Have you ever been in a situation where you're in the middle of baking only to realise you're missing out on an ingredient? This feeling can be quite frustrating, right? In such a situation, we often go knocking on the doors of our neighbours to ask for that particular ingredient that we don't have. One such common baking ingredient that we often run out of is milk. It is added to baking recipes to add extra moistness and enhance their overall flavour. But if you think that there are no alternatives to milk that you can use, then that's not true. If you look around in your kitchen, you'll find several amazing ingredients that can be substituted for milk. The results are just the same, and they work quite well every time.
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Cooking Hack: Here Are 5 Best Milk Substitutes For Baking:
1. Heavy cream:
Heavy cream is a great substitute for milk in a baking recipe. It helps add similar flavour and moistness to the baked goods. However, since cream is high in fat content, it needs to be diluted to get similar results as milk. For this, mix one part heavy cream with one part water. Give it a nice mix, and then simply add it to your recipe like you would milk. The results will surely not disappoint.
2. Soy milk:
If you're someone who's lactose intolerant, then you can swap regular cow's milk with soy milk. This substitute doesn't require any major modifications to the recipe, as we are using milk itself. The only difference is that it's dairy-free and, of course, has the additional flavour of soy. Soy milk also has comparatively less fat as compared to regular milk, which can alter the richness of the final baked product. So, be mindful of how much you add.
3. Sour cream:
Sour cream, too, makes for a great last-minute milk substitute. Just like heavy cream, this too has a fairly high fat content. Again, the trick here is to mix it with a bit of water to achieve the desired consistency. Follow a 1:1 ratio while substituting it in your recipe. It works exceptionally well in recipes for breads or cakes. Remember that this cream is sour in flavour, so you may want to add extra sugar to balance out the sourness.
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4. Almond milk:
Another dairy-free alternative to milk is almond milk. It provides similar results as when using regular milk or soy milk. If you're someone who doesn't prefer the flavour of soy and is lactose intolerant as well, this is when you can use almond milk. Using almond milk as a replacement for regular cow's milk works well for almost all baking recipes. However, make sure not to add too much, as the almond flavour can get overpowering.
5. Yoghurt:
Yoghurt can be an amazing substitute for milk as well. When replacing it in your recipe, use the same quantity as you would milk. But you will certainly have to dilute it with water to achieve the desired consistency. Yoghurt is slightly tangy in flavour, so you can balance it out by adding extra sugar. Also, make sure to use plain yoghurt and not any sweetened version for the best results.
Now that you know of these milk substitutes, use them in emergency situations and save your baked goods from going to waste.
About Vaishali KapilaVaishali finds comfort in eating parathas and rajma chawal but is equally enthusiastic about exploring different cuisines. When she's not eating or baking, you can often find her curled up on the couch watching her favourite TV show - FRIENDS.