Quick Answer
Many Dunkin Donuts contain dairy ingredients like milk, cream, butter, and cheese. However, they also offer some dairy-free options like their Original Blend and Dark Roast coffees, sugar-free syrups, and non-dairy milk alternatives. Overall, while Dunkin Donuts is not a dairy-free establishment, they do offer more dairy-free choices than many other fast food chains.
Ingredients that Contain Dairy
Here are some of the main ingredients and menu items at Dunkin Donuts that contain dairy:
Milk
– Milk is added to Dunkin Donuts’ hot and iced coffees, lattes, macchiatos, and hot chocolate by default unless a non-dairy milk is requested. This includes whole milk, 2% milk, skim milk, and non-fat milk.
– Milk is used in the milkshakes, smoothies, and frozen drinks like the Frozen Coffee, Frozen Chocolate, Coolatta, and Frozen Vanilla Chai.
– Condensed milk is used in some of the flavored coffee syrups.
Cream
– Creamer (a cream and milk blend) is added to hot and iced coffees by default at many locations. Both dairy and non-dairy creamers are used.
– Whipped cream is squirted on top of some drinks like lattes, mochas, hot chocolate, and frozen beverages.
– Half & half (half milk, half cream) is available as a creamer option.
Butter
– Butter is used in the preparation of Dunkin’s baked goods including the croissants, Danish pastries, muffins, donuts and bagels.
Cheese
– Some baked goods contain cheese such as the Wake-Up Wrap sausage, egg and cheese on a croissant.
– Various cream cheese spreads are available for bagels and sandwiches.
– The grilled cheese sandwich contains cheddar cheese.
Yogurt
– Some smoothies and yogurt parfaits contain yogurt.
Menu Items and Drinks Without Dairy
While many popular Dunkin Donuts menu items contain dairy, they do offer some no-dairy options:
Dairy-Free Drinks
– Hot coffee or iced coffee prepared with non-dairy milk or without any milk/cream.
– Espresso shots.
– Hot tea.
– Iced tea.
– Hot and iced lattes made with non-dairy milk.
– Fountain soft drinks.
Dairy-Free Baked Goods
– Plain bagels, without cream cheese spread.
– English muffins.
– Plain donuts and donut holes, without icing or filling.
– Hash browns.
Dairy-Free Breakfast Sandwiches
– Egg white vegetarian wake-up wrap without cheese or cream cheese spread.
– Bacon egg and cheese English muffin without cheese or butter.
Other Dairy-Free Items
– Oatmeal, without milk or butter.
– Yogurt parfait made with non-dairy yogurt.
– Plain smoothies made with non-dairy milk and no yogurt.
– Meat sandwiches without cheese or cream cheese spread.
Non-Dairy Milk Alternatives
Dunkin Donuts provides several non-dairy milk options as a substitute in drinks and smoothies for guests avoiding dairy:
Almond Milk
Almond milk is one of the most popular plant-based milk alternatives. It has a light and slightly nutty flavor that works well in coffee drinks. Dunkin Donuts almond milk does not contain any dairy ingredients.
Coconut Milk
Coconut milk provides a creamy texture and tropical coconut flavor. It is made from the meat of coconuts and blended with water. The coconut milk at Dunkin Donuts is dairy-free.
Oat Milk
Oat milk is quickly gaining popularity thanks to its mild flavor and smooth, creamy texture. Dunkin uses oat milk that does not contain any dairy components.
Soy Milk
Soy milk has a texture similar to dairy milk and is made from soaked and ground soybeans. Dunkin Donuts carries both regular and vanilla soy milk options for adding to drinks.
| Non-Dairy Milk | Calories per 8 oz | Protein | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Almond Milk | 60 | 1g | 7g |
| Coconut Milk | 50 | 0g | 0g |
| Oat Milk | 120 | 3g | 16g |
| Soy Milk | 100 | 8g | 9g |
Cross-Contamination Risks
Even if you avoid the dairy ingredients at Dunkin Donuts, there is still the risk of cross-contamination with dairy during the food preparation process:
Shared Equipment
The blenders, machines, utensils, and surfaces used to make dairy-based drinks are also used to make non-dairy versions. Trace amounts of milk could get into a dairy-free drink.
Errors
Since employees handle so many orders every day, they may accidentally add dairy to a drink that is ordered dairy-free. Let them know about your allergy to reduce errors.
Frying Oil
The frying oil used for hash browns and donut preparation may have had contact with small bits of dairy-containing batters and cheeses.
Airborne Particles
Tiny invisible milk proteins can get suspended in the air when milk steamers froth up drinks. This puts dairy particles into the air which could come into contact with dairy-free items.
How to Order Dairy-Free at Dunkin
If you want to enjoy Dunkin Donuts but avoid dairy, here are some tips for ordering:
Beverages
When ordering coffee, tea, espresso drinks, smoothies, and frozen beverages, specifically request them to be made with one of the non-dairy milk options – such as almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or soy milk. Let them know you have a dairy allergy.
Baked Goods
Stick to plain items like bagels, English muffins, and plain donuts – and avoid cream cheese spreads, icings, filled donuts, and other pastries.
Breakfast Sandwiches
Order an egg sandwich on a dairy-free base like an English muffin, without cheese or butter. The hash browns are dairy-free as well.
Oatmeal & Yogurt Parfaits
Request non-dairy milk on the oatmeal and a non-dairy yogurt variety in the parfait.
Lunch Sandwiches
Avoid cheese and creamy spreads. Opt for veggie, turkey, roast beef and other sandwiches served without cheese or sauce.
Kids’ Meals
The milk served is dairy by default. Request a non-dairy milk variety. The apple slices are dairy-free.
Dunkin Donuts Allergy Information
Dunkin Donuts provides some allergen information on their website which can help guide your choices:
Allergy Guide
The Dunkin Donuts Allergy Guide shows which menu items are free from the top 8 allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish. It clearly labels dairy-free options.
Ingredients Lists
Detailed ingredient lists are provided for most Dunkin Donuts menu offerings. This allows you to evaluate the exact components that go into each food and beverage. Watch for ingredients like milk, cream, whey, butter, and cheese.
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information for Dunkin Donuts products indicates calories, fat, carbs, protein, and other nutrient amounts. Checking the saturated fat and calcium levels can help identify high-dairy options versus low-dairy choices.
Dairy-Free Dining Tips
Here are some other suggestions for safely navigating dairy at Dunkin Donuts:
– Wipe down tables before sitting down to avoid contact with crumbs that could contain milk allergens.
– Check that employees change gloves and wash equipment when preparing your dairy-free order after making dairy-based items.
– See if your local Dunkin Donuts has time periods that are less busy, reducing the speed pressure on employees that could lead to cross-contamination. Early mornings on weekdays may be best.
– Let the staff know about your dairy allergy each time you order – don’t assume they’ll remember your restriction from previous visits.
– Inspect your order carefully before taking the first bite or sip – send it back right away if dairy was mistakenly added.
Dunkin Donuts Dairy-Free Options Near Me
To find a Dunkin Donuts location near you that can accommodate dairy-free requests, visit their online store locator and enter your city or zip code. This will display the nearest Dunkin stores, hours of operation, amenities, and contact information so you can call ahead about dairy-free choices.
Their mobile app also makes it easy to order on-the-go with your non-dairy preferences set. You can place an order for pickup via the app menu when you’re ready to stop in and don’t have to wait in line holding up other customers.
Some grocery stores like Target, Kroger, and Walmart also have small Dunkin kiosks or self-serve cases where you can buy packaged coffee, bottles of juice, and snacks to enjoy dairy-free Dunkin flavors at home.
Conclusion
While Dunkin Donuts is not an entirely dairy-free establishment, they do provide various no-dairy options with the most choices in the beverage category. With some adjustments to typical orders and clear communication with employees, dairy-sensitive guests can often find something to enjoy. Checking ingredient lists ahead, avoiding cross-contamination, and giving feedback to staff about food allergies is key to a positive experience. Knowing the menu items that tend to contain more dairy versus less allows customers to navigate the Dunkin Donuts menu in an informed way.
