If you are trying to make your brownies rich and delicious, you might be wondering whether you can swap the water for milk. A lot of people are tempted to try this, but does it work well?
Can you use milk instead of water in brownie mix? Yes, you can use milk instead of water in a brownie mix, but be aware that it will make your brownies slightly more like cake than if you use water. You may also want to add some baking soda or baking powder to your mixture too, ensuring that the brownies rise nicely.
Can You Use Milk Instead of Water in Brownie Mix?
You can swap the water for milk when using a packet of brownie mix, and the brownies will taste great. Adding milk makes them a little creamier, and gives them a texture that is more like the texture of cake.
If you are going to use milk, make sure you also add a bit of baking soda or baking powder so that the brownie mix rises well. If you don’t do this, the mix could end up being a little heavy and stodgy, and you might find that it doesn’t have a particularly good texture.
If you prefer brownies that are fudgier, you might be better off using water and adding an extra egg instead. This bumps up the fat in the recipe, bringing out the flavor of the chocolate, and making the dessert taste richer. However, for cake-like brownies, milk is the best ingredient to add.
Do You Need a Different Cooking Temperature If You Use Milk?
You can treat brownie mix in exactly the same way whether you use milk or water in it; there’s no need to alter the cooking method. Follow the directions on the packet, and cook it at the same temperature for the same amount of time.
Don’t cook your brownies for longer, or they may burn, or for a shorter period, or they may be runny and unpleasant in the middle. Follow the instructions just as you would if you hadn’t made the substitution, and you’ll get a perfect brownie.
Why Do You Need a Leavening Ingredient?
Since ordinary brownies don’t require you to add much baking powder, you might be wondering why putting milk in suddenly means that you will need a stronger leavening ingredient, or more of the one you were already using.
The answer is that you don’t have to alter the leavening ingredient for brownies with milk in, but doing so will improve the texture. The leavening ingredient will help the brownies to rise properly, ensuring that the batter becomes airy and light.
If you don’t add the baking powder, you might find that your brownies become a little stodgy with milk. They may be heavier and less enjoyable, so do try to add a bit of leavening if you are going to add milk to the mix.
What Else Works Well with Milk?
If you are going to use milk, you are aiming for a cake-like texture, and in these cases, you might also want to tweak other ratios. For example, if you’re making the mix from scratch, try adding a little less butter and a little more flour, and this will also make the texture cake-like.
You don’t have to do this; you can simply swap the milk into the mixture and add a bit of leavening powder, but you will get much better results if you further adjust the recipe. The more you do, the more cake-like the recipe will become.
Can You Use Cream Instead of Milk in Brownie Mix?
If you don’t have any milk but you still want to make your brownie mix taste richer, you might be wondering whether cream is a suitable substitute. It certainly is! Cream will give you deliciously decadent brownies, with all the richness you would expect. Be warned that they may even become a little sickly with this addition!
You can use the same ratios of cream as you would milk or water, or you can do half and half with any of these ingredients. If you don’t want to use as much cream as you would use water, put some water in and reduce the amount of cream accordingly.
Be aware that adding cream will make your brownies much fattier and heavier, so only do this if you are making luxurious brownies and you aren’t worried about the fat content.
Why Does Milk Improve the Flavor of Brownies?
Milk will make the brownies taste better because it contains more fat and more flavor. When you use water, all it does is provide liquid that helps the ingredients to stick together and makes the brownies pleasantly moist. If you swap the water for milk, you add the richness and tastiness of dairy.
Many people find that adding milk to the packet mix is the perfect key to ensuring that the brownies taste amazing. Indeed, this can be one great method for making brownies taste homemade even if you are using a store-bought mix.
Should You Add More Egg to Your Brownie Mix?
You don’t need to add more egg just because you have swapped the water for milk. Doing so will make the mixture denser, so it may not be a great idea if you are aiming for light, cake-like brownies.
If you want to add extra eggs to the brownies, you can do so, but be aware that this isn’t necessary. Simply following the directions on the packet and exchanging the water for milk should be sufficient for making the brownies rich and delicious.
Can You Use Plant Milk in Brownies?
Yes, you can swap any plant milk that you like into a brownie mix instead of the water.
However, be aware that sweetened milks may alter the flavor, and you might have to slightly reduce the sugar if you are using a sweet milk. It is better to use unsweetened if you have the option.
Final Thoughts
You can use milk instead of water when you are making a brownie mix, and this shouldn’t cause any problems. Simply use the same ratio, add a bit of baking powder, and you’ll get slightly fluffier, cake-like brownies.