What Biscuits Contain No Milk? Your Complete Dairy-Free Guide

November 7, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a survey by Veganuary, many beloved British biscuits are 'accidentally vegan' and thus contain no milk. For those with milk allergies or dietary restrictions, knowing exactly what biscuits contain no milk can make snack time worry-free and delicious. This comprehensive guide details a variety of milk-free options available in stores and explains how to identify them successfully.

Quick Summary

This guide provides an overview of various popular biscuit brands and specific flavors that are suitable for a dairy-free diet. It offers practical advice on label reading, discusses common milk-derived ingredients to avoid, and even explores the option of homemade, milk-free biscuits. A helpful comparison chart highlights key differences between store-bought and homemade options.

Key Points

Accidentally Vegan Biscuits: Many popular, classic biscuits like Oreos, Biscoff, Jammie Dodgers, and McVitie's Digestives are naturally dairy-free.
Hidden Dairy Ingredients: Always check ingredient lists for milk derivatives like whey, casein, lactose, and ghee, which can indicate hidden milk.
Free-From Options: For strict dairy-free needs or allergies, look for products explicitly labeled "free-from dairy" from specialty brands like Lazy Day or Partake.
Homemade Control: Baking your own biscuits allows for total control over ingredients and eliminates the risk of cross-contamination from shared factory lines.
Convenience vs. Customization: Store-bought biscuits offer convenience and variety, while homemade ones provide customization and safety for severe allergies.
Reading Labels is Crucial: Pay close attention to allergen warnings like 'may contain milk' for those with severe milk allergies to avoid cross-contamination.

Navigating the Dairy-Free Biscuit Aisle

Finding biscuits that contain no milk can be a challenge, as many recipes traditionally use milk, butter, or whey. However, the rise in plant-based eating and an increased awareness of food allergies have led to a wider range of safe options. These include deliberately formulated "free-from" products and a surprising number of "accidentally vegan" biscuits that happen to be dairy-free by their standard recipe. Knowing which category a biscuit falls into is the first step toward a confident purchase. Reading the ingredients list is crucial, as some brands may use the same equipment for both dairy and non-dairy products, which could pose a risk for those with severe milk allergies due to cross-contamination warnings.

Popular 'Accidentally Vegan' Biscuits

Many classic biscuits are surprisingly milk-free. These products often replace milk derivatives with vegetable oil or other plant-based ingredients. Some of the most well-known examples include:

Oreo Cookies: The original Oreo cookie is famously vegan, with no milk ingredients in its recipe, despite the creamy filling. Always check limited-edition flavors, which might contain milk.
Lotus Biscoff: The iconic caramelized biscuit, often served with coffee, is naturally dairy-free.
Jammie Dodgers: The classic raspberry-filled biscuit is another accidentally vegan favorite.
McVitie's Original Digestives and Hobnobs: Many varieties of McVitie's biscuits, including the plain Original Digestives and Original Hobnobs, are dairy-free. However, be cautious with milk chocolate variants.
Rich Tea Biscuits: Another British staple, most plain rich tea biscuits are made without milk.

Specialty and Free-From Brands

For those who prefer products explicitly marked as dairy-free, several brands specialize in allergen-friendly biscuits. These are often found in the dedicated "free-from" aisle of supermarkets.

Lazy Day Foods: A UK brand offering a variety of dairy-free and gluten-free biscuits and cakes.
Partake Cookies: An American brand offering a range of allergy-friendly, vegan cookies, including chocolate chip and birthday cake varieties.
Nairn's Oat Biscuits: Many of their oat biscuits and biscuit breaks are dairy-free and also often gluten-free.
Sainsbury's Free From Range: Major supermarkets often have their own 'free-from' lines, like Sainsbury's dairy-free and gluten-free shortbread.

How to Read Biscuit Labels for Milk Ingredients

Beyond the obvious 'milk' or 'butter' in an ingredients list, dairy can hide under different names. Learning to spot these is essential for anyone avoiding milk.

Caseinates: These include calcium caseinate, potassium caseinate, and sodium caseinate, all derived from casein, a milk protein.
Whey: Whey is a byproduct of cheese-making and is a common milk allergen. Look for whey, whey protein concentrate, and delactosed whey.
Lactose: The sugar found in milk. While lactose-free products exist, they may still contain milk proteins that can cause allergic reactions.
Ghee: Although it is clarified butter and contains very little lactose, some milk proteins can remain, making it unsuitable for those with allergies.

Always check the allergen statement, which is often in bold text, for phrases like "contains milk" or "may contain milk due to cross-contamination." For severe allergies, this distinction is critical.

Homemade vs. Store-Bought Milk-Free Biscuits

Creating milk-free biscuits at home gives you complete control over ingredients and minimizes the risk of cross-contamination. However, store-bought options offer convenience and a wide variety of choices.


Feature	Homemade Biscuits	Store-Bought Biscuits
Ingredients	Total control over ingredients, allowing for custom substitutions like plant-based butter or oils.	Standardized recipes and ingredient lists. Potential for hidden dairy or cross-contamination.
Flavor	Customizable flavor profiles from simple to complex, including add-ins like spices or dairy-free chocolate chips.	Consistent, pre-determined flavors based on market preferences.
Cost	Often more economical, especially when making larger batches.	Can be more expensive, particularly specialty "free-from" products.
Convenience	Requires time for preparation, baking, and cleanup.	Quick and convenient, ready to eat without any effort.
Allergy Risk	Virtually zero cross-contamination risk, assuming a milk-free kitchen.	Risk exists for cross-contamination, especially with 'may contain' warnings.
Freshness	Enjoyed fresh out of the oven, with a shorter shelf life unless frozen.	Longer shelf life due to preservatives and packaging.

Making Homemade Dairy-Free Biscuits

For those who prefer a hands-on approach, homemade biscuits are a delicious and safe alternative. The process is straightforward, with simple swaps for dairy ingredients. The key is using a reliable dairy-free fat, like vegetable shortening or a solid plant-based butter, and a milk substitute. Water or almond milk can work perfectly as the liquid component, depending on the recipe. Some recipes even utilize coconut milk for extra richness.

Example Recipe: Simple Dairy-Free Drop Biscuits

This recipe from thesemisweetsisters.com offers a simple, easy-to-follow guide for delicious, milk-free drop biscuits.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
⅓ cup vegetable oil
⅔ cup water

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C).
In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients thoroughly.
Create a well in the center and pour in the vegetable oil and water.
Mix until just combined, without overmixing.
Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a greased baking sheet.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Conclusion

Whether you are avoiding dairy for health reasons, dietary choice, or a milk allergy, there are numerous biscuit options available. From finding accidentally vegan favourites on supermarket shelves like Oreos and Biscoff to creating your own delicious biscuits at home, you don't have to miss out on this beloved treat. By carefully reading ingredient labels and understanding common dairy derivatives, you can confidently navigate the world of biscuits and find safe, tasty options for yourself and your family. Remember that products explicitly labeled "free-from dairy" often provide the highest level of assurance, particularly for those with severe allergies.

For more detailed information on accidentally vegan biscuits in the UK, refer to this useful resource: 11 Best Biscuits According To Vegans.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, not all biscuits without a chocolate coating are milk-free. Many biscuit bases contain milk, butter, or whey. Always check the full ingredients list, not just the name or flavor, to be certain.

Yes. A biscuit may not contain milk ingredients but could be manufactured on shared equipment with dairy products. This can lead to cross-contamination, which poses a risk for severe milk allergies. Look for a "may contain milk" warning.

Dairy-free biscuits commonly use ingredients like vegetable oil, palm oil, solid vegetable shortening, plant-based margarine or butter, and dairy-free chocolate alternatives. In homemade recipes, plant-based milk (almond, soy) can replace cow's milk.

The original Oreo cookie recipe does not contain milk as an ingredient, making it a safe choice for many. However, they are made in a facility that processes dairy, and some special edition flavors may contain milk. Checking the specific package for allergen information is always the safest bet.

Look for biscuits explicitly labeled "dairy-free" or "vegan." In many grocery stores, these are located in a dedicated 'free-from' or 'allergy' section, rather than the regular biscuit aisle.

Yes, high-quality plant-based butter sticks or vegetable shortening can be used as a 1:1 substitute for dairy butter in most biscuit recipes. Keeping the substitute cold is key to achieving a flaky texture.

A vegan label means the product contains no animal products, including dairy. Therefore, any biscuit labeled vegan should be dairy-free by default. This is one of the most reliable labels to look for when avoiding milk.