For Ursula Bennett, dessert has always made her happy. From late-night chocolate cravings to early recollections of baking cookies with her grandmother, she never wanted to give up sweets. She had to change her attitude to sweets though when she found she had a dairy intolerance.
“First, I thought going dairy-free meant forfeiting all of my beloved treats,” Ursula says. “But I soon found I could still enjoy sweets without feeling deprived with the correct ingredients.”
Ursula began experimenting with plant-based substitutes for conventional dairy products. Her go-to for creamy textures is coconut milk; almond and oat milk worked great in baked products. She also discovered that without butter or cream, avocado and bananas could give dishes richness.
Chocolate free of dairy was one of her most exciting finds. “There are so many fantastic brands nowadays that substitute coconut or oat milk for dairy,” she notes. “I still find enjoyment in a piece of chocolate without any trouble.”
Ursula enjoys creating fruit-based sorbets as a reviving treat. Her appetites will be satisfied without additional sugar by a smooth, naturally sweet dessert made from frozen berries blended with a bit of coconut milk. For a creamy, nutrient-dense dessert, she also loves dairy-free chia pudding, which calls for chia seeds, almond milk, and vanilla.
And when she is seeking something decadent? “Cashew-based cheesecakes are revolutionary,” she notes. “They lack the dairy yet have the same creamy consistency as conventional cheesecake.”
Ursula feels lighter, more invigorated, and free from bloating she used to have after changing to dairy-free treats. “I never feel like I’m missing out,” she notes. “If anything, I have found equally beloved new tastes and textures.”
Her guidance for those wishing to reduce their dairy intake? “Pay attention to all the mouthwatering substitutes available rather than what you cannot have. The simplicity with which you could make the change surprises you.
Dessert is still a happy part of Ursula’s life today, but without any of the guilt—or stomachaches.
