Want to prepare delicious homemade pancakes but you don’t have milk in your fridge? Wondering if you can use plain water instead of milk to combine all the ingredients to make delicious homemade pancakes? Let’s find out what you need to pay attention to!
Many housewives are wondering: If it is possible to cook delicious pancakes without milk? This question is asked for a reason. Many people can be allergic to dairy products or intolerant to them. And of course, the banalest reason: the lack of milk in your fridge.
Today, I want to talk with you about whether it is worth trying to cook the pancakes without milk and if the milk substitution will affect too much the taste of the pancakes.
In addition, I will share with you other useful information on this topic. Let’s dive in!
Why Is Milk Used in Pancake Batter?
First, you need to figure out what milk is for and why it is used in any pancake recipes.
The answer to this question is very simple: Milk acts as a liquid base that is used to combine all the products and give them a single shape.
After you have mixed the eggs, flour, butter, and other products you decided to use in your homemade pancake mix (the products that will be part of the dish may vary, it all depends on the recipe that you are following), you will get a homogeneous mass.
So, can you substitute the milk in pancake recipes? In general, milk will not have serious differences from other liquids here if we take its function as the basis for kneading the mass.
The difference between pancakes on milk and pancakes on a different basis (for example, on water) will be mainly in taste.
Milk gives a slightly creamy flavor and texture that other liquids like water, won’t do.
If the slight difference is not a problem for you, then go for it! Let me give you a few more details about the result you will get if you will use the water instead of milk in a pancake recipe.
Can Water Be Used Instead of Milk?
Oh sure. In general, water is just as good as a cow’s milk substitute, as are coconut milk, oat milk, soy milk, and others.
The structure, tenderness, and other qualities of your pancakes in the water will not differ from the milk version.
They will be just as pleasant, light, and airy. Only one will be slightly different. Its taste.
How Does Add Water Change Taste?
The taste will be slightly different from the original recipe when you’re using milk.
If this is the first time you’re trying making pancakes, I suggest trying making them with the milk for the first time to know their original taste and texture.
By making the pancakes with water you will find that the pancakes have become a little bland and seem to have lost a third of the taste and richness.
Quick Note: We can fix that! The thing is that milk does provide a bit of richness and flavor, but we can take that flavor from other products. More on that below.
Additional products that will make your pancakes more fragrant, tasty, and rich:
- Cinnamon. One and a half teaspoons will be enough;
- Vanilla extract. A teaspoon and a half will also suffice;
- Different Berries. Try adding one serving of berries to your recipe. It is best to use blueberries because of their rich flavor;
- Jem. A quarter cup of your favorite jam will suffice;
- Orange zest. Gives a bright aroma and also is a great fit for the morning pancakes.
Does the Process of Making a Change?
In general, the process of making is identical to cooking with milk. Here’s is the list of ingredients you need to have:
- Flour;
- Baking powder;
- Sugar;
- Eggs;
- Oil;
- Salt;
- Water;
- Additional products (to your taste);
All you will need is basically to mix all the ingredients. The finished mass will not differ too much in consistency from the one that you cooked in milk. Fry and serve them with dope and you will be surprised how tasty it is.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The benefit of making pancakes with water instead of milk is that you will save some money (after all, water is much cheaper than milk).
Secondly, you save yourself from the unpleasant consequences that can be caused by drinking milk (many people get stomach problems even if they eat a couple of pancakes with very little milk in them).
Thirdly, if you do not like milk, you can omit it all together when making the pancakes.
Fourth, if you are on a diet, then a small reduction in calories after you have removed milk from the recipe will only benefit you.
Among the shortcomings, there is only a slight difference in taste (but even this slight difference may please someone). Also, because of this difference in taste, someone may benefit from it.
You will have to use and experiment with different ingredients to restore the taste and creaminess of the original homemade pancakes.
This can be interpreted as a positive side because there is a whole field for experiments with tastes. You can add whatever you want.
Final Thoughts
Everything that milk does in a pancake recipe can be done by water because all that is needed is to create a liquid base for baking this dessert.
It is also important that the structure and flavor of the pancakes will not go anywhere, everything will be the same as in the original recipe of the homemade pancakes.
You can cook this dish in the water, and it will not cause any difficulties for you. The cooking process is no different from the standard version, but many advantages emerge from this idea.
A slight difference will be the taste (for someone it will differ for the better, for someone for the worse). Water will give pancakes a little dryness, but this can be easily corrected by adding some additional ingredients.
Use berries, jam, orange zest, vanilla extract, and many other toppings. You are limited only by your imagination.
The cooking process also will not cause you any problems.
Just select the products you need (substitute milk for water), prepare the mass, and start cooking the pancakes as usual.
The cooking time may vary, it all depends on how exactly you changed the composition of the dish, but there are no big differences.
Do not forget about other products, they are also very important in cooking. You may need more butter for the mass to be nice enough and ready for the final cooking stage.
Weighing all the pros and cons, it becomes obvious that if you can’t (or don’t want to) cook pancakes with milk, then water is a great substitute for you.
Everyone has water at home and there will be no problem with the fact that in the morning it will suddenly not be in the refrigerator. Making pancakes using water is a great idea. Experiment with additional ingredients and enjoy your meal!
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