Gluten free and dairy free diets are becoming increasingly popular for those with food allergies or intolerances. For home bakers who follow these diets, finding high quality mixes and baking ingredients that align with their dietary needs is important.
One brand that offers gluten free baking mixes is King Arthur. They have a line of gluten free mixes, including a gluten free chocolate cake mix. But an important question for dairy free followers is – is King Arthur’s gluten free chocolate cake mix also dairy free?
Ingredients in King Arthur Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix
To determine if a product is dairy free, we need to look at the ingredients list. Here are the ingredients in King Arthur gluten free chocolate cake mix:
- Brown rice flour
- Potato starch
- Tapioca flour
- Sugar
- Cocoa powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Xanthan gum
Reviewing this list, there are no obvious milk-derived ingredients like milk powder, whey, casein, or lactose. The main ingredients appear to be gluten free flours, cocoa powder, and other basic baking ingredients.
Are the Ingredients Dairy-Derived?
To fully answer whether King Arthur’s gluten free chocolate cake mix contains dairy, we need to investigate the ingredients further to see if any contain hidden milk-derivatives or are processed on equipment shared with dairy.
Brown Rice Flour
Brown rice flour is made by grinding brown rice into a fine powder. Rice is naturally dairy free, so plain brown rice flour does not contain milk ingredients.
Potato Starch
Potato starch is extracted from potatoes. It is purely the starchy component of potato, without any potato proteins. Potatoes are a vegetable and do not naturally contain dairy, nor do any dairy ingredients get added to potato starch.
Tapioca Flour
Tapioca flour is derived from the starchy tuberous root of the cassava plant. It does not naturally contain any dairy components. Tapioca flour is dairy free.
Sugar
The ingredient list just specifies “sugar” without stating the source. Sugar cane and sugar beets are the most common sources of sugar in food products. Neither sugar cane nor sugar beets contain lactose or milk proteins. Unless the product specifies “milk sugar” which is lactose, plain sugar is dairy free.
Cocoa Powder
Cocoa powder is made from crushed cacao bean solids. Cacao beans come from the cacao plant and do not contain dairy. Plain cocoa powder without added milk ingredients is dairy free.
Baking Soda
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is an inorganic leavening agent. It contains just sodium, hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. Baking soda does not contain milk derivatives and is dairy free.
Salt
Table salt, or sodium chloride, is a mineral compound that does not contain milk proteins or lactose. Unless a milk ingredient is explicitly added, plain salt is dairy free.
Xanthan Gum
Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide commonly used as a food thickener or stabilizer. While the name sounds similar to whey, it is not derived from milk. Xanthan gum is produced by fermenting sugars with a bacteria called Xanthomonas campestris. It does not contain dairy components.
Is King Arthur’s Gluten Free Facility Dairy Free?
Aside from the ingredients themselves, we also need to consider potential cross-contamination during processing and manufacturing. Dairy ingredients can find their way into “dairy free” foods if the facility also handles milk products without thorough cleaning protocols.
According to King Arthur’s website, their gluten free items are produced in a dedicated gluten free facility which does not process wheat, rye, barley, or oats. They have rigorous procedures to avoid cross-contamination with gluten-containing ingredients.
However, the website does not provide details about use of dairy products in their gluten free facility. Since many baked goods do contain dairy like milk, butter, or yogurt, dairy exposure during manufacturing is a possibility.
Does King Arthur Claim Their Mix is Dairy Free?
The best way to know if a product contains milk is to check if the manufacturer identifies it as “dairy free” on the packaging or website.
In the case of King Arthur’s gluten free chocolate cake mix, neither the product website nor packaging makes a dairy free claim. The product is only referred to as gluten free.
The absence of a dairy free claim suggests the brand cannot guarantee the item is free from milk exposure during production. Trace amounts of dairy could potentially be present.
Should You Contact the Company?
Without an explicit dairy free claim on King Arthur’s gluten free chocolate cake mix, the only way to know definitively if it contains traces of milk is to contact the company directly.
Reach out to King Arthur’s customer service via phone or email and inquire about their production protocols regarding dairy and milk allergens. Some questions to ask:
- Is your gluten free production area completely dairy free, including equipment and tools?
- What precautions do you take to avoid any cross-contact with dairy?
- Have you tested the finished product to validate it is free from traces of milk proteins or lactose?
Be specific that you are inquiring about the gluten free chocolate cake mix, not their general gluten free items. Provide any lot codes printed on your cake mix package.
Hopefully King Arthur can provide details about their processes and reassure you that the mix avoids dairy cross-contamination. If they indicate it is produced in a shared facility, they may not be able to guarantee no milk residues.
Try Making It Dairy Free Yourself
If King Arthur cannot confirm their gluten free chocolate cake mix is dairy free, you may need to adapt the recipe yourself to make it milk-free.
When mixing up the cake, use dairy free milk like almond, coconut, or oat milk instead of regular milk. You can replace butter called for in the directions with vegan margarine. Choose dairy free chocolate chips or a vegan chocolate hazelnut spread.
With these simple swaps, you can convert the King Arthur gluten free chocolate cake into a tasty dairy free dessert!
Conclusion
King Arthur’s gluten free chocolate cake mix appears to contain dairy free ingredients based on the label. However, since the facility likely processes milk products, cross-contamination is possible.
King Arthur does not make any claims about the mix being dairy free. To know for certain if trace milk residues could be present, you need to contact the company directly and inquire about their production protocols.
If King Arthur cannot guarantee no dairy exposure, your safest option is to adapt the cake recipe using dairy free milk, butter, and chocolate. This allows those with milk allergies or intolerances to still enjoy the convenience of a cake mix.
