Planning a celebration when you or a loved one has a dairy restriction can be stressful. The search for a cake that’s both safe to eat and genuinely delicious can often lead to disappointment or hours spent in the kitchen. But what if we told you the perfect cake or batch of cupcakes is waiting for you at your neighborhood grocery store? This guide is your shortcut to the best store-bought dairy-free cakes and cupcakes that don’t compromise on taste.
10 Brands that Make Delicious Dairy-Free Cakes & Cupcakes
This indulgent guide includes dairy-free cakes and cupcakes that you can grab-and-go at stores in the U.S., Canada, and even the U.K. I’ve noted which ones are sold frozen. The others can be sold as shelf-stable or refrigerated, so check both sections in your local grocer’s bakery. Also, these brands are vegan, unless otherwise noted.
Allergen Notes: All items listed below are dairy-free by ingredients, and we have noted top allergens and gluten-free options. But ingredients are subject to change at any time. And all products are at some degree of risk for allergen cross contamination, whether they have a “may contain” statement or not. Always read the label before consuming any food, and make sure you are familiar with this may contain information. Only you can decide what is safe for your needs.
Abe’s Cakes & Cupcakes (where to buy)
No one has a better selection of dairy-free cakes than Abe’s! They offer an array of frosted and unfrosted cakes and mini cupcakes that are super moist, tender, flavorful, and travel remarkably well. The frosting is more like a thick icing, but it compliments the cake nicely. Abe’s runs a dedicated dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, soy-free, and sesame-free facility, so each treat is school-friendly and allergy-friendly to cover a range of party dietary needs. (contains: wheat) (see more reviews)
- Layer Cakes: Vanilla, Chocolate
- Iced Cakes (mini sheet cakes): Vanilla, Chocolate, Pumpkin, Gingerbread
- Cupcakes: Vanilla, Chocolate
- Picnic Cakes: Cornbread, Coffee Cake
- Pound Cakes: Banana, Coffee Cake, Vanilla, Lemon, Zucchini, Blueberry, Chocolate, Pumpkin, Ginger Spice
Rubicon Bakers Vegan Cakes & Cupcakes (where to buy)
This brand is very well-distributed, so you can find them in many national and regional grocery stores. I’ve picked up their little Chocolate Blackout Vegan Layer Cake countless times for impromptu parties. It’s quite tall and rich, so it easily serves 6 people and looks fancy enough to be a mini birthday cake. My husband loves their cupcakes, too, and has tried nearly every flavor. They are sweet, but have good depth in flavor, a moist crumb, and a relatively soft frosting. (contains: wheat, soy lecithin in chocolate varieties)
- Mini Layer Cakes: Chocolate Blackout, Vanilla, Red Velvet
- Cupcakes: Chocolate Blackout, Neapolitan, Lemon Raspberry, Vanilla, Mango Passion Fruit
Daiya Cheezecake (where to buy) (also gluten-free)
There’s a reason these allergy-friendly cheesecakes have been around for more than a decade. They are incredibly creamy and delicious! I’ve watched numerous cheese lovers down bite after bite of these desserts, none the wiser. I’ve even had dairy-consuming friends request them for parties. Which is easy to accommodate since they are sold frozen, so you can have any of the following flavors on hand at all times! (contains: no top allergens) (see more reviews)
- New York
- Key Lime
- Strawberry
- Chocolate
- Pumpkin Spice (seasonal)
Just Desserts Vegan Cakes & Cupcakes (where to buy)
This brand is well known for decadence, so we were excited when they came out with a vegan line. They aren’t quite as moist as Rubicon or Abe’s, but still hit the sweet spot with flavor and a tender crumb. And they aren’t too hard to find. We’ve spotted them in both natural and conventional grocery chains. (contains: soy, wheat)
- Cakes: Chocolate Midnight
- Cupcakes: Black and White, Chocolate Midnight, Strawberry Vanilla, Vanilla
Katz Crème Filled Cupcakes (where to buy) (also gluten-free; not vegan)
These are more casual desserts, but they’re still worthy of a celebration. They’re a bit like Hostess Cupcakes, but with better allergy-friendly ingredients, and in more intriguing flavors. They’re also sold frozen and individually wrapped, so you can keep a box or two in the freezer for any night cravings or when a pre-wrapped treat is helpful. (contains: egg)
- Chocolate
- Lemon
- Strawberry
- Caramel Apple (seasonal)
- Gingerbread (seasonal)
- Bonus: They also make a Marble Loaf Cake
Sweets from the Earth (where to buy) (gluten free options)
This gem of a bakery is purely for my Canadian friends. They have a stunning selection of layer cakes, pan-style cakes, cupcakes, and cheesecakes that will make you feel “normal” when celebrating. Sweets from the Earth runs two dedicated dairy-free and vegan facilities, one that is gluten-free and one that is nut-free but uses wheat. At last check, all of their gluten-free bakery-style cakes were made without nuts, but they aren’t produced in a nut-free facility. (contains: soy, wheat in the non-gluten-free line)
- Nut-Free Facility Iced Cakes: Chocolate Fudge, Coconut Cream, Cookies ‘n Cream, Lemon Raspberry, S’mores, Spiced Carrot Cake
- Nut-Free Facility Cupcakes: Black & White, Chocolate, Chocolate Lavender, Chocolate Mint, Coconut Cream, Cookies & Cream, Cream Filled, S’mores, Vanilla
- Nut-Free Facility Cheesecakes: Chocolate, Vanilla Bean, Wild Blueberry
- Gluten-Free Facility Iced Cakes: Chocolate, Coconut Lime, Vanilla
- Gluten-Free Facility Cheesecakes: Blueberry, Fair Trade Espresso, Vanilla Bean
Red Plate Foods Cupcakes (where to buy) (also gluten free)
Frosting fanatics will love the boisterous icing swirl on each sweet Red Plate mini cupcake. This brand takes food allergies seriously, runing their own dedicated facility free of dairy, egg, gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, and soy. This is a Canadian company, but the following cupcakes flavors are also sold in U.S. stores. (contains: no top allergens)
- Chocolate
- Vanilla
Treasure Mills School Safe Cupcakes (where to buy)
This dairy-free, egg-free, and nut-free brand is elusive, but their mini cupcakes are sold in both the U.S. and Canada. As the name implies, they are baked to meet school policies for children who are food allergic. They come in just two classic flavors, but are perfectly made for kid-friendly curb appeal. (contains: egg, wheat)
- Chocolate
- Vanilla
Just Love Foods (where to buy) (gluten-free options which are not vegan)
Yes, there are some dairy-free cakes you can grab-and-go in the U.K. too! This brand makes a pretty collection of frosted sponge cakes for birthdays and other gatherings. The line includes both wheat-based (vegan) and gluten-free (non-vegan) cakes. All are boldly labeled as milk-free, nut-free, and peanut-free. (contains: egg in gluten-free varieties, wheat in classic varieties)
- Confetti Trabake
- Indulgent Chocolate
- Gluten-Free Confetti
- Gluten-Free Happy Birthday
Chuckanut Bay Vegan Cheesecakes (where to buy)
These are a true, single-serve convenience. Each little cake is sold frozen, so you can keep a stock in your freezer for dessert emergencies. I tried the classic New York Style version and it was rich, but very light on sweetness. Other flavors have toppings, and might be sweeter. This company does make regular cheesecakes that look similar, so be sure to verify which type you pick up! (contains: soy)
- Chocolate Truffle
- New York Style
- Raspberry
- Strawberry
- Very Berry
Discontinued Brands
Over the years, brands do come in and out of availability. But these have officially been discontinued:
- Better Bites Cake, Cupcakes & Cake Bites
- Flax4Life Cakes
- Moocho Dairy-Free Cheesecakes
- Nabati Dairy-Free Cheesecakes
- OATzarella Cheesecakes
- President’s Choice Vegan Cheesecake (Canada)
- The Coconut Collaborative Lava Cakes
