Dairy free chocolate?

[Habbibu]

Just trialing a birthday cake, as one of the party guests has a dairy allergy. Used pure spread, soya milk and cocoa, and all seemed well until I saw "may contain milk" on the tub of cocoa. I don't think she's super sensitive - school have never said anything, but what do people usually think about cocoa.? Which chocolate do people usually find good to use?

Cocoa is dairy free. It says 'may contain milk' to cover themselves in event of any reaction/ allergy etc. whilst no milk is added to the cocoa it may be made in the same factiory as other products, so therfore there is a small chance of cross contamination

So do you reckon it's ok to use? Do most people with dairy allergies just use cocoa? I guess you'd have to be very sensitive to be affected by cross contamination. It's a really nice cake, so I do hope it's ok.

Well I don't eat dairy from preference (vegan), but i would consider it fine to use it. Perhaps just check that the person is not very sensitive, but i can't see a problem with it. Once you start looking at labels it is surprising how often you see these kinds of warnings on all sorts of packaging, so that manufacturers cover themselves.

PHONE HER MUM AND ASK!

DD is allergic to lactose, and a few other things and I know which products she is safe with (untill they change the ingredients, line etc) I can´t tell you if your cocoa would be approblem for any other child.

Her mum won´t mind in the least either way as she can sort of altenative if there is a problem

Well done for trying so hard, I would have been truely grateful

I'd second the asking - as a mom to a lactose intolerant child the phone call would be very much appreciated.

Another thing to consider for birthday parties is the rice crispie cakes. I make them from the dark choc which is high in cocoa content and is easily tolerated by my DS. The cakes go down great with everyone including adults.

Thanks, all. I was trialling the cake for a friend, so I think she's sent a message to the mother today. It's quite a eye-opener! Same child will be invited to Dd's party next month. Would it be really rude to make df cupcakes as an alternative to main cake? I just had a plan to make Swiss meringue buttercream and I haven't seen many signs that that works well with df substitutions - it's temperamental at the best of times.

DD is dairy free/ soya free and often comes home with the dairy cake which we then subsitute for dairy free cake/ choc so she doesn't miss out.

Personally dd would be chuffed to get any cake so a special one for her would not be a problem

Oh, good. I'll make it lovely - just "a labrador, mummy, a lovely golden fluffy labrador" is tough enough in cake form as it is. Thank you all cery much. Fwiw, I converted Nigella's buttermilk birthday cake, using pure spread, and souring alpro soya with cider vinegar. And it's really good - light and fluffy, with a great taste.

ohh I never thought of souring stuff to make it dairy free (I just whizz over those receipes).