Whether Pillsbury sugar cookie dough is dairy free or not is an important question for people with dairy allergies or intolerances like lactose intolerance. In the opening paragraphs, we’ll provide quick answers to some key questions related to the dairy content of Pillsbury sugar cookie dough.
Does Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough Contain Dairy?
Yes, standard Pillsbury sugar cookie dough contains dairy ingredients. The main culprits are butter and whey. Butter is made from cow’s milk and contains the milk proteins casein and whey. Whey is a byproduct of cheese making. Both butter and whey are common allergens for people with dairy allergies or intolerances.
Ingredients in Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough
Here are the ingredients listed on the Pillsbury Best Sugar Cookies product:
Ingredient | Potential Dairy Component |
---|---|
Enriched flour blend (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid) | Non-dairy |
Sugar | Non-dairy |
Palm oil | Non-dairy |
Water | Non-dairy |
Soybean oil | Non-dairy |
Salt | Non-dairy |
Baking soda | Non-dairy |
Natural and artificial flavors | May contain dairy |
Monoglycerides | May contain dairy |
Whey (milk) | Dairy |
Butter (cream [milk], salt) | Dairy |
As you can see, the two ingredients in bold – whey and butter – are the dairy-containing culprits.
Are There Any Dairy-Free Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough Options?
Unfortunately, Pillsbury does not offer any completely dairy-free, vegan sugar cookie dough products under their traditional brand name. Pillsbury sugar cookies rely on butter for their signature taste and texture.
However, Pillsbury’s parent company General Mills does market some dairy-free cookie dough under its Annie’s organic brand name. For example, Annie’s Organic Bunny Cookies are dairy-free and vegan.
Here are the dairy-free ingredients in Annie’s Bunny Cookies:
- Organic wheat flour
- Organic cane sugar
- Organic palm fruit oil
- Water
- Organic soy flour
- Organic cocoa
- Organic cinnamon
- Sea salt
- Baking soda
- Organic guar gum
- Organic vanilla extract
While not exactly the same taste and texture as traditional Pillsbury cookies, the Annie’s dairy-free option may be a good solution for anyone needing to avoid dairy.
What About Pillsbury Crescent Rolls and Biscuits?
In addition to cookie dough, some may wonder about the dairy content of Pillsbury crescent rolls and biscuits. Here are the key details:
Pillsbury Crescents
Standard Pillsbury Crescents do contain dairy:
- Enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Water
- Palm and palm kernel oil
- Sugar
- Contains 2% or less of: salt, yeast, dextrose, soybean oil, cultured whey, vinegar, datem, lcysteine, sodium stearoyl lactylate, eggs, butter.
The cultured whey and butter are the dairy ingredients. However, Pillsbury does offer a dairy-free Crescent roll under its Simply… brand. The Simply… Crescent Rolls contain:
- Unpbleached enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, soybean oil, sugar, contains 2% or less of: brown sugar, salt, palm oil, yeast, baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, corn starch, mono calcium phosphate), potassium sorbate and calcium propionate (preservatives), datem, soy lecithin.
Pillsbury Grands Biscuits
Like the crescents, standard Pillsbury Grands Biscuits contain dairy ingredients including whey and butter. However, Pillsbury Grands Southern Homestyle Biscuits are dairy-free and use vegetable oil instead of butter. Here are the dairy-free ingredients:
- Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Shortening (Interesterified Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Soybean Oil, Leavening (Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Baking Soda), Contains 2% or Less of the Following: Sugar, Salt, Dextrose, Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Corn Starch, Monocalcium Phosphate), Distilled Monoglycerides, Soy Lecithin.
Homemade Dairy-Free Sugar Cookie Dough
For those wishing to bake dairy-free cookies at home, there are several recipe options for making your own vegan sugar cookie dough:
Flax Egg Replacer
Many recipes use a flax “egg” made by mixing ground flax seed with water. This mimics the binding and moisture properties of real eggs in cookie dough. For each egg replaced, mix 1 tablespoon ground flax seed with 3 tablespoons water. Let sit for 5-10 minutes before using.
Dairy-Free Butter Substitutes
Standard butter contains dairy. But there are several non-dairy alternatives, including:
- Coconut oil
- Vegetable oil spread
- Nut butter like cashew or almond butter
- Vegan margarine
Dairy-Free Milk Substitutes
Any unsweetened dairy-free milk like almond, coconut, oat, or soy milk can be substituted 1:1 for cow’s milk in recipes.
Sample Recipe
Here is a sample recipe for easy vegan sugar cookies:
Ingredient | Amount |
---|---|
All-purpose flour | 2 1/4 cups |
Baking powder | 1 tsp |
Salt | 1/4 tsp |
Vegan butter | 1/2 cup |
Sugar | 1 cup |
Vanilla extract | 1 tsp |
Flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water) | 1 |
Dairy-free milk | 2-4 tbsp |
- In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, cream together the vegan butter and sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Add in the flax egg, vanilla extract and just enough dairy-free milk to form a smooth dough.
- Add in the dry ingredients and mix on low just until combined. Dough will be thick.
- Roll out dough to desired thickness and use cookie cutters to cut into shapes. Transfer shapes to a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Bake at 350F for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden at the edges. Allow to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
With some simple ingredient swaps like flaxseed and dairy-free butter, you can easily make Pillsbury style sugar cookies that are safe for dairy-free diets!
Buying Precaution
When purchasing any commercial cookies, dough or baked goods, always read the label carefully and look for “dairy-free” certification symbols, even if the product looks like it should be dairy-free based on the name. Brand formulations can change over time. If an item is produced in a shared facility on shared equipment with dairy ingredients, trace amounts of dairy may get into the product, which is a concern for those with severe dairy allergies.
Contact the Manufacturer
If a product does not have clear allergen labeling or dairy-free certification, consider contacting the manufacturer directly to inquire about the dairy status and risk of cross contamination during processing before consuming.
Non-Dairy Does Not Mean Healthy
One final note is that just because a cookie dough or baked good is non-dairy or vegan does not automatically make it a healthy product. Many processed vegan cookie products are still high in sugar, refined grains, and oils. For optimal nutrition, home baked goods made with whole food ingredients like whole grains, nuts, seeds, and fruits are recommended over relying on convenience commercial products, whether they contain dairy or not.
The Bottom Line
Standard Pillsbury sugar cookie dough contains dairy and is not suitable for vegans or people with milk allergies. However, some dairy-free options include:
- Pillsbury Simply…Crescent Rolls
- Pillsbury Grands Southern Homestyle Biscuits
- Annie’s Organic Bunny Cookie dough
- Homemade vegan sugar cookie dough
Carefully read all labels to check for whey, butter, and other dairy-derived ingredients. When in doubt, reach out to manufacturers directly to inquire about dairy-free status. Avoiding dairy requires diligence, but there are more options than ever for satisfying sweet cravings while avoiding milk-ingredients.