Quick Answer
Most Honey Maid crackers are dairy-free, however some varieties contain milk ingredients. When checking for dairy-free status, it’s important to read the ingredient list for each specific type of Honey Maid cracker.
Ingredient Overview
The main ingredients in classic Honey Maid Graham Crackers are:
- Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Whole grain wheat flour
- Sugar
- Honey
- Palm oil
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Soy lecithin
As you can see, the classic graham cracker contains no dairy ingredients. However, some varieties like Honey Maid S’mores Grahams do contain milk:
Honey Maid S’mores Graham Ingredients
- Whole grain wheat flour
- Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Sugar
- Graham flour (whole grain wheat flour, enriched wheat flour [niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid], honey)
- Cocoa processed with alkali
- Palm oil
- Milk
- Natural flavor
- Salt
- Leavening (baking soda, monocalcium phosphate)
- Soy lecithin
The milk ingredient means that particular variety is not vegan or dairy-free.
Detailed Analysis by Product
Here is a detailed breakdown of the most popular Honey Maid cracker products and whether they are dairy-free:
Honey Maid Graham Crackers
Dairy-Free Status: Dairy-Free
As mentioned above, the classic Honey Maid graham crackers contain no milk-derived ingredients. The main ingredients are enriched wheat flour, sugar, honey, and palm oil. This original recipe is dairy-free.
Honey Maid Cinnamon Graham Crackers
Dairy-Free Status: Dairy-Free
Like the original, Honey Maid Cinnamon Grahams contain no dairy. The main difference in ingredients is the addition of cinnamon and the use of molasses instead of honey. Neither of these affect the dairy-free status.
Honey Maid Chocolate Graham Crackers
Dairy-Free Status: Dairy-Free
The chocolate flavored graham crackers also do not contain milk or milk derivatives. Cocoa is the main additional ingredient.
Honey Maid S’mores Graham Crackers
Dairy-Free Status: Not Dairy-Free
As explained above, the Honey Maid S’mores Graham Crackers unfortunately do contain milk as an ingredient. People with dairy allergies or vegans will want to avoid this variety.
Honey Maid Vanilla Graham Crackers
Dairy-Free Status: Dairy-Free
The vanilla grahams contain no milk ingredients. The flavor likely comes from natural vanilla extract.
Honey Maid Low Fat Graham Crackers
Dairy-Free Status: Dairy-Free
Honey Maid’s low fat graham crackers adhere to the original dairy-free recipe. They achieve the fat reduction by using palm oil instead of hydrogenated oil.
Honey Maid Mini Teddy Grahams
Dairy-Free Status: Dairy-Free
These cute mini bear-shaped graham crackers are also dairy-free. They use the same ingredients as the original Honey Maid recipe.
Honey Maid Graham Crackers Sticks
Dairy-Free Status: Dairy-Free
The graham cracker sticks contain no dairy ingredients either. They have the same Wheat flour, honey, palm oil formula as the classic crackers.
Honey Maid Chocolate Teddy Grahams
Dairy-Free Status: Dairy-Free
The chocolate teddy grahams contain cocoa but no milk ingredients. Other than the added cocoa, the ingredients align with the original teddy grahams.
Honey Maid Cinnamon Teddy Grahams
Dairy-Free Status: Dairy-Free
Like the cinnamon graham crackers, these contain added cinnamon flavor without any dairy additions.
Honey Maid Iced Oatmeal Cookies
Dairy-Free Status: Not Dairy-Free
Unlike the graham crackers, the Honey Maid Iced Oatmeal cookies are not dairy-free. They contain both whey and milk as ingredients.
| Honey Maid Product | Dairy-Free? |
|---|---|
| Graham Crackers | Yes |
| Cinnamon Grahams | Yes |
| Chocolate Grahams | Yes |
| S’mores Grahams | No |
| Vanilla Grahams | Yes |
| Low Fat Grahams | Yes |
| Mini Teddy Grahams | Yes |
| Graham Cracker Sticks | Yes |
| Chocolate Teddy Grahams | Yes |
| Cinnamon Teddy Grahams | Yes |
| Iced Oatmeal Cookies | No |
Finding Dairy-Free Crackers
In summary, most varieties of Honey Maid graham crackers are dairy-free. The main exceptions are the S’mores Grahams and the Iced Oatmeal Cookies. Always check the ingredients list when purchasing to confirm the dairy-free status.
Aside from Honey Maid, there are many other brands that offer dairy-free graham crackers and cookies:
- Keebler Grahams Original and Cinnamon
- Annie’s Organic Bunny Grahams Classic and Cocoa
- Back to Nature Classic Grahams
- Mi-Del Ginger Snaps
- Kashi 7 Grain Crackers
- Barbara’s Bakery Snackimals
Many regular grocery stores now have dedicated allergen-free sections which will stock dairy-free alternatives. Natural food stores like Whole Foods, Earth Fare, and Sprouts are also great places to find specialty crackers and cookies guaranteed to be dairy-free. Online stores like Thrive Market also have large selections of non-dairy snacks.
With more allergy and vegan options available now than ever before, avoiding dairy in crackers and cookies is certainly possible. Just take time to read the labels thoroughly and seek out brands that explicitly state dairy-free on their packaging when needed.
Making Your Own Dairy-Free Crackers
For maximum ingredient control, many people choose to make their own homemade crackers and baked goods. This allows you to adjust the recipe to be completely dairy-free. Here are some recipe ideas to get you started:
Dairy-Free Graham Crackers
- 1 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1⁄2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1⁄4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4-6 tablespoons milk of choice (almond, oat, etc.)
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, whisk together the melted butter, honey, molasses, vanilla extract and milk of choice until combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix just until a shaggy dough forms.
Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly to combine. Roll to 1⁄4” thickness and cut into rectangular shapes with a pizza cutter or knife. Use a fork to poke holes across the top of each cracker. Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden at the edges. Allow to cool completely before serving. Enjoy your homemade dairy-free graham crackers!
Dairy-Free Oatmeal Cookies
- 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup dairy-free butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1 1⁄2 cups mix-ins like raisins, chocolate chips, etc. (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In a large bowl, beat together the melted vegan butter and both sugars until smooth and creamy. Beat in the vanilla.
Stir in the dry ingredients until just combined, then fold in the oats and any additional mix-ins. Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet, spacing about 2” apart.
Bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy your homemade dairy-free oatmeal cookies!
Conclusion
While not every variety of Honey Maid crackers and cookies is dairy-free, most of their graham cracker products omit milk ingredients. Just be sure to double check labels, especially when purchasing flavored options. Luckily there are many other brands that offer dairy-free graham crackers and cookies, or you can make your own at home. With a bit of label reading and some easy recipe substitutions, you can definitely still enjoy delicious crackers and baked goods without the dairy.
