Meet Lukas: The Teen Baker Mixing Up Dairy-Free Desserts & Giving Back

Lukas Malachowski’s cooking journey started early—at just 9 years old, he was already taking and teaching cooking classes at Williams Sonoma, diving into recipes and experimenting in the kitchen. Fast forward a few years, and now at 16, Lukas is known for his culinary creativity and a big heart for helping others. But recently, Lukas hit a bit of a challenge: he found out he needed to go dairy-free.

For someone who loves baking rich desserts, cutting out butter, milk, and cream could have been a deal-breaker. But instead of giving up, Lukas saw this as a chance to create something new. His mom, Angela, reached out to us at Cooking Gift Set Co., asking if we had any dairy-free recipes that might help Lukas with his experiments. Inspired by his determination and creativity, we teamed up to support his dairy-free journey, giving him a budget to craft new recipes and test out his ideas with our French Tart Baking Kit.

The result? A Dairy-Free Chocolate Coffee Tart that’s just as rich and creamy as any traditional dessert. Using carefully chosen dairy-free ingredients, Lukas made a dessert that anyone can enjoy—even those avoiding dairy. And this recipe is more than just a personal win for Lukas; he’s excited to share it with others who might be facing similar dietary challenges.

Lukas’s Dairy-Free Chocolate Coffee Tart Recipe Recipe by Chef Lukas Malachowski for Cooking Gift Set Co.

Servings: 6 tarts

"Dairy-free doesn’t have to mean compromise," Lukas says. "This recipe is rich and creamy with a perfectly textured crust. With a few key ingredient choices, you can recreate that indulgent experience."

Ingredients

Chocolate Pastry Dough

• 12 Tbsp. vegan butter, cold, cubed
• 1 ¼ cup powdered sugar
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 4 egg yolks (reserve whites for meringue)
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cocoa powder

Chocolate Coffee Ganache

• 6 oz. dark chocolate chips
• 1 cup dairy-free heavy cream
• 1 Tbsp. instant coffee
• 3 Tbsp. vegan butter, room temperature, cubed

Meringue

• 1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 4 egg whites, room temp

Follow instructions from the recipe card for preparation.

Lukas's Tips for Success

Lukas discovered that vegan butter behaves differently than traditional butter, especially when working with pastry dough. “Keep the dough cold,” he advises. “If it starts to get too warm, it’ll break apart, but you can easily press it back together.”

Not all dairy free substitutions for butter and heavy cream are the same. Many have different consistencies, textures, and tastes. He provided the brands in bold below that he tested to produce this dairy free rich dessert. For the best results, he swears by Earth Balance Vegan Butter, Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Chips and Califia Farms Dairy-Free Heavy Whip Substitute for their consistent performance.

Making an Impact Beyond the Kitchen

Lukas isn’t just about creating recipes; he’s passionate about making a difference, too. Through No Kid Hungry, he’s already helped provide over 1,500 meals for kids. With his new dairy-free tart recipe, he hopes to bring joy to even more people—whether they’re baking along with him or trying out new foods they can enjoy without limitations.

We can’t wait to see where Lukas’s journey takes him next, but one thing’s for sure—he’s inspiring others every step of the way. Whether he’s whipping up dairy-free treats or supporting kids in need, Lukas is proof that great things happen when you mix a little creativity with a big heart.

Follow Lukas’s culinary adventures on Instagram at @whiskitwithlukas, and keep an eye out for more of his delicious, dairy-free creations!