Is Aunt Jemima dairy free?

Aunt Jemima is a brand of pancake mixes, syrups, and other breakfast foods currently owned by The J.M. Smucker Co. The Aunt Jemima brand was founded in 1889 and originally based on the “mammy” racial stereotype of African American women working as cooks and servants. In recent years, the logo and branding of Aunt Jemima has been widely criticized as racist. In June 2020, Quaker Oats announced it would be retiring the Aunt Jemima brand name and changing the logo. But what has not changed is that Aunt Jemima pancake mixes and syrups remain popular breakfast staples in many households. One common question consumers have is whether Aunt Jemima products are dairy free.

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Are Aunt Jemima Pancake Mixes Dairy Free?

Most Aunt Jemima pancake mixes are not dairy free as they contain milk ingredients. The standard Aunt Jemima Original and Buttermilk pancake mixes both contain nonfat milk. The ingredient lists for both mixes include:

Enriched bleached wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)

Sugar
Leavening (sodium aluminum phosphate, baking soda)
Nonfat milk

Soybean oil
Eggs
Salt

Artificial flavor

The nonfat milk gives the pancakes a richer taste and texture but means the mixes are not dairy free. People with milk allergies or avoiding dairy for other reasons will want to avoid these versions.

However, Aunt Jemima does offer a dairy free pancake and waffle mix option. The Aunt Jemima Original Pancake & Waffle Mix dairy free is made without milk ingredients. The ingredients include:

Water
Corn flour
Sugar

Rice flour
Leavening (sodium aluminum phosphate, baking soda)
Soybean oil

Cellulose gum
Salt
Natural and artificial flavors

Spice
Nonfat milk powder (adds a trivial amount of milk protein)

So those wanting a dairy free, vegan Aunt Jemima mix can use the dairy free version, despite the small amount of milk powder. People with a true milk allergy may still want to avoid it or contact the company to check if the milk power processing removes the allergenic milk proteins.

Other Dairy Free Pancake Mix Options

In addition to the Aunt Jemima dairy free mix, there are a variety of other pancake mix brands that offer dairy free options:

Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Pancake Mix
Birch Benders Paleo Pancake Mix

Kodiak Cakes Buttermilk Power Cakes Mix
Hungry Jack Complete Pancake and Waffle Mix
Nature’s Path Organic Pancake and Waffle Mix

Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Pancake and Baking Mix
Arrowhead Mills Pancake and Baking Mix, Gluten Free

Check the ingredient labels to verify which mixes are free of milk and other animal products for a vegan diet.

Are Aunt Jemima Syrups Dairy Free?

The main Aunt Jemima syrup offerings are dairy free. The ingredients contain:

Corn syrup
High fructose corn syrup

Water
Cellulose gum
Caramel color

Salt
Potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate (preservatives)
Xanthan gum

Splash of caramel flavor and artificial flavor

These standard Aunt Jemima syrups, including original, butter, and butter lite varieties, do not contain any dairy ingredients. The “butter” flavors come from artificial butter flavoring, not actual dairy.

The one exception is Aunt Jemima Butter Rich syrup, which contains real butter along with the standard syrup ingredients. The milkfat from the butter makes this version non-vegan and unsuitable for dairy free diets.

Other Dairy Free Pancake Syrup Options

In addition to Aunt Jemima, there are many other brands of pancake syrup that are dairy free:

Mrs. Butterworth’s Original Syrup
Hungry Jack Original Syrup

Vermont Maple Grove Farms Pure Maple Syrup
Nature’s Hollow Sugar Free Maple Flavored Syrup
Maple Grove Farms Sugar Free Maple Flavored Syrup

Walden Farms Pancake Syrup
Birch Benders Organic Pure Maple Syrup

Always check the ingredient list, as some syrups may contain butter or cream additions. Pure maple syrup is a naturally dairy free option as well.

Are Aunt Jemima Frozen Waffles Dairy Free?

No, Aunt Jemima frozen waffles are not dairy free. All flavors of Aunt Jemima frozen waffles contain milk ingredients in the form of nonfat milk and whey. A look at the Chocolate Chip Waffle ingredients:

Whole grain wheat flour
Sugar

Soybean oil
Eggs
Nonfat milk

Cocoa processed with alkali
Leavening (baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate)
Natural and artificial flavors
Whey

Salt
Artificial color

The nonfat milk and whey, a milk protein, make these frozen waffles non-vegan. There are no dairy free Aunt Jemima waffle options.

Dairy Free Frozen Waffle Options

Instead of Aunt Jemima, try these dairy free frozen waffle brands:

Van’s Gluten Free Waffles

Kashi Organic Promise Waffles
Nature’s Path Organic Waffles
Birch Benders Paleo Frozen Waffles

Natures Path Gluten Free Waffles

Always verify dairy free status by checking the labels. Many frozen waffles use milk ingredients for flavor and texture.

Aunt Jemima Oatmeal and Breakfast Bowls

The Aunt Jemima brand also markets instant oatmeal packets and frozen breakfast bowls. Are these dairy free?

The **Aunt Jemima Instant Oatmeal** in flavors like Original, Maple & Brown Sugar, and Cinnamon Swirl contain **milk ingredients** like nonfat milk powder and whey. They are not dairy free.

The **Aunt Jemima Frozen Breakfast Bowls** also contain milk ingredients in products like:

Pancakes & Sausage Bowl

French Toast & Sausage Bowl
Pancakes & Bacon Bowl

Always verify, but most Aunt Jemima oatmeal and breakfast bowls are not dairy free. Read the ingredient lists carefully.

Conclusion

While Aunt Jemima’s branding and imagery has evolved, most products still contain dairy:

The regular pancake mixes contain milk
The syrups are mostly dairy free except one butter variety

The frozen waffles have milk and whey
Oatmeal packets and breakfast bowls have milk ingredients

The dairy free options are limited:

Aunt Jemima Original Pancake and Waffle Mix dairy free
Most syrups, minus the butter rich version

So “is Aunt Jemima dairy free?” – the answer depends on the exact product. But dairy free choices are available in mixes and syrups for those avoiding milk.