These dairy free tea cake triangles are light, fluffy and just the right amount of sweet. They’re perfect for morning tea, afternoon snacks or popping into lunchboxes. Made with simple ingredients, they’re quick to whip up and freezer-friendly too.
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I'm sorry I keep mentioning gastro, I promise this will be the last time (well I hope). When I was a little ill for the second time in two weeks, I thought that perhaps I had developed a little bit of a dairy allergy.
See when I had the first bout, I cut out dairy while I was sick and had only just started re-introducing it when I got sick the second time.
Mr Google (doctor told me off for Googling, bad Claire!) told me there was such a thing as gestational lactose intolerance and I was convinced I had it.
I have dairy in nearly every meal so if this was the case, I was going to have to make some serious adjustments.
That morning I was having a friend to morning tea and had absolutely no idea what to bake that didn't contain milk or butter (is that bad?).
I'd seem an idea floating around the internet where someone had cooked cake batter in the jaffle maker. It seemed rather brilliant to me and I was eager to try it.
My first thought was my classic cinnamon tea cake recipe but how was I going to make dairy free tea cake triangles?
Step one - beat the butter and sugar. Hmm. I threw caution to the wind and started by beating up coconut oil and sugar. It was a strange consistency but I kept going.
Adding the egg was fine and a bit of vanilla was safe too but then it was time to add the milk and flour. I didn't have any coconut milk or any other sort of milk on hand but I did have a fruit bowl full of fresh oranges - orange juice it was.
After beating it all up, I thought the batter looked pretty much the same as the original recipe so I heated up the sandwich maker and gingerly scooped a little batter into one of the triangles.
A few minutes later I popped open the seal and snuck a peak - it was rising perfectly. A minute or two after that I had a triangular golden puff of tea cake.
As I couldn't slather it in butter, I threw it straight into a bowl of cinnamon sugar and then onto a wire rack to cool. I was brave after that and continued with four at a time.
When my friend arrived she exclaimed that the house smelled amazing. We both loved the little triangle cakes so much we ate a few more than two between us.
I loved that you got so much of the crunchy outer part of the cake (like the best bit of a muffin) with just the right amount of fluffy filling.
Making them dairy-free didn't seem to alter the texture at all and fresh from the jaffle maker, I don't think anyone would miss the dairy.
They'd be lovely spread with a little jam or even split open and slathered in your favourite sweet spread. Enjoy!
What about you? Would it be tough for you to give up dairy?
Recipe
Dairy free tea cake triangles
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- ½ cup caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup freshly-squeezed orange juice
- 1 cup self raising flour
- 6 tablespoon caster sugar mixed with 2 teaspoon cinnamon for sprinkling
Instructions
- Pre-heat a jaffle maker.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the coconut oil and sugar until light and the sugar dissolves.
- Add the egg and vanilla and beat until mixed through.
- Add ⅓ of the flour then ⅓ of the orange juice and continue adding and mixing like this until the batter is smooth.
- Spoon the batter into the jaffle maker to fill each triangle then close the lid.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Toss in cinnamon sugar then transfer to a wire rack.
- Serve while still warm.
Nutrition
Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen says
I'm so sorry to hear that you've got allergies, Claire! My son is sensitive to milk. They actually did a medical test and it came back negative for lactose intolerance. But case in point, he scarfed down a cheesy pizza and paid the price all night long with stomach pain. I'm glad you threw caution to the wind, these little diary free snacks look fabulous! I would have snacked on quite a few! I don't have the little sandwich maker, but I did make waffle cookies in my waffle iron a while back. I haven't blogged them yet, but they were lovely and similar. Maybe you could invent a dairy free version:) xx
Claire says
Ooh they sound wonderful Barbara!
The Life of Clare says
This is a fantastic idea! I'd never thought of making individual cakes. You could probably use a muffin mix too.
Claire says
I think you could use anything you usually bake. So easy!
Lisa the Gourmet Wog says
you poor thing, hope you're feeling better Claire. Love the look of these, they're just gorgeous!
Claire says
Thanks Lisa! I am much better thank goodness.
Jo Smith says
Love your adventurous baking spirit Claire! A great recipe and an awesome way to cook them. Hope your tummy is feeling better.
Claire says
Thanks Jo!
The Café Sucre Farine says
You little smartie! Way to go Claire, it sure doesn't look like anyone would miss the dairy here. It is so true that necessity is the mother of invention. I'm not sure how I could live without dairy but it it was necessary, I'm sure I'd find a way, but probably not as delicious as yours!
Claire says
It's very true Chris.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
Oh yes cheese and butter are two of my favourite things! It would be so hard to give those up!
Claire says
They are rather essential aren't they!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
Aren't you the clever one. A jaffle cake? I must try it. I've only ever used mine for sandwiches. (I've only ever used my waffle maker for waffles too) I'm so old fashioned.
Claire says
Haha yes well it was more because I bought it a couple of months ago and haven't used it so thought I better give it a go!
celia says
What a great recipe, Claire! I loved reading about how it evolved too! :)
Claire says
Thanks Celia!
Kirsty @ The Natural Foodie says
Considering dairy (from cows) is made for baby cows, it's no surprise that you would have an intolerance. The human body was not designed to digest dairy, so if you can keep up the baking using alternatives, your body (and the cows) will probably thank you for it! :)
Claire says
You're probably right Kirsty. I am surprised how many tasty alternatives there are.