Dairy-Free Cookbook for Beginners: 101 Simple, Satisfying Recipes

by Chrissy Carroll

Your all-in-one beginner's guide to eating dairy-free everyday—101 stress-free recipes

With a little help and guidance, living dairy-free can be both doable and delicious. The Dairy Free Cookbook for Beginners is a great way to start eating smarter and healthier every day. There are dozens of dairy free cookbook recipes you can make in minutes—everything from a delightful dinnertime feast to sweet treats for dessert, all while satisfying your dietary needs with ease.

With fresh takes on classic comfort foods like Mac and Cheese and Barbecue Chicken Pizza, this complete dairy free cookbook delivers everything you need to make and serve non-dairy dishes your entire family will enjoy—and feel like you're not missing out. If you've recently decided to switch to this nutritious diet plan to address health concerns, the Dairy Free Cookbook for Beginners can help you get started in a snap.

This beginner's dairy free cookbook

Recipes galore—Discover loads of quick dairy free cookbook recipes that are perfect for meat-eaters and vegans/vegetarians alike.Stay allergen-free—Explore easy-to-follow recipe alternatives to address the top 8 allergens that could affect you, including gluten, soy, and nuts.Essential extras—Get expert info on filling your pantry, dairy alternatives, shopping tips, eating out, and so much more.Get 101 easy, tasty ways to go dairy free—100% stress-free—in this Dairy Free Cookbook for Beginners.

Genres: Cookbooks

281 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 14, 2025

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an opportunity via the publisher to read the Dairy-Free Cookbook for Beginners: 101 Simple, Satisfying Recipes. I voluntarily chose to review this cookbook and my opinion is freely given.

During the introduction, the author goes through the health benefits of dairy-free eating, lists both the hidden forms and the possible foods with dairy, substitutes, and frequently asked questions. The next section talks about how to set up a dairy-free kitchen, including what to buy and sample meal plans.

The first recipe section is entitled Dairy-Free Essentials (Milks, Cheeses, and Creams). Recipes range from Almond Milk, to Dairy-Free Parmesan, and even to Ranch Dressing.

Breakfast and Smoothies has recipes for delicious drinks like Sunshine Smoothie, with its banana and orange flavors, and meals like Raspberry-Chocolate Overnight Oats.

Salads and Soups has a wide range of offerings, with delicious salads like Buffalo Chickpea Salad and Honey-Mustard Potato Salad, as well as soups such as Red Curry Chicken and Zoodle Soup and Corn Chowder.

Sauces, Sides, and Snacks has the most varied set of recipes, as they range from Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing, to Mexican Street Corn, to Homestyle Dinner Rolls, and Frozen Banana Bites. This section highlights the possibilities of eating without dairy and not missing that element at all.

Vegetarian and Vegan Dishes are brightly colored and well balanced, with sweet and savory elements like Corn and Sweet Potato Fritters, or flavorful dishes like Mushroom Ramen and Slow Cooker Irish Stew.

Fish and Shellfish includes such flavorful dishes as Fish Tacos and Cioppino, as well as Caribbean Shrimp and Quinoa.

My favorite dishes among the Meat Mains are Lemony Turkey Rice Skillet and Slow Cooker Pot Roast.

The final section is Desserts, with its varied offerings like Pineapple-Coconut Ice Pops, Strawberry Shortcake, and No-Bake Brownie Bites. The desserts highlights the fact that it is possible to eat well despite having to be dairy free.

Overall, I liked the Dairy-Free Cookbook for Beginners: 101 Simple, Satisfying Recipes. The biggest drawback to the cookbook are the lack of photographs, as this is a missed opportunity to showcase the brightly colored, varied dishes. Readers who are new to dairy-free will like seeing all of the possibilities for eating well, so I would recommend this cookbook to others.

[Johanna Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

You had me at the delicious looking Macaroni and Cheese cover! I have a lactose intolerance and so this book was an ideal find to read and offer an opinion.

What did I like? Each recipe had a fountain of information that was easy to follow and a brief synopsis of where the recipe had come from. Serving size, prep time, and cook time in each recipe allowing you to decide if you have the time to make it and if the recipe will offer leftovers. I also loved the tips offered and the calorie information if your on a restriction. The only dislike is it does not offer a lot of pictures, maybe one in ten recipes have a picture which doesn’t offer assurance.

Would I recommend or buy? This one was a hard one for me because it’s specific to just dairy free. Assuredly it just uses dairy free ingredients and tells you to check ingredients on store bought. I’ve read other dairy free recipe books that I think offer more information so for beginners book I would want more of that information. So while it does offer dairy free recipes, I found that it wasn’t an overwhelming tactics good enough for a beginner.

Thoughts for the author? Where are all the pictures? Pictures will increase the buying factor. I did love the tips offered in the recipe section and the substitutes offered. Majority of the work is done with our eyes and reading of ingredients.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC to read and this is just my opinion.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really is the perfect cookbook for someone who has just decided to go dairy free (for whatever reason). The book starts out by laying out popular sources of dairy, sneaky sources, and foods that surprisingly don't have dairy in them. A lot of the recipes are things that are naturally dairy free and no modification is needed. But Ms. Carroll also included a lot of alternatives to dairy. Two recipes for whipped cream! Several recipes for alternative milks. And as always, my saddest loss in going dairy free, a recipe for macaroni and cheese. I will definitely look for the specific cheese replacement Ms. Carroll suggested and try this recipe. Normally I would have already made it prior to posting a review but in the current environment, I am not venturing out much. I will update my review once I have made that dish and/or the other 12 recipes I have bookmarked! Overall, my family has already made the switch to replacing cow's milk with alternative milks in most of our recipes. My only disappointment was the high use of coconut cream/milk. I am not a fan of coconut as it gives me flashbacks to suntan lotion in the 70s. It is all in my head, but I can taste it in anything. However, I appreciate how useful it is for others who can not have diary and still want that lovely thick goodness!

Thanks to NetGalley and Callisto Media for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughts: This is a great book for those who have to (or just want to) go dairy free. The beginning has a decent introduction on the benefits of going dairy-free, hidden forms of dairy, substitutions you can use instead of dairy products, and meal plans (a nice addition). Being severely lactose intolerant, I enjoyed the large number of recipes that give me options for foods I’ve been doing without. There are instructions on how to make your own almond milk, oat milk, cream cheese, and more. Each recipe includes servings, times, allergen options, tips and nutritional information. At the end, there is a section on recommended brands to use. Though there weren’t a lot of pictures, there were some that added to the book.

What I liked: the recipes on making my own milks, cheeses, and more. I loved that the nutritional information was included. Loved the recipes and will definitely be using a lot of them. I liked the “options” in a lot of the recipes that gives you tips on swapping ingredients for other ones.

What I didn’t like: very little. This is a good basic book with clear, concise easy-to-follow recipes. A definite must for those with dairy issues and a good addition to any cookbook shelf.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by anyone

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cookbook is loaded with valuable information for those requiring or preferring a dairy-free diet. Who knew hot dogs or sausages might contain dairy! Knowing the terms to look for to discover hidden forms of dairy in ingredient lists could be extremely important to those with dairy allergies or sensitivities, as are essential substitutions. Even though this is a cookbook, the author gives tips for eating out while maintaining a dairy-free diet. I was especially excited to see the suggested special occasion menus. Recipes in the book include such things as making your own nut milks, yummy breakfast pastries as well as more hearty breakfast fare, soups, sauces, dips, vegetarian and vegan entrees, and a variety of delicious desserts. I am sure our granddaughter who requires a dairy-free diet will find many dishes she and her family can enjoy together. It is wonderful when those who do and those who don't need a special diet can all enjoy the same meal together. Thanks to Chrissy Carroll for providing recipes that just about anyone would enjoy.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this cookbook from RockRidge Press in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

[Renee Knoblauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has a nice amount of information if you are going dairy-free. The information found in the book is a good amount of basic 101 telling you about foods that have diary, may have diary, and a list of hidden diary names to look for. The author also has a list of foods that are diary free. There is information on infant diary allergies and some information on how to adapt to it.

The author lists some foods that you can substitute certain foods to maintain the flavor. There is a good amount of plant based milks and a decent FAQ section.

Many diary-free cookbooks have alternatives that can be pricey. I felt this cookbook utilized a more realistic and friendly on the budget recipes. Some dairy-free cookbooks are heavy on nuts which can be a bit pricey. There are several recipes that use nuts but the cookbook has a good balance.
All meals are covered and the recipes use ingredients that are common. There are lots of substitutes and tips information throughout the recipes. A lot of variety of recipes.

I received a copy of this product in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

[Cary Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book directly from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Dairy-Free Cookbook For Beginners by Chrissy Carroll is a great addition to any kitchen if, like my family, you have problems with lactose consumption. There are a wide variety of recipes--some simple, some more complicated--ranging from basic milk-replacement recipes to Red Curry Chicken & Zoodle Soup. I have a pretty picky family when it comes to food, and was able to find foods for everyone (even my husband who doesn't eat any fruit or vegetables. Absolutely none). I would definitely recommend adding this cookbook to your repertoire!

[Starr Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have a dear friend that has Celiac’s and with our own health issues as a family, we found a local nutritionist that tested our bloodwork and gave suggestions for new things and I found this fascinating cookbook! Can’t wait to try out some of the intriguing new options for meals.
Don’t know upyet if they will be for us in the long term, but we know as a family we must make changes and this is a great place to start. Good health and eating matters - particularly as we as a couple are aging. Thanks to the author for the helpful info and recipes as a good place to begin.

[Ginger Hultin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fellow dietitian and I recommend going dairy-free to those who I think could benefit from it. I also recommend this book ALL the time now because I love the simplicity and the way that Carroll created such a wide variety of recipes but in a simple way. Full of savory comfort food, this really is the way to eat dairy-free but without having to feel like you're giving up the foods you love. Highly, highly recommend this one written by a true expert.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good collection of recipes and methods for eating dairy-free. This one wasn't as useful to me as it could have been simply because it isn't vegetarian or vegan; it's just dairy-free. Which means there are some recipes in here that involve meat. But it would be great for somebody lactose intolerant who still eats meat. Thank you very much to Callisto Publishers for providing me with a copy. A review was not required.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for letting me review this cookbook. This was a good cookbook with nice picture. The recipes sound good especially for beginners needing a Dairy-Free diet. It also has good information in it. It is a cookbook that I will recommend for our library to get. #DairyFreeCookbookforBeginners #NetGalley

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy.

Cool ideas that are good for most diet restrictions there are a few things you could modify or omit.

[Orsayor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple recipes that are sure to be a hit in your household!

[Pooja Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great recipes!

[Alicia Robben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my type of cookbook! I have been dairy-free for about 10 years and I loved this book! I think it would be extremely beneficial for beginners. Plus the recipes are so simple and easy. I am a picky eater but I would try almost every single recipe in this cookbook. It was great to see dairy-free alternatives to staple items like Mac and Cheese. Make sure to not miss the section at the very end that lists common grocery items that are dairy-free!

Thank you to Callisto Media, Rockridge Press, and NetGalley!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for letting me review this cookbook. This was a good cookbook with nice picture. The recipes sound good especially for beginners needing a Dairy-Free diet. It also has good information in it. It is a cookbook that I will recommend for our library to get. #DairyFreeCookbookforBeginners #NetGalley