Learn how to substitute dry milk as a frugal, shelf-stable alternative to so many dairy products… plus a free printable recipe card!
For times when you can’t get to the store, knowing how to substitute dry milk for your favorite dairy products is one of those little bits of information that can be OH SO helpful!
Dry milk (or powdered milk) is a frugal, shelf-stable alternative for a variety of different dairy products.
This was all news to me when Dave and I first got married!
Thankfully, my home church had hosted a “food shower” for us a few weeks before our wedding. Everyone brought in their favorite recipe and the non-perishable ingredients to make that recipe.
NOTE: this is a great bridal shower idea — especially for younger couples, or those who prefer more practical gifts!
This shower filled my recipe box with a bunch of simple, tried-and-true recipes, and also stocked our bare pantry with months worth of food staples (including a big box of dry milk!)
One “recipe” I got that day (and have utilized numerous times in my own kitchen over the years) is a cheatsheet for “How to Substitute Dry Milk”.
Over the past 14 years, my cooking style has changed quite a bit. I have revamped and “healthified” most of our favorite “church shower” recipes.
However, I still credit so much of my early cooking confidence to the simple recipes I received at that food shower… and I still have that recipe card for how to substitute dry milk taped to the inside of my baking cabinet!
Keep reading for a few of my favorite, super simple ways to substitute dry milk for your favorite dairy products.
At the end of the post, I share a FREE PRINTABLE recipe card you can print off to hang in YOUR kitchen cabinet! 🙂
1. How to Substitute Dry Milk for Regular Milk
Although I personally wouldn’t choose to drink milk made from dry powdered milk, it is a great option for cooking and baking (think pancakes, waffles, quick bread, soups, etc.)
Whenever a recipe calls for a cup of regular milk, you may substitute 1/3 c. of dry milk mixed with 1 c. water.
EXAMPLE:
- 1 c. milk = 1 c. water + 1/3 c. dry milk powder
- 1/2 c. milk = 1/2 c. water + 3T. dry milk powder
- 2 c. milk = 2 c. water + 2/3 c. dry milk powder
RECIPE SUGGESTION: these “perfect pancakes” (as we call them) are SO yummy!
2. How to Substitute Dry Milk for Sour Cream
Mix 1/3 c. dry milk with 3/4 c. plain yogurt (not Greek yogurt and not vanilla) to replace 1 c. sour cream.
For baking purposes (cheesecake), add 1 t. cornstarch per cup to stabilize the yogurt.
NOTE: you can also sub plain Greek yogurt 1-to-1 for sour cream in pretty much any recipe (1 cup sour cream = 1 c. Greek yogurt)
3. How to Substitute Dry Milk for Evaporated Milk
I can’t even remember the last time I purchased evaporated milk from the store — it’s just SO quick and easy to make at home. Plus, I can make the exact amount I need, which means no partial cans wasted (or lurking in the back of the refrigerator for months).
Mix 1/3 c. dry milk with 1/2 c. water to replace a small (5 oz) can of evaporated milk.
Mix 3/4 c. dry milk with 1 c. water to replace a large (12 oz.) can of evaporated milk.
RECIPE SUGGESTION: Try this substitution in my favorite pumpkin pie dessert recipe.
4. How to Substitute Dry Milk for Sweetened Condensed Milk
This recipe isn’t quite as quick and easy as evaporated milk, but it works well and is great if you don’t want to go to the store just for sweetened condensed milk.
Recipe to replace one 13 oz. can of Sweetened Condensed Milk:
Mix 1/3 c. dry milk with 1/2 c. water. Microwave until hot and steamy.
Stir 1/2 c. sugar into the steamy milk mixture and let sit in the refrigerator for 4 hours.
Stir again, and use it in any recipe that calls for a can of sweetened condensed milk.
RECIPE SUGGESTION: These easy layer bars are one of my favorite uses of sweetened condensed milk.
5. How to Make Cream Sauce for Pasta with Dry Milk
In a medium saucepan, melt 3 T. butter over low heat.
In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together 1 c. water, 1/3 c. flour, 1/3 c. dry milk, salt and pepper to taste.
Slowly add milk mixture to melted butter and whisk until thickened and smooth.
You may add onions, cheese, spinach, mushrooms, spices and seasonings, or any other flavor combos you like and serve over cooked pasta or zoodles.
RECIPE SUGGESTION: I’ve subbed dry milk in this creamy chicken lasagna recipe when I was in a pinch.
6. How to Make Hot Chocolate Mix with Dry Milk
In a very large bowl or container, combine one 24 oz. box of dry milk powder with 1 c. non-dairy creamer, 2 c. powdered sugar, and one 16 oz. container instant chocolate drink mix (Nesquik).
Divide up the mixture to give as gifts or store in a large, tightly sealed container.
When ready to drink, mix 1/2 c. hot chocolate mix with 1 c. boiling water for delicious hot chocolate.
NOTE: Read my full post about this hot chocolate mix if you’d like more details.
Personally, I don’t use dry milk all that often, but I always keep a container of it in the freezer (you can keep it in the pantry if you plan to use it more regularly) because I just never know when it might come in handy!
It’s a perfect shelf-stable option for times when I can’t get to the store, or when I don’t realize we’re low on milk or other dairy products.
Dry milk is also a really great frugal alternative for more expensive dairy products.
Pick up a box of dry milk the next time you’re at the store (or order some from Amazon if you don’t want to get out!)
FREE PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD:
If you’d like a cheat sheet for How to Substitute Dry Milk to hang inside YOUR baking cabinet, click here to print the one below.
Want More Freebies?
Get instant access to my entire library of free printable when you join my community of amazing women striving to simplify and organize their homes and lives.
Just enter your email address below (or click here for more information). Then check your inbox for a welcome confirmation from me!
Kristy says
Thanks so much for the index card. This is going to be my go too. I have been looking all over the place for the recipe for dry milk in the sauce.
Andrea says
yay – -I’m thrilled!
I got it as a wedding gift YEARS ago and still refer back to it often 🙂
Kim Billhimer says
Good to know
Kelly says
I always have powdered milk on hand because I use it in my tea and coffee. Better nutritionally than powdered creamers and doesn’t dilute the tea / coffee.
Abbie says
When we reached our teenage years, my 3 brothers and I went through huge quantities of milk. My parents used to mix equal parts reconstituted dry milk to regular milk. We couldn’t tell the difference once it was chilled in the fridge.
Andrea says
good tip Abbie! I’ve never tried it for drinking, but I’ve always had good luck mixing “new foods” 50/50 for our family 🙂
Giselle says
I had NO idea buttermilk can be made using powdered milk!
Jo leah Payton says
In your hot chocolate mix recipe , you say to use “chocolate drink mix”. Like ovaltine? Please explain 🙂
Andrea says
I use Nesquik, but Ovaltine would probably work too.
Heather says
I use non-fat dry milk to reduce the sugar in my baking.. if the recipe call for 1 cup sugar, I use 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 dry milk. It works great in my muffins and quick breads!
Andrea says
seriously! I’ve never heard of this as a use for dried milk — but I’m definitely going to try it. I might just make some muffins today or tomorrow just to try it out 🙂
shelby says
Sadly, dry milk is more expensive than liquid milk at my stores. I keep some on hand for hot chocolate mix (thanks for this recipe…same as grandma’s which is what I was looking for!) and also for when I run out of milk, but never as a full-time replacement. Now I am going to nose around on your site if you don’t mind! 🙂
Trish says
We have tried many different kinds of Instant Milk and we like the one from http://www.srmarketplace.com the best. It is so smooth and creamy. Some of the other ones can be just awful! I also use instant milk to make homemade yogurt.
diane h says
This is so useful. I can’t wait to try out some of these. I am regularly out of sour cream and am thrilled to have a substitute.
Crystal says
Just printed thanks for the tips!!
Kelli Hoffman says
A cup of powdered milk and a cup of Epsoms salt in a warm bath leaves your skin feeling great.
Andrea says
Thanks for the tip Kelli. I’ve never heard of that before…but it sounds great!
Karen @ Abundance on a Dime says
I can’t believe I forgot to mention using it in the bath – I’ve done it for years and years. I use half dry milk powder and half baking soda – it really is a fantastic skin softener.
Lindsay says
Thanks Andrea! This is awesome! I had no idea you could use milk powder to make evaporated or condensed milk! I’ll definitely try this out.
Carrie says
I keep powdered milk in my locker at work to use in my tea. Perfect because it doesn’t require refrigeration and I can have lots in my tea without cooling it down.
Karen @ Abundance on a Dime says
I am a big fan of dry milk powder 🙂 We always have a large bag of it in our pantry. I actually keep a jug of reconstituted DMP in our fridge all the time – we use it in all our cooking and baking since it’s significantly cheaper than fluid milk. It also saves those last minute trips to the store because you’ve run out of milk.
I’ve used it for everything you’ve mentioned except the sour cream (never heard that one before!) The way we make hot chocolate is this: to each mug, add 3 tbsp DMP, 1 tsp cocoa powder, 2 tsp sugar (I like to add a pinch of cinnamon, too) then fill with boiling water and stir well.
Andrea says
I never thought of keeping reconstituted milk in the fridge — do you think it would work for pudding? I may have to start doing that.
Thanks for the tip.
Karen @ Abundance on a Dime says
Absolutely! I make pudding with it all the time. Here’s one of our favourites (Old-Fashioned Butterscotch Pudding): http://abundanceonadime.blogspot.com/2011/02/make-it-from-scratch-old-fashioned.html
I’ve used it to make yogurt, too – I add an extra 1/2 cup of skim milk powder per quart/litre of reconstituted milk powder so the yogurt comes out thicker. We really do use it for everything except drinking straight up 🙂
Cathy says
Silly question, but can you substitue this for “real” milk in macaroni and cheese? If so how would you make it , just add some water along with the dmp? I make mac ‘n cheese all the time and it would be great to be able to substitute this!
Andrea says
yup, as #2 states, “Whenever a recipe calls for regular milk, you may instead substitute 1/3 c. of dry milk in with the dry ingredients and 1 c. water in with the wet ingredients.”
Amy says
#2 in the article; make it in a pint jar (a little ahead of time, if you can so everything commingles) and use what you need for Mac n cheese. The RDM should last a couple of days for you to use it up.
Andrea says
great tip — thanks Amy!
Practical Parsimony says
Yes, it works for pudding and ice cream. I do add whole milk or evaporated milk for ice cream, but reconstituted dry milk works fine for ice cream. However, you do want to reconstitute it instead of adding water and powdered milk separately. This works for rice pudding, banana pudding, and bread pudding.