Dairy Free Margarine Recommendations please

[belsize]

DD2 is dairy, nut and egg allergic. We're new to this -- just found out about it this month. I am trying to find a dairy-free margarine that has a nice taste and makes the best cakes and biscuits. I am just hoping to save a lot of experimentation by consulting some experts!

Many thanks!

Shari

[SoupDragon]

I've baked with Pura and not noticed any taste difference.

I can't vouch for its taste as a spread though as I can't bear the taste of anythign other than butter.

[foxinsocks]

Pure has a range of dairy free spreads - one with sunflower for those allergic to dairy, soya and gluten and one with soya for those just allergic to dairy and gluten. They even have an organic one.

You can get it in most supermarkets.

[foxinsocks]

oops sorry soupy! was just looking up the website while I was typing that out!

[HRHWickedwaterwitch]

Sainsbury's olive spread is nice but I've never cooked with it, just used it on toast. I've cooked with Pura and it's fine.

[Blu]

Suma make a vegan margarine which is also free of hydrogenated fats - so healthy. Try a local wholefood shop.
I have a dairy ree cake recipe which uses oil instead of margarine or butter - have lent it to a friend, but will ask her for it back if you're interested. it uses baking powder (alkali) and orange jiuce (acid), and the resultant 'fizz' keeps the cake very light.

[SoupDragon]

Careful though - one of Sainsbury's olive spreads does contain dairy though... I think the organic one might be dairy free but I@m not sure (might have one of the less obvious dairy ingredients in it). I've baked dairy free birthday cakes before

[rummum]

Hi belsize.. your daughter has exactly the same allergies as my son!... he uses PURE... like SoupDragon, I can't vouch for its taste as I like only butter.. but son seems to like it..

[Heartmum2Jamie]

We are using Pure, the sunflower one I think. I can't vouvher for the taste as we only got it at the weekend, although dh ate it and never said anything about it tasting any different.

[tatt]

We currently have vitalife for baking (and a tesco vegetable oil in a blue wrapper think I got this because it was hydrogenated fat free). We like vitalife better. Strangely st ivel gold doesn't seem to bother my lactose intolerant one but they put so little on bread they can hardly taste it. Odd though as the ingredients include skimmed milk and normally the tiniest trace is enough to cause problems.

Mine doesn't like olive oil spreads (sigh).

[belsize]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I will definitely be trying out some new types of "butter" over the next few weeks. We have one of the Pure spreads right now (the blue organic one) and it tastes like nothing spread on bread -- the kids don't seem to mind but I sure would like something with a bit more taste around the house!

Blu -- thanks, I would love the cake recipe.

Rummum -- if you have any top tips for coping with a child with those allergies they would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks!

[matnanplus]

Have used Pure before and it was ok, have to say i used the box cake mixes that are dairy free. If i remember correctly it was a mix you just added oil and water to it, it was a very very scrummy chocolate cake / brownie mix that went down a treat with everyone, got it from the sainsburys or tesco free from / special section.

[Outdoorsmum]

Hi,

I'm not keen on Pure or the Suma spreads on toast. Sainsburys Free From spread is much better, spreads in a better way and has a better taste. Also great in cooking.

[donnacb]

I have to agree that sainsburys free from is the best. Im still breast feeding as cant find a milk my ds will take. Hes 13months now. so i am dairy free too and i like the taste. good luck