7 Healthy Milk Substitutes for Pancakes (Updated)

What is a pancake recipe without dairy milk? Is there anything that can suffice for regular milk in pancake recipes? What else can make my pancake fluffy if not milk? Are there other kinds of milk I could use in place of dairy milk?

These questions arise when pancake recipes are created because you want something different than the regular milk. Maybe your store ran out of dairy milk and pancakes must be checked off your cravings list.

In making pancakes, milk serves as a liquid agent to dissolve and soften your pancake mix, adds flavor, and improve the texture of your pancake batter. It is widely known that to get a fluffy pancake texture, milk has to be a major ingredient in your pancake recipe.

Milk is a moistening agent for liquidizing the dry ingredients in your pancake recipe such as flour. Note that egg cannot pass for a liquidizing agent because when mixed with flour it becomes thick and sticky hence the need for milk.

Milk is simply a tenderizer.

Asides from the culinary benefits it gives to your pancake batter. Pancakes can be highly nutritious when they contain high levels of milk and egg. For building muscles, preventing cardiovascular and bodybuilding generally, milk is required in your diet.

 However, in the light of its culinary and nutritional benefits in pancakes, are there better substitutes for milk in pancakes? All you need to know has been provided for you.

Are There Milk substitutes for Pancakes?

Yes, there are milk substitutes for pancakes. These substitutes also perform the same liquidizing and moistening function that milk does in pancakes. These substitutes have different flavors and tastes but they can do almost all that milk can do in pancakes.

The only reserve with these substitutes is the taste and nutritional benefits would differ from using dairy milk. Some of these substitutes include Water, powdered milk, Coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk, plain yogurt, and oat milk.

What milk substitutes can I use for my pancakes?

Water, powdered milk, Coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk, plain yogurt, and oat milk are milk substitutes you can use for your pancakes.

1. Water

While water would not give you the texture and flavored taste that milk would offer your pancake, it can still serve as a perfect substitute.

Although using water would suffice, it would not give you the rich taste you desire. When using water as a substitute, be cautious of the amount to be added; this would help prevent your mix from getting watery.

If you still desire the milk flavor in your batter, you could mix the water with powdered milk but if you cannot lay your hands on powdered milk, water would do just fine.  

2. Powdered milk

Another perfect substitute to using regular milk is powdered milk. There are two kinds of powdered milk: powdered skim milk and full-cream skim milk.

The kind of powdered milk determines the water content that would be added as one kind requires more amount of water than the other. When using full-cream powdered milk, mix with warm water to dissolve totally without clumps of dried milk.

Skimmed milk can easily dissolve in any temperature of water whether warm or cold. Regardless of the kind of powdered milk, mix well to be on the safe side. You don’t want clumps of powdered milk in your batter.

3. Coconut milk

Coconut milk in glass, Vegan milk
Coconut milk in glass, Vegan milk

A healthy substitute for your regular milk is coconut milk.

Aside from the creamy and natural taste, coconut milk offers healthy fatty acids and body-building nutrients. Coconut milk is obtained from mature coconuts. If you run out of regular milk and you are craving coconut flavored pancakes, with the following steps, you can get coconut milk;

  1. Cut out the coconut flesh
  2. Peel the skin and cut it into tiny bits
  3. Blend till it becomes smooth,
  4. Once smooth, pour into a sieve and squeeze out the milk.

4. Almond milk

You are trying out a new recipe and you want a different milk flavor. The nut milk offers you a creamy flavor your pancake needs for a perfect texture. Although almond is simple to make, the duration of making it can be quite long if you desire an extremely creamy taste from them.

Note that you would still get your almond milk if you do not soak it for long but you would have to blend it in hot water. To make your Almond milk, all you need to do is soak the almond nuts in water overnight or for a day. Pour the soaked nuts into a blender with little water and then blend.

Almond milk should be considered if you want richly flavored pancakes. While Almond milk is not as sweet as regular milk, you can add honey or maple for a sweeter taste.

5. Plain/Fruit Yogurt

Yogurt does not only make your pancake fluffy, you can have different flavors of yogurt which is something your regular milk would not offer you.

Yogurt contains high protein because of its milk content making it a nutritious substitute for regular milk. You can even make fruit yogurt and include it in your pancake recipe.

If you want homemade yogurt, all you need is raw milk, yogurt starter, maple syrup, and fruit puree (if you want fruit yogurt). After getting your yogurt, just mix it with the egg and flour to get your pancake batter and you are going to have fluffy pancakes.

6. Oat milk

Oat milk is a great option for vegans since it is plant-based milk. Aside from being easy to make, it is very affordable and can be easily found in stores. Oat milk can be made into different flavors as well.

You can make your oat milk with the following steps:

  1. Blend rolled oats with cold water for about 30 seconds till it becomes smooth
  2. Use a cheesecloth to separate the oat and milk
  3. Squeeze to extract the milk but do not squeeze too tightly
  4. Add any flavor of your choice to taste.

For a dairy-free diet, oat milk pancakes are the best yet. Remember not to soak your oats before blending.  

7. Soy milk

Fresh Soy Milk
Fresh Soy Milk

Like oat milk, soy milk is also plant-based and highly nutritious.

Soy milk provides you with bodybuilding nutrients and can improve your cardiovascular health. Soy milk is another substitute for regular milk. To get your soy milk, make use of only white soybeans. If you are on a dairy-free diet, soy milk should be considered an option.

FAQs

Among the thousands of people who are always looking for milk substitutes when making pancakes? Here are some of your frequently asked questions answered.

Can you use oil instead of milk in pancakes?

No, you cannot use oil instead of milk for your pancakes. The purpose of milk is not just to add flavor to your batter but to moisten the dry ingredients. A drop of oil can be added to your mix to prevent it from sticking to your pan. Rather than using oil, you can make use of other milk substitutes such as water or any other kind of milk.

Are pancakes better with milk or water?

Yes, pancakes are better with milk or water. Either option is perfect to moisten your dry ingredients. For a flavored taste, milk should be considered instead of water but if you do not mind, you can stick with using water.

What can be used instead of milk?

There are many substitutes for regular dairy milk. Some of these substitutes include water, almond milk, coconut milk, yogurt, and soy milk. The only reserve with these substitutes is they would give your pancakes a different taste and texture.

Can you substitute almond milk for milk in pancakes?

Yes, you can substitute almond milk for milk in pancakes. After blending your almond nuts to get the milk, you can add honey or maple syrup to increase the sweetness. Almond milk should be considered if you are on a dairy-free diet.

Final Note

Now and then, you might desire pancakes that taste different. To get this, you may have to create new recipes.

For your next pancake recipe, try any of the diary milk substitutes we have provided for you, and let us know how well it tasted.

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