Baking can be fun, and the good news is you don’t always have to follow every direction in the recipes. Take brownies, for example; there are different types of brownies because people decided to improvise and make their own recipes. This may leave the question, can you use milk instead of water when making brownies?
Absolutely, you sure can substitute milk in place of water when baking brownies. Use the same mixture in place of one cup of water with one cup of milk. It will have a richer flavor and leave you wondering what else to change in the recipe.
What Does Milk Do for Brownies In Place of Water?
Water and milk do the same things when baking. They both moisten dry ingredients and activate the gluten within the flour. They also dissolve the sugar, so they both do the same thing and can be substituted. You may want to choose milk over water because it does these things better than water.
Even though water is good for everyone, milk offers more nutrients. It can make the baking experience even more healthy. Milk is an upgrade with calcium and Vitamin D. It will also add a rich flavor while improving the texture and turning it into a cake-like batter.
We recommend using baking powder or baking soda, so the brownies will have a rise to them if you decide to use milk. Of course, if you wish to stay with the recipe calling for water and want a more fudge flavor, add another egg to the mix.
That will do the trick!
Substitutes for Those Who are Lactose Intolerant
Lactose intolerant? A lot of people suffer from this. We understand. There are ways around using milk in the brownie mix to get that rich flavor you crave.
Try using these remedies to substitute for milk:
- Almond milk: Almond milk compliments the chocolate in the brownie mix. Like milk, it substitutes the same with water; one cup to one cup is the same. We want to warn you that almond milk contains more water than regular milk. The batter may rise too fast, so watch out!
- Powdered milk: Powdered milk will do the same as regular milk. You can use the same amount of mixture of powdered milk as water. For example, if the recipe calls for one cup of water, use one cup of the powdered milk mixture.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk is an excellent substitute because it gives the brownies a more fudge flavor and enhances the chocolate taste. Buttermilk is thicker than regular milk, so substitute half the amount required in the water ratio.
Other Ingredients to Substitute for Brownies
The fun thing about brownies is you don’t have to follow any specific recipe. You can make your own rules as you go along with baking brownies. These are other ingredients you can substitute:
- A coffee-milk mixture will add to the chocolate flavor. Go with a half and half cup of coffee and milk in place of water.
- Unsalted butter works just as well as oil, if not better because it adds texture and a richer flavor.
- If you want to make the chocolate flavor pop, use Maldon sea salt flakes before you put the brownies in the oven.
No Altering is Necessary if Using Milk
The good news is you do not have to alter your recipe or baking times when you substitute water and ad milk. Everything on the packet can be followed, and the temperatures do not have to change.
We recommend following the baking times advised in whatever recipe you are following. The ingredients may be altered, but the baking times are critical to the brownies’ proper finished result.
The ingredients you choose for water will not affect the baking temperature or time. They will be soft, uncooked, and runny if they are not cooked for the recommended time.
If they are cooked for longer, they will burn or turn hard.
Why Use Baking Powder or Baking Soda?
Leavening ingredients like baking soda or baking powder are recommended but not required. A more robust leavening ingredient may be needed if you substitute water for milk. It will help with the texture and make them fluffier.
Using milk with brownies will make them turn out more like a cake, so milk sets heavier than using water. The baking powder or baking soda will guarantee the brownies will rise in the oven.
It is not mandatory to add these ingredients. It makes the batter lighter so the brownies can rise up in the pan.
Using Milk? Don’t Change a Thing
Many wonders if all they do to change the recipe is switch out water for milk if anything else changes. Do they have to change the recipe or cooking times?
The good news is the cooking method does not get altered. What is written on the packet are the instructions you should follow.
If the directions are altered, and the brownies are cooked more extendedly, they will burn or get hard. If they are cooked for less time, they will not have a good outcome in the middle.
Everything will be runny and raw. All you have to do is imagine that nothing was changed in the recipe and follow the cooking instructions.
What Else Can Be Changed?
So, you decide to go with milk in place of water. Now the thoughts are racing through your mind. What else can you change to make the recipe your signature household brand brownies?
If you start a mix from scratch, you can add less butter and a bit more flour. It will help the milk create the cake-like batter.
Using cream in place of milk is another option to try. This will make the brownie mix richer in flavor and add to the delicacy. The only thing we have to throw in caution with this method is they will become extra sticky when eating. But messy is fun, right, and finger-licking good!
It is your choice to use cream or half in half. They both measure the same as milk. Some people may not like the full effect of the cream.
The solution is to add 3/4 cup of cream and cut the rest down with water to make a cup of mixture. Adding water will reduce the effect of the cream.
FAQ
Why does using milk in place of water make brownies better?
Milk has more flavor and is higher in fat content. All water does is add liquid to make the ingredients moist and stick together. Milk adds the richness and flavor everyone loves.
Instead of having brownies, adding milk gives the pleasure of having cake brownies.
Should I add another egg to the brownie mix when using milk instead of water?
Adding another egg to the brownie mix is unnecessary and not recommended. All it will do is make the brownie mix heavier.
Is plant milk a good idea to use instead of regular milk?
Yes, you can use plant milk, but it may alter the flavor of the brownies. Go less on the sugar count when using sweetened milk. It would be best to stick with regular milk in the recipe.
