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Good Housekeeping/ Mike Garten

Cream of the Crop: Best Dairy and Dairy Alternatives from Snack Awards

From rich dairy classics to innovative plant-based options, explore the top dairy and dairy-free products that won a Good Housekeeping Best Snack Award this year.

Whether it's from a cow or a cashew, the dairy aisle seems to be brimming with innovation these days. But not every option is a home run, which is why our judges and taste testers evaluated dozens of contenders to find the best of the best. This year’s winners in the Dairy & Dairy Alternatives category of our Good Housekeeping Best Snack Awards deliver on great flavor, texture and innovation. Our top picks encompass everything from rich, authentic skyr to bold plant-based cheese spreads that liven up any afternoon snack. Most important, our dietitians vetted each one to make sure it didn’t compromise on nutrition. Read on for the top dairy and dairy-free snacks to add to your grocery list.

Explore All of Good Housekeeping's 2025 Snack Award Winners

Best Whole-Milk Skyr

Painterland Sisters Meadow Berry Organic Skyr Yogurt

Meadow Berry Organic Skyr Yogurt

You’ll want to savor each spoonful of Painterland Sisters’ Meadow Berry Skyr Yogurt. Crafted from whole milk produced by farms with sustainability at their core, the thick Icelandic-style yogurt is blended with organic blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and elderberries and contains live and active cultures.

LAB RESULTS: A favorite in taste tests, this has a rich consistency and bright flavor. “This skyr feels like a treat. It’s thick and luscious but less acidic than Greek yogurt, and the berry flavor tastes real and not overly sweet,” said GH Recipe Editor Susan Choung.

Best Skyr Alternative

Icelandic Provisions Mango & Passion Fruit Oatmilk Skyr

Mango & Passion Fruit Oatmilk Skyr

Crafted with oats – a food at the core of the Vikings’ diet – Icelandic Provisions Oatmilk Skyr is a plant-based version of the company’s popular dairy skyr. It boasts 12 g of pea protein along with live and active cultures. The Mango & Passion Fruit flavor, featuring real mango as well as passion fruit juice, is a particular standout.

LAB RESULTS: Taste testers and our nutrition pros were wowed by the perfect consistency, the flavor profile and the stellar nutrition. “I think this is the best dairy-alternative skyr on the market — it’s so creamy and smooth, with the right amount of thickness, and I just love the mango and passion fruit combo,” said one staffer.

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Best Kefir

Lifeway Berry Blast Probiotic Smoothie + Collagen

Berry Blast Probiotic Smoothie + Collagen

Lifeway takes its signature kefir (a tangy, yogurt-like drink) and supercharges it with collagen for a well-rounded sip. This lactose-free smoothie not only features 5 g of hydrolyzed collagen but also 13 g of protein and 12 live and active probiotic cultures per serving to support bone and gut health.

LAB RESULTS: “This checks all the boxes for nutrition, ingredients and taste,” said registered dietitian Valerie Agyeman. Testers appreciated the packaging, praising its “pretty pastel appearance” and the convenience as a morning or afternoon pick-me-up.

Best Labneh

Yaza Labneh

Labneh

Beloved in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines, labneh is a yogurt dip with a signature tangy flavor. Yaza brings authentic labneh to your kitchen table; it is made with natural whole ingredients and no added preservatives or sugars. Each serving contains billions of gut-friendly probiotics along with protein and healthy fats.

LAB RESULTS: “Sour cream and Greek yogurt fans will love this,” chef and TV personality Alejandra Ramos raved. “It’s thick, tangy and absolutely delicious — try it on its own as a dip, topped with za’atar, or dolloped on grilled meats or even on soup or a sandwich.”

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Best Vegan Cheese Spread

Miyoko's Creamery Jalapeño Plant Milk Cheese Spread

Creamery Jalapeño Plant Milk Cheese Spread

Miyoko’s mixes organic cultured cashew milk with organic fresh jalapeño peppers and real spices for an out-of-this-world spread sans dairy. Free of soy and artificial flavors and colors, it works great atop crackers, chips, sandwiches and even nachos.

LAB RESULTS: Testers said it was as creamy as dairy cream cheese but packed a unique flavor punch. “The jalapeno flavor really popped, in a good way! Even as a non-vegan, I would buy this,” one person noted. “It added another layer of flavor to my avocado toast.“

Best Low-Fat Skyr

Siggi's Strawberry Banana Skyr

Strawberry Banana Skyr

Siggi’s strawberry banana skyr is low on sugar and fat but big on flavor. Staying true to its Icelandic roots with its smooth texture, each cup packs 15 g of protein along with live active cultures, and strawberry and banana purees impart vibrant fruity notes.

LAB RESULTS: Dietitian Valerie Agyeman praised the thick and creamy texture of this delicious skyr, highlighting its real-fruit flavor and light and airy feel: “It’s super versatile — you can top it with nuts, seeds or extra fruit." And each serving has more protein than it has sugar.

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Best Yogurt Alternative

Forager Project Unsweetened Plain Dairy-Free Greek-Style

Unsweetened Plain Dairy-Free Greek-Style

Finally, a dairy-free yogurt that doesn’t sacrifice taste, texture or nutrition! Forager Project’s take on plant-based Greek-style yogurt is made with wholesome organic ingredients like coconut milk and cashews along with six strains of live and active cultures.

LAB RESULTS: The thick, smooth and creamy consistency won taste testers over. And the plain flavor served as the perfect base for building an epic parfait with fruit and granola. It even fared well in savory applications – “I used this for a homemade ranch dressing marinade for chicken, and it worked out well,” one person shared.

Best String Cheese

Organic Valley Stringles

Stringles

Whether you peel it apart or just chomp it, each individually wrapped mozzarella stick from Organic Valley is a fun and convenient way to get 7 g of protein at home or when on the go. It is crafted from organic high-quality dairy and has an exceptional taste.

LAB RESULTS: Susan Choung of GH’s Test Kitchen raved,It strings like a string cheese should!” Testers appreciated the easy-to-open packaging as well as the taste, adding that the cheese pulled apart nicely and tided them over until their next meal.

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Best Yogurt Drink

Oikos Mixed Berry Pro Shot

Mixed Berry Pro Shot

This high-protein drinkable yogurt from Oikos comes in a convenient mini shot. Each one packs 10 g of protein and a variety of beneficial vitamins and has no added sugar. The small size and convenient packaging make it easier than ever to fuel up on your busiest days.

LAB RESULTS: Taste testers enjoyed the balanced berry flavor and the creamy consistency. “I’m a fitness instructor and always on the move, so this is the perfect snack for me, as I’m always trying to add more protein to my day,” one said.

Best Plain Yogurt

Ellenos Plain Unsweetened Yogurt

Plain Unsweetened Yogurt

Calling it “the yogurt that makes ice cream jealous,” Ellenos makes exceptionally creamy yogurt that uses milk that is sourced from a local farm and then cooked with care. What makes it even more special is the distinct blend of probiotic cultures that the family has nurtured over the years through making small batches at home.

LAB RESULTS: Testers are impressed with the texture and taste, with one saying, “I usually buy yogurts with sugar, but this unsweetened one is delicious as is.” GH recipe pro Susan Choung called the texture akin to that of custard, adding “It feels like a treat!”

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Best White Cheddar

Cabot Creamery Seriously Sharp White Cheddar Cracker Cuts

Seriously Sharp White Cheddar Cracker Cuts

These sharp white Cheddar cheese slices from Cabot Creamery pair perfectly with any cracker. They are conveniently packaged in a ready-to-use tray, making them ideal for a picnic, a party or a lunchbox. What's more, Cabot Creamery is a farmer-owned co-op and certified B-Corp, so 100% of profits go back to the farmers.

LAB RESULTS: The family-friendly snack scored aces in taste tests thanks to its great flavor and presliced convenience. “The Cheddar is seriously sharp, with a bold flavor that’s mellowed by the creaminess. It’s the perfect thinness and size for topping crackers,” said Susan Choung from GH’s Test Kitchen.

Best Greek Yogurt

Chobani 20G Protein Greek Yogurt

20G Protein Greek Yogurt

Supercharge your day with Chobani’s new protein-rich yogurt in a delightfully tropical mango flavor. Each container packs 20 g of filling protein along with 70% of your daily vitamin B12 needs to support energy and muscle health. The snack is free of added sugar, using real mangoes and a hint of stevia for sweetness.

LAB RESULTS: The creaminess and smooth texture of the yogurt won over taste testers. “Very satisfying. It filled me up, and the mango flavor was perfect — it didn't taste artificial or overwhelming,” one person noted.

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Hungry For More?

a green table with board games and assorted snacks
Good Housekeeeping / Mike Garten
Headshot of Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., NASM-CPT
Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., NASM-CPT
Nutrition & Fitness Lab Director

Stefani (she/her) is a registered dietitian, a NASM-certified personal trainer and the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition and Fitness Lab, where she oversees all nutrition and fitness-related content, testing and evaluation. She holds a master’s degree in clinical nutrition from New York University, as well as advanced certifications as a Women's Fitness Specialist and a Behavior Change Specialist. Stefani is dedicated to providing readers with evidence-based content to encourage informed food choices and healthy living. She is an avid CrossFitter and a passionate home cook who loves spending time with her big fit Greek family.

Headshot of Alyssa Jung
Alyssa Jung
Senior Editor, Fitness & Nutrition
Alyssa is a senior editor for the Hearst Health Newsroom, where she has written research-backed health content for Prevention, Good Housekeeping and Woman's Day since 2017. She has more than 13 years of reporting and editing experience and previously worked as research chief at Reader's Digest, where she was responsible for the website's health vertical as well as editing health content for the print magazine. She has also written for Chowhound, Healthination.com, Huffington Post and more.
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