutti brand's cream cheese and sour cream are staples in my fridge. The cream cheese has a similar consistency to traditional cream cheese and is great dressed up on a bagel with sprouts, cucumber, tomatoes and tempeh bacon. The Toffuti sour cream thickens any pasta sauce and pairs incredibly with Mexican food or a baked potato.

Lastly, mayo. I have tried just about every vegan mayo on the market and always come back to Sir Kensington Fabanaise. It works perfectly on any sandwich, mixed with Sriracha, in an aioli or spread on the outside of bread to make the perfect crisp on a grilled cheese.

If there is something you think I should try let me know!