Hi CC Peeps,

I am from Australia and I have a request for a 2 tier cake that is dairy free. The cake itself is no drama, but I am stuck as to what sort of buttercream/ganache to use as a base under the fondant. Normally I would use chocolate ganache but as I have no substitute for the cream I can't use it, and with a dairy free based buttercream I won't get the same firm result.

So my question is, is there a good and nice tasting dairy free base I can use under my fondant? Keep in mind I am in Australia and will be limited to products only available here.

Cheers,

Em x

If you don't mind the taste of coconut milk, you can make chocolate ganache with coconut milk. I have yet to try it, but I know a friend who uses it for vegan cakes. In sure if you Google "vegan chocolate ganache," you can find a recipe. 

You can make chocolate buttercream (ABC or SMBC or IMBC) using a vegetable shortening - ie crisco or alternative you can buy from online cake supplies stores in Australia.  It will taste different, and have a gluggy mouthfeel, but will be dairy free.  

You can also use Betty Crocker and Duncan Heinz choc frosting (from Woolies/Coles cake aisle) under fondant very successfully - just frost and set hard in fridge before applying fondant, then you can leave it out of fridge for ages.  Duncan Heinz is definately dairy free, I think Betty Crocker is too.  CK make a dairy free ready-made buttercream - also available from Australian cake decorating supply stores.