Crafting comfort: Baking with oat milk
What's the story
Oat milk is the new star of the dairy-free world, loved for its creaminess and subtle sweetness that rivals the real deal. But it's not just for your coffee or cereal - oat milk shines in the world of baking too. This article explores five delicious ways to incorporate oat milk into your baking adventures. Expect elevated flavors and textures, all while keeping things plant-based.
Moisture boost
Enhancing moisture in cakes
Using oat milk in cake recipes instead of traditional dairy milk can greatly increase the moisture content, leading to a super soft and tender crumb that practically melts in your mouth. Simply replace the dairy milk one-for-one with oat milk in any classic cake recipe. Plus, the natural sweetness of oat milk means you can cut back on added sugars, making your cakes a touch healthier without sacrificing flavor.
Pancake fluffiness
Creating fluffy pancakes
If you want your pancakes to be extra light and fluffy, try using oat milk. Its creaminess helps to aerate the batter, resulting in soft and pillowy pancakes. Just replace the liquid part of your pancake recipe with an equal quantity of oat milk. This little tweak might just be the secret to perfect pancake texture.
Vegan creams
Veganizing pastry creams
Pastry creams traditionally depend on dairy, but you can easily make a vegan version with oat milk. It's creamy, flavorful, and indistinguishable from the real deal. Just whisk it with cornstarch (or another thickener), sugar, and a splash of vanilla extract. Voila, you've got a vegan pastry cream ready to be piped into eclairs, tarts, or doughnuts. Yum!
Dough enhancement
Enhancing bread doughs
Oat milk can also enhance your bread recipes by adding a tender crumb and crust. Its natural sugars help with browning, creating a beautiful golden hue on your loaves. Substitute oat milk for water or dairy milk in your bread dough recipe, and see how it subtly improves both flavor and texture.
Frosting innovation
Dairy-free frosting creations
Making creamy, dairy-free frostings is a breeze with oat milk. It works great with vegan butter substitutes for buttercream frostings that are silky and spreadable. You can add more or less powdered sugar depending on how thick you like your frosting, but simply replacing dairy with oat milk at a one-to-one ratio is a good starting point for a tasty treat.