Is There Milk in Milky Way Bars?

Written by: Kelly Donovan

When you are craving something sweet, it’s easy to reach for a candy bar.

But should you eat Milky Way bars if you’re trying to avoid milk?

Milky Way bars contain milk, especially since the first ingredient listed is milk chocolate made with skim milk and milk fat. Additionally, the caramel filling also contains skim milk.

In this article, you will learn if Milky Way bars contain any other kinds of dairy products, if there are any dairy-free Milky Way bars, and whether or not milk-free Milky Way bars exist.

Do Milky Way Bars Contain Dairy?

Milky Way bars contain a lot of dairy, including skim milk, milkfat, and added lactose.

milky way nutrition facts with milk ingredients highlighted

Skim milk and milkfat are the main ingredients in creating milk chocolate, alongside cacao.  

If you are lactose intolerant or want to avoid milk, Milky Way bars are not the best choice of candy.

four milky way bars different varieties

Are There Any Dairy-Free Versions of Milky Way Bars?

Unfortunately, there are not any Mars brand versions of Milky Way bars that are considered dairy-free.

All versions of Milky Way bars contain caramel, which is made from dairy.

However, some Milky Ways have more dairy than others.

For example, Milky Way Simply Caramel has the most dairy concentration since it is milk chocolate with total caramel filling.

This is compared to the original Milky Way bar, which is half filled with caramel and half filled with non-dairy nougat.

The only Milky Way that might top Simply Caramel in the dairy department is the ice cream bar!

The Milky Way bar with the least amount of dairy is Milky Way Midnight which is made with semisweet instead of milk chocolate.

Semisweet chocolate only contains milkfat, not added skim milk like milk chocolate.

However, there is also still caramel within the candy bar’s filling.

The only option for a dairy free / vegan milky way is to make it yourself. Luckily, there are several recipes to choose from, like this one from The Happy Pear.

Can I Make Milky Way Bars Without Milk?

Don’t give up hope if you want to enjoy the sweet goodness of a Milky Way, but you can’t have cow’s milk.

There are plenty of recipes for making homemade Milky Way bars and substituting all of the dairy products needed for the chocolate and caramel.

Coconut cream, almond butter, and coconut butter are some ingredients that can help make a delicious dairy-free version of a Milky Way bar.

Coconut milk can also be used to make a viable caramel alternative, and it contains even more sweetness than cow’s milk, so you may not need as much sugar.

Dark chocolates made by Lindt and dairy-free chocolate by Cadbury are great alternatives to milk chocolate.

Although creating your own non-dairy Milky Way bars may take a little more work, you will not be disappointed with the results.

About the Author

Kelly Donovan is a freelance writer. She enjoys helping people reach their wellness goals by educating them about how food plays a role in their health.