Dr. Oetker Stories
Plant-based drinks are becoming increasingly popular. Our test kitchen has therefore been testing new products and popular Dr. Oetker desserts with various vegan milk alternatives for many years.
1.10.2024 • Products and Services
Whether oat, soya or almond - vegan milk alternatives are on trend. This also becomes clear from the many enquiries we receive about preparing dessert powders with plant-based drinks. Our test kitchen has therefore been testing the preparation of Dr. Oetker products with various plant-based drinks for a long time. More and more, also vegan recipes are being developed.
Plant-based milk alternatives have been very popular for years and market research shows that plant based drinks are continuing to grow in popularity. The search behaviour on google also confirms the trend towards vegan recipes. The alternatives to conventional cow milk are numerous: From oat, almond and soya drinks to rice and spelt drinks and many other varieties. The choice is huge and developments are fast-moving. The popularity of plant-based drinks has also caught the eye of the Dr. Oetker Consumer Service, as enquiries about preparing dessert powders with milk alternatives are increasing. Our test kitchen, which is in close exchange with the Consumer Service, is taking this trend to heart and testing various Dr. Oetker products and recipes with plant-based milk alternatives.
In the test kitchen, various diets are taken into consideration, for example vegan or lactose-free diets. For products that are vegan per se, such as the Dr. Oetker rice pudding or the Original Pudding, particular attention is paid to whether plant-based milk alternatives behave differently than cow milk during preparation.
Depending on the type of plant-based drink, it foams more or less when boiled and stirred. The type of milk also has an influence on the colour of the dessert; depending on the milk alternative, the colouring can also be darker. This is particularly evident in rice pudding. The consistency and mouthfeel of the dessert also play a role when tasting it. The different appearance and sensory characteristics of the various types of cow milk and plant-based drinks on the market are of course reflected in the final product or dessert. In the end, it is up to the consumer to decide which plant-based milk alternative tastes best.
Vegan recipes and dessert products are in great demand. To offer more variety on the vegan dessert shelf, Dr. Oetker has already developed the plant-based LoVE it! desserts. However, many Dr. Oetker products can also be easily prepared vegan with plant-based drinks. On our Vitalis porridge, the possibility of preparing it with plant-based drinks is already mentioned. In addition to preparing Dr. Oetker products with plant-based milk alternatives, our test kitchen is constantly developing new vegan recipes. These include the vegan almond pudding with fresh fruit and crunchy almond brittle. Simply cook the vanilla pudding with an almond drink and your plant-based dessert treat is ready!
Julian Loges
Media Spokesperson Dessert, Cereals & Refinements / Dr. Oetker World