In the words of the iconic Mariah Carey, “IT'S TIMEEEEEE”! The 2026 glee is upon us.

We now have an alternative, “dairy-free desserts,” and trust us, they are not the sad alternative at the end of the buffet. With almond milk dessert recipes and cashew milk dessert recipes, you can actually bring something delicious, something people actually want to eat, including your lactose-intolerant cousin, your vegan friend and your weird friend who “does not have dairy after sunset” (honestly, hard relate).

These vegan desserts are not stand-ins. They are showstoppers. Let us make the festive food table more inclusive and irresistible. 

Why Go Dairy-Free For Desserts?

On the surface level, let us be honest, it is bougie, but to be very honest, every year, more and more people come asking for non-dairy options and plant-based treats. It is no longer just a trend but a survival tactic, and your dessert should not come with a medical disclaimer.

Plant-based desserts make the table lighter and friendlier without compromising on the decadent flavours we treasure.

Benefits Of Using Nut Milk in Dessert

Almond and cashew milk provide a creamy and neutral backdrop, and do not believe in “stealing the thunder” of the flavour. They are easier to digest, lighter on the gut and still indulgent. Think of them as the dutiful understudy of the dessert world who can keep the show running when dairy decides to throw a tantrum.

And the best part? Nut milk recipes only require small swaps, so no existential crisis and what have I done moments when making your dessert.

Almond Vs Cashew Milk in Baking

Almond milk is just like Hulk, it works best when you want structure, lift and a subtle nutty flavour that does not steal the spotlight. Use it in:

 - Cakes

 - Cupcakes

 - Cookies

 - Muffins

 - Quick breads

Think of a dessert that you want to taste like a classic with an upgrade.

Cashew Milk for Dessert Recipes 

Cashew milk? That is your old money, luxurious fabric, smooth, rich, creamy and borderline scandalous in a cheesecake-style filling.

It excels in:

 - Custard

 - Pudding

 - Cream frosting

 - Ganache

 - Anything that requires “spoonable elegance.”

If almond milk is your cozy sweater, then cashew milk is your emerald-studded, velvety party blazer.

Core Swap: Turning Classic Desserts into Dairy-Free Desserts

The good news is that almond and cashew milk can replace dairy milk for 1:1, yes, it is that easy. 

For cakes? Brownies? Pancakes? Muffins?

Swap away, trust us, the dairy police will not show up.

If your recipe needs more richness, add a dash of oil or vegan butter. We are not asking you to rewrite dessert history; you are just giving it a better PR.

Using Nut Milks in Custard, Puddings and Ganache

Cashew milk is the MVP here- use it instead of heavy cream. For ultra ultra-smooth structure, add a spoon of coconut oil or vegan butter.

Almond milk works wonders in stovetop puddings, hot chocolate or sauces where you want flavour, not weight.

Clean Nut Milk Powders for Baking

Clean cashew milk or almond milk powder is the sidekick you did not know you needed. It is:

 - Shelf stable, got its lessons from Paul Rudd.

 - Effortlessly scalable, whether you are making dessert for 5 or 15 people, because your relatives “happened to be in the neighbourhood”.

 - A hero in preventing a last-minute grocery run in pyjamas, a scene no one wants to recreate.

It keeps big batch vegan desserts stress-free, fridge-free and drama-free, which is frankly more than what we can say about most family gatherings.

Easy Almond And Cashew Milk Desserts

Almond Milk Chocolate Pudding Cups

 - Cocoa, almond milk, cornstarch or arrowroot

 - Sweeten with maple or sugar

 - Chill in jars

 - Top with crushed candy cane or chocolate shavings

Looks fancy, takes 15 minutes, a true miracle.

Spiced Almond Bread Pudding

 - Leftover bread (aka holiday gold)

 - Almond milk

 - Cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla

 - Bake until warm and custardy

Perfect for dairy-free Thanksgiving dessert lovers or next-day brunch champions.

Almond Milk Gingerbread Loaf

Classic gingerbread upgraded with almond milk, top it up with some almond milk for some extra glaze, and your house becomes from where light is shared.

Cashew Milk Pumpkin Pie

Swap the dairy for cashew milk, and suddenly your pumpkin pie is smoother than a villain delivering a monologue in a holiday movie. 

Add a touch of coconut oil, and you have a perfect manifestation of a warm blanket and emotional stability.

No-Bake Cashew Milk Cheesecake Bars

No oven? No problem

These bars come together like a team for a heist in a Netflix limited series.

 - Soaked cashews (the mastermind)

 - Cashew milk or powder (the smooth-talking accomplice)

 - Lemon+vanilla (the charmer)

 - Sweetener (the closer)

Press it into a crust, chill it and let everyone think you stayed up all night making this and not watching “The Holiday” for 8712893 time.

Cashew Milk Salted Caramel Sauce

Cashew milk, sugar and a bit of fat give a caramel sauce that is so silky, it can get cast in a romantic comedy. 

Drizzle it onto your brownies, cookies, baked fruits or your mouth when no one is looking. We are not here to judge coping mechanisms.

Trifles with Cashew Custard

Channel your inner Rachel and make a trifle for your friends (minus the beef, of course). Layer cake, fruit and cashew custard into a tall glass dish and suddenly your dessert looks expensive. 

That is the moment when your trifle says, “I am not just vegan, I am glamorous,” and honestly, let it shine.

Plant-Based Desserts That Travel Well

Bars, loaves, cookies, pudding jars.

Essentially, the desserts that will not collapse in the car or melt into chaos like a snowman in a Hallmark movie plot.

Individual Cups and Jars

Mini puddings and cheesecakes that make people gasp because “oh my god, they are adorable.”

Bonus: easy portion control…unless you eat three.

Frozen Vegan Desserts

Cashew Milk “ice cream” pies, icebox cakes, frozen mint bars. 

Perfect for when winter refuses to feel like winter, and you are like, “Fine, I will make my own snow.”

Practical Tips for Baking with Almond or Cashew Milk

Preventing Curdling or Weird Textures

 - Add nut milk to the heat

 - Do not boil violently unless you want a performance you did not audition for

Getting the Right Level of Creaminess

Use cashew milk or concentrated cashew milk powder for a luxurious level of thickness, almond milk when you want a lighter, breezier texture.

Sweetness and Flavour Balancing

Unsweetened nut milks give you control, adjust sugar, spice, citrus or chocolate depending on your dessert’s comeback story.

FAQs

 - Can I swap nut milk for any dessert?

Mostly, yes.

 - Do almond milk desserts bake the same?

Almost identical. Structure stays intact.

 - Will cashew milk desserts taste nutty?

Not really, cashew milk is surprisingly neutral

 - What about nut allergies?

If someone has it, skip nut milk entirely and go for other plant-based alternatives.

Delicious Desserts, Now With Less Drama & More Joy

Desserts shouldn’t come with digestive plot twists.
With almond and cashew milk, you get creamy, delicious, crowd-friendly desserts that keep the table inclusive and the celebration peaceful.

Try swapping nut milk into just one recipe this season, you’ll be shocked at how simple plant-based dessert magic can be.

Your dessert table? Upgraded. Your stress level? Downgraded. Explore JOI’s range of vegan milk products today!