If you’re a fan of the show, then you know how important it is to have a tasty spread on hand for perfecting your bake. Worried about making it dairy-free? We have you covered. Our delicious range of spreads are all made from plant-based ingredients – choose from Pure Sunflower, Olive, Buttery Taste or our latest addition, Slightly Salted Spreadable—all wonderful, with butter-like flavour, and without a hint of dairy in sight.

Now you’ve found a creamy, delicious vegan alternative to butter, all that’s left to do is meet the 12 new bright-eyed bakers. Oh, and get your bake on of course! Celebrate the return of GBBO by trying one of these tempting dairy-free bakes.

Pear, Blackberry and Pecan Layer Cake

Worthy of earning you star baker amongst friends and family, this Pear, Blackberry and Pecan layer cake is layered perfection!  With a rich flavour and a crunchy top layer, this is the ideal showstopping bake to see in the return of Bake Off.

https://purefreefrom.co.uk/recipes/pear-blackberry-and-pecan-layer-cake/

Vegan Sausage Rolls

Packed with an autumnal mixture of mushrooms, garlic, and thyme, these meat-free sausage rolls are a go-to during pastry week for a flavour-filled savoury treat!

https://purefreefrom.co.uk/recipes/vegan-sausage-rolls/

Pumpkin Pie

Move over Pumpkin Spiced Latte, this year it’s all about the Pumpkin Pie. As we hunker down for the colder months, this golden delicious pie is the ideal dessert for getting the most out of your Halloween pumpkin.

https://purefreefrom.co.uk/recipes/dairy-free-pumpkin-pie-recipe/

If we’ve inspired you to get baking alongside Bake Off, then don’t forget to share your bakes with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram – we can’t wait.

With a vegan butchery set to open in London next month, even our Christmas dinner plates may look slightly different this year.

To celebrate World Vegan Day (1^st November 2020), we have put together a highlight of our favourite Instagrammers whose creativity with vegan dishes makes us drool on a daily basis.

Flying the flag for the UK, no vegan list would be complete without @fearnecotton. A trailblazer not only on social media (she is of course also an accomplished author, TV and radio presenter!) look no further for aesthetically-pleasing recipes for the whole family to enjoy.

Need more ideas for mealtimes? This Instagrammer never fails to bring something new to the table. @rgveganfood is a perfect follow if you are in need of some inspiration to fill your meal planner!

Sean O’Callaghan aka @fatgayvegan is a king of the vegan blogging world. Helpful without being preachy, Sean focuses on how to incorporate vibrant and delicious vegan recipes into your lifestyle. He isn’t averse to including ‘dirty vegan’ indulgent vegan junk food options too! #winning

Canadian-based author, award-winning blogger and Instagram mogul @ohsheglows posts colourful and abundant vegan dishes – warning, do not look at her page if your fridge isn’t full and your tummy is rumbling!

Based in California, Sara aka @sproutedkitchen makes feeding your vegan family easy with nourishing, crowd pleasing suggestions. Deft with words as well as recipes, you’ll fall in love with her ‘famalam’ as well.

Have you come across @linda_lomelino? This Swedish flexitarian is a perfect follow for the budding vegan, showcasing vegan recipes as well as non-vegan treats. The photography alone is worth it!

No round up of vegan influencers can end without featuring German based @elavegan. With over 1 million followers she started her vegan journey back in 2011 focusing on the health benefits for body, mind and soul.

And finally, we’re sure you already are of course, but do make sure you follow @purefreefrom! Largely vegan, our feed will give you all the inspo for living a Pure and delicious, dairy-free lifestyle.

Enjoy world vegan month and don’t forget to tag us in your photos!

Across the UK, supermarkets have reported strong sales of plant-based products since Covid-19 hit in early 2020. In fact, more people are turning to vegan products as a result of the pandemic. Worried about their health, more of us are adopting a healthier diet and lifestyle. Our Pure spreads are popular not just with those avoiding dairy. They are a healthy alternative to butter, with significantly less saturated fat, and no compromise on taste – a great choice for a balanced lifestyle. Pure offers a variety of spreads appealing to different diets, from our classic Pure Sunflower spread, which is high in Omega 3, to Pure Olive spread, which offers olive oil goodness* (*rich in monounsaturated fats) and is 76% less saturated fat than butter.

As plant-based products become increasingly popular, there are now plenty of exciting new products to choose from if you’re avoiding dairy or animal products entirely. We’re excited to have recently launched Pure Buttery Taste, a delicious Pure spread that is an ideal alternative to butter and the perfect spread for a healthy lifestyle.

Here are our top five new vegan products that we’re most looking forward to trying out:

1. Ikea “Plant-Balls”: Ikea’s iconic meatball dish is a favourite for many, so we were so excited to hear that they were launching a meat-free alternative. Their new ‘plant-balls’ are made of pea protein and cater for vegans, vegetarians and meat lovers alike. Serve them with deliciously buttery mashed potatoes, made with a hearty dollop of Pure Buttery Taste for the ultimate dairy-free recreation of Ikea’s iconic dish.
2. New additions to Tesco’s Wicked Kitchen and Plant Chef ranges: Tesco were ahead of the crowd with their wide vegan options. They’ve recently released a whopping 30 new vegan products across their Wicked Kitchen and Plant Chef ranges. We’re particularly looking forward to trying out the new Wicked Kitchen meal kits. Just like Pure spreads, find them in the Tesco chilled aisle.
3. Vegan ice creams: Vegan ice cream?! Dreams do come true! We were so excited to hear that Ben & Jerry’s were releasing a dairy free range this year with four new flavours. Magnum also released vegan variations of their Classic and Almond ice creams which are also made with pea protein.
4. Naked Glory’s “meaty” alternatives: Already a favourite with ‘meat cheaters’, Naked Glory released their delicious Deli Readybites earlier this year. Great as a grab-and-go snack or a protein packed topping for your buttery jacket potato. Choose from Roast, Tikka or Smoky BBQ flavours.
5. New vegan fashion: The Vegan Society reported the number of fashion products registered with them doubling in 2020. More ethical fashion can’t be a bad thing so we’re looking forward to having more vegan shopping options.

You won’t be able to eat anything

It might feel like this at first as dairy is in a lot of different foods but please don’t worry. There are plenty of naturally dairy-free foods out there, an ever-increasing number of dairy-free products, and thousands of dairy-free recipes online to make cooking a breeze.

Our blog on Top 10 Surprising Vegan Foods is a great place to start for quick dairy-free wins.

If you’re ready to venture into the kitchen our easy mushroom risotto recipe will keep hunger pangs well at bay. For a super simple sweet treat, try our popular dairy-free flapjacks recipe.

You’ll be calcium deficient

You’ll probably get told by lots of people that without dairy, you’re going to be deficient in calcium. It’s true, dairy is a good source of calcium, but hey – so are lots of other foods! Green veggies such as broccoli and cabbage, soya beans, nuts, anything made with fortified flour such as bread, and fish such as sardines and pilchards all pack a calcium punch. As with anything – a balanced diet is all you need.

Eating out is impossible

This might have been true a few years ago, but restaurants, pubs and cafes have woken up to dietary requirements, and rightly so. It is estimated 2 million people are living with a diagnosed food allergy in the UK, and that doesn’t even factor in those yet to be diagnosed or choosing to cut it out. We’d always advocate doing a bit of research before going anywhere to see how well you’ll be catered for, but a call or chat with the team on arrival will more often than not be surprisingly fruitful.

Even the dairy-feast that is an afternoon tea is not off the cards. Most places will have sumptuous dairy-free alternatives available, even if it’s not on the menu. Just be sure to ask.

Everything will be flavourless

Categorically not true! We passionately believe that good, healthy food, does not need to be flavourless. We’ve recently launched Pure Buttery Taste – the perfect spread for swapping out dairy in your diet without losing that creamy taste.

Supermarkets and restaurants are bending over themselves to create delicious food, free from dairy and other allergens. With the number of vegans in the UK quadrupling between 2014 and 2019, the number of vegan products has also significantly increased – in fact, in 2018 the UK launched more vegan products than any other nation.

You’re going to lose weight

Whatever your reason for giving up dairy, a common misconception is that without it you will lose weight. Whilst you won’t be eating high-fat creamy products, some dairy-free alternatives will instead have surprisingly high sugar contents, so always keep an eye on the labels. Rest assured – Pure spreads have neither high saturated fat or a significant sugar content, so swapping your butter for Pure won’t be a cause for concern.

References

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/calcium/

https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/fsa170306.pdf

https://www.vegansociety.com/news/media/statistics

On the face of things, Easter might not seem like the best time of year when you’re dairy-free. But things have definitely changed. There’s more and more exciting new dairy-free goodies on the shelves. And needless to say, dairy-free baking is a breeze with Pure Perfect Baking.

So strap in and liven up your quiet Easter at home with some dairy-free baked yumminess.

Hot cross buns

Toasted or not, a hot cross bun is an Easter favourite. If you find some in the supermarket then you’re in for a treat – most shop-bought hot cross buns are naturally dairy-free. Hooray! Cover in your Pure spread of choice and you’re onto a winner.

Just take care with some of the fancier hot cross buns which come in more unusual flavours, like raspberry and white chocolate or chocolate chip – you’ll need to steer clear of those.

If you fancy getting creative in the kitchen and making your own hot cross buns this Easter, why not try these dairy-free beauties? They’re made with Pure Perfect Baking, of course, to give them a deliciously light and fluffy texture. You’ll get top marks if you can get the crosses to all line up on the wreath!

Traditional simnel cake

It seems that no matter what the time of year, there’s a fruit cake to match. Simnel cake is another Easter classic.

This dairy-free version from Let’s Eat Smart looks delicious and is really easy to do. It’s also perfect if you’re in need of something to keep you amused during lockdown for a couple of hours and can’t face baking yet another banana bread. (If you do want to do another one of those though, we’ve got a lovely Banana Loaf recipe which you can try).

Desserts

If you fancy a dessert over Easter weekend, and why not, then why not try our Apple Crumble Tart recipe? It takes the humble crumble to another level. Use any Pure spread of your choice but Perfect Baking for the pastry will give the best results.

Our Jammy Tarts are also a winner for the whole family. Quick and simple with a fun surprise ingredient to make the pastry, they’ll add some colour to an Easter tea at home.

For more inspiration follow Pure on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

The month-long challenge to eat a vegan diet for all of January has been gaining traction over the past few years as veganism becomes more popular. For some it can still be a daunting prospect, but we’re here to guide you through it.

• Sign up on the Veganuary website

If you haven’t been on the Veganuary website yet, it’s definitely worth a visit. You’ll be able to sign up for 31 days of support emails which help introduce you to the world of veganism. It’s all free, so what are you waiting for? Sign up here.

• Plan your meals

Like any change in lifestyle it can be tricky to adapt to being a vegan when you start out. To give yourself the best chance, plan your meals so you aren’t left worrying what to eat each day. Our delicious Pacific Rim Coconut Curry is a great way to kick-start your vegan menu, and there’s plenty more inspiration in our recipe pages.

• Go on a vegan product hunt in your supermarket

Take extra time on your first trip to the supermarket to add vegan-friendly food to your everyday essentials. Dairy can be easily avoided with so many alternatives now available, from almond milk to, of course, Pure’s range of spreads.

• Treat yourself to vegan goodies

Whether it’s chocolate, pizza or ice cream, we know that everyone has their favourite treat. Rest assured vegans still enjoy all these and more, with new vegan products being launched all the time. Try this gorgeous nutty ice cream or Made in Chelsea’s Jamie Laing’s popular sweet range, Candy Kittens. If baked goods make you weak at the knees, whip together our delicious flapjacks which bake perfectly with our new Perfect Baking (pick up a pack at your nearest Waitrose). It’s also worth checking out our recent blog on the Top 10 Surprising Vegan Treats for more inspiration.

• Eat out

Many pubs and restaurants are now much more accommodating for vegans or those looking to enjoy a vegan meal as part of a flexitarian diet. No two vegan menus are created equal though, so it’s definitely worth looking at a selection of menus from local restaurants online before you set out. Dedicated vegan restaurants are also gaining popularity, so why not encourage your friends to give vegan food a try?

Visit Happy Cow’s website for vegan-friendly restaurants across the UK.

But for many, today is one especially pivotal date in the run-up to Christmas – Stir-up Sunday. We know many Pure fans especially will be rolling up their sleeves, to ensure a delicious and dairy-free Christmas.

To help get you started we’ve put together a list of some of our favourite festive free-from recipes to kick off Christmas baking season.

1. Christmas pudding

Today’s main event. For many it just wouldn’t be Christmas without trying to squeeze in some Christmas pudding after dinner on the big day.

For dairy-free perfection, try our Christmas pudding recipe with orange liquor. Using Pure in both the bake and the sauce, it’s a win for the whole family.

2. Christmas cake

Trusty GoodtoKnow has this delicious-looking dairy-free recipe for Christmas cake that we’re sure will keep you coming back for more. Don’t forget to pick up Pure Perfect Baking when you buy in your ingredients.

3. Gingerbread

Baking gingerbread people at Christmas is a great way to introduce children to baking, especially when it comes to decorating them at the end. The Spruce Eats has created this simple dairy-free recipe to try out and enjoy with friends and family. It looks so good that we bet no one will even notice it’s dairy-free.

4. Chocolate Yule Log

Chocolate bakes are amazing all year round, but there’s something special about a yule log. We cannot believe this beautiful yule log by The Little Blog of Vegan is completely vegan, it looks incredible! Guaranteed to give you your chocolate fix at Christmas.

5. Christmas cookies

For something different and a bit of fun, we love these Grinch cookies by Simply Whisked. Whether you’re loyal to the books, the Jim Carey film or last year’s animation, we think it will go down a storm with Dr. Seuss fans of all ages. Just use 226g of Pure Perfect Baking where the author asks for ‘1 cup of butter-flavored shortening.’

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and share your festive bakes with us.

Well, it might be easier than you think – there’s a whole heap of tasty treats and naturally vegan foods out there.

(Disclaimer: biscuits may have eaten for the purposes of this blog).

Crumpets

This might be an obvious one to some, but a quick poll with our vegan and dairy-free friends shows many mistakenly believe crumpets contained dairy. Wrong! We’re happy to report that most store brought crumpets are vegan-friendly, and they go just perfectly with a thick slather of Pure dairy-free spread.

Dark chocolate

Chocoholics assemble! Unlike milk and white chocolate which (unsurprisingly) contain milk, dark chocolate is made only with cocoa butter. It’s the ‘cocoa butter’ term which throws people off, but it actually comes from cocoa beans, meaning most dark chocolate is dairy-free and vegan. Try some in our indulgent Chocolate Biscuit Loaf or mouthwatering Chocolate Brownies.

Cream crackers

Don’t be fooled by the word ‘cream’ in the name. Instead of referring to cream in the ingredients, it’s actually the name of the method when the mixture is ‘creamed’ during the manufacturing process. Now, where did we put the chutney?

(Some) biscuits

There’s usually fierce debate over the nation’s favourite biscuit. Don’t feel left out, you can fight for your favourite too with many classics completely dairy-free and vegan friendly. Oreos, Chocolate Chip Hobnobs, party rings and chocolate bourbons are our favourites. Even the Lotus Biscoff – the thin caramel biscuit often served with coffee – is completely vegan. Grab a cuppa and get dunking!

(Some) crisps

Twiglets, Skips, Doritos, Pringles, Hula Hoops, McCoys – there’s lots of vegan-friendly potato snacks out there and some are even ‘meat’-flavoured. Amazing. Smokey bacon, prawn cocktail, sizzling BBQ chicken and chargrilled steak are our go-tos when we’re making a crisp sandwich.

Ice Cream

Chunky Monkey, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Cookie Dough – yes, we are reciting flavours of Ben & Jerry’s. But not just any flavours; these are all part of the brand’s non-diary range which is 100% certified vegan. Also check out Magnum, Cornetto, Booja Booja and Jude’s for vegan-friendly offerings.

Pasta

Although fresh pasta is made by mixing an egg with flour, most dried pasta is made with durum wheat and semolina, making it perfectly fine for vegans to eat. Just take care with the chilled varieties because they’ll probably contain egg.

Peanut butter

Crunchy, smooth, however you like it – the majority of peanut butters are made from just ground peanuts and a bit of added salt or sugar. According to PETA, they occasionally have added honey so check labels but most are vegan-friendly. Pass a spoon, please.

Breakfast cereals

Cereal is a tricky area when it comes to vegan foods. You probably know Weetabix and porridge is OK, but what if you fancy something a bit more exciting? Well Shreddies are your friend, and not just any Shreddies (although the ‘normal’ Shreddies are vegan too). Enjoy the Coco, Coco Caramel and Frosted varieties. Cereal for dinner, anyone?

Custard Powder

Yes, you read that correctly. Bird’s Traditional Custard Powder is made only with maize starch, salt, flavouring and colour (annatto). Mix it with your plant milk of choice and pour over bananas for a retro, vegan dessert which is just perfect for autumn evenings.

Brand new Pure Perfect Baking is here to save the day, or more precisely, your bake.

Boasting all the wonderful things we’re very proud of in the Pure range – a dairy-free spread with no ‘nasties’, and minimal, simple ingredients, Pure Perfect Baking does more than the rest of our Pure family. As a butter replacement, Pure Perfect Baking makes delicious dairy-free cakes and bakes, just like the Victoria Sponge above.

Pure Perfect Baking joins our range thanks to the Pure team’s tireless efforts to develop a dairy-free baking product that is just perfect. After much cake consumed, we’re pleased as punch to say we’ve nailed it. Buttery taste, perfectly risen sponges and fluffy buttercream, it works a treat for all your treats, without a hint of dairy in sight.

Try it out with some of our most popular recipes. If you’d like to try out the Victoria Sponge pictured above, then simply multiply the ingredients by 1 ½ using our delicious Butterfly Cakes recipe. Alternatively, why not whip up a classic chocolate cake or this scrummy Mango and Passion Fruit Coconut Cake?

Pure Perfect Baking is available in selected Waitrose stores and on the Ocado website. We hope that you enjoy baking with Pure Perfect Baking as much as we do! Don’t forget to share your GBBO inspired bakes with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. We always love to hear from future Star Bakers!

DAIRY FREE GUIDE FOR VEGETARIANS

Well planned vegetarian diets can be both nutritious and healthy, however vegetarians do need to take particular care to balance their diets to avoid nutritional deficiencies. All Pure spreads are suitable for vegetarians as they’re made using no animal derivatives.

TOP TIPS

OMEGA-3

Vegetarians need to find alternative sources of important omega-3s (which non-vegetarians can get from oily fish). Omega-3s are important for a healthy heart. Non-fish sources include flaxseed, walnut, rapeseed oil and soya oil. It may also be worth considering taking a supplement made from algae derived DHA.

PROTEIN

Vegetarians can get protein from nuts, seeds, pulses, grains, soya products (e.g. tofu), dairy products and eggs. Unlike meat, plant proteins do not contain all the essential amino acids we need. However, when plant proteins are mixed together, they give a better mix of amino acids overall as well as providing a varied and interesting diet.

VITAMINS

Most vitamins can be obtained easily from a vegetarian diet, but you may need to pay particular attention to vitamin B12 (needed for a healthy nervous system and red blood cells), vitamin B2 (important for energy levels) and vitamin D (important for healthy bones). If you’re eating eggs and dairy foods then getting enough Vitamin B12 and B2 shouldn’t be a problem. Vegans should consider including fortified foods containing Vitamin B12 and B2 (check the label). To top up your vitamin B12 and B2 vitamin levels include yeast extract (e.g. Marmite), Soya milk, yoghurts and desserts and breakfast cereals in your diet. Our bodies can make Vitamin D from sunlight during the spring and summer. At other times of the year it’s important to try and eat foods that contain fortified Vitamin D, such as eggs, breakfast cereals and fortified soya milks.

MINERALS

Vegetarian iron sources include wholemeal bread, dried fruits, beans and lentils, nuts and sesame seeds. To help your body absorb iron from plant foods, include a source of Vitamin C with your meal. Good options are vegetables, fruit or a glass of fruit juice. Meat, fish and nuts are good sources of selenium. If you’re not eating meat or fish make sure you include some nuts in your diet. Brazil nuts are a particularly good source.