Vegan Baking Substitutes: Milk

Here at the Bob’s Red Mill Headquarters we develop and test recipes all day long. In our years of baking, we’ve settled on some pretty tried and true vegan egg, butter, and milk substitutes. These are plant based alternatives to eggs, butter or milk that can be used in most recipes. Vegan baking substitutes are pretty simple, but first we need to understand what roles eggs, butter and milk play in our muffins, cakes, and cookies!

Today we’re taking a look at milk!

What does milk do in baking?

First off: moisture! Cow's milk is about 85% water. The remaining 15% is made up of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Milk makes baked goods moist, helps build structure, can contribute to browning, and gives flavor.

Photo by Monika Grabkowska on Unsplash.

How do you substitute milk in vegan baking?

Generally, any vegan milk substitute can be used in a baking recipe in 1:1 ratio.

What types of vegan milk substitutes are available?

There are many different types of milk substitutes available today! This makes it easy to choose a favorite or work around allergies.

Almond Milk Oat Milk Soy Milk Cashew Milk Coconut Milk Flax Milk Macadamia Milk Hemp Milk Rice Milk

What are the best vegan milk substitutes?

This depends on your preference and recipe. Oat, Rice, and Cashew Milk all have very neutral flavors. Coconut Milk and Almond Milk have more pronounced flavors. Coconut Milk will almost always impart a coconut flavor to your recipe, which can be great in a cake but maybe not as great in mashed potatoes!

How do you make a vegan buttermilk substitute?

To make vegan butter milk, add 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar or fresh Lemon Juice to 1 cup of non-dairy Milk. Buttermilk is naturally acidic. When a recipe calls for buttermilk, it's usually present as an ingredient to react with baking soda or baking powder. By adding apple cider vinegar or lemon juice you can mimic the affect of buttermilk in a recipe. Easy Overnight Steel Cut Oatsmade with Oat Milk