Baking is often referred to as the most scientific method of cooking, where exact measurements and specific ingredients matter.
But as you continue your journey as a home baker, you’ll learn that there’s a lot of room for improvisation and even substitution.
While the core parts of most recipes need to remain intact, you can try switching out ingredients to change the flavor, nutritional aspects, or texture of your baked goods.
Sometimes you might even want to substitute ingredients because you’re missing something that’s in the recipe.
You might have found yourself asking, can I substitute half and half for milk in baking?
Let’s find out…
What is Half and Half Milk?
Half and half is a popular dairy product that combines 50% milk with 50% cream, hence the name.
It’s popular for coffee, baked goods, and as a beverage.
Because it contains cream, half and half has more calories and fat than regular milk.
But because of the additional fat, it’s also rich in flavor.
What Happens When You Use Half and Half for Baking?
Regular milk can add moisture and flavor to recipes.
If you’ve ever used milk instead of water in a recipe, you will know that it adds a rich creaminess that is often preferable.
Using it in bread can result in a softer and richer loaf.
It’s essential for cookies, waffles, pancakes, and many cake recipes.
Using half and half for baking will provide moisture and flavor making the final product much richer and denser.
You might like this, but flavor is always subjective.
Pancakes, for example, become less fluffy and much heavier when you use half and half instead of milk, but the flavor is enhanced, and plenty of people love the difference.
It’s best to experiment with half and half to see if you like what it does to your recipes.
Pancakes are perfect because they only need a few ingredients, so making a small batch won’t be much of a waste if you don’t like the results.
Can You Add Water to Half and Half for Baking?
If you only have half and half in your refrigerator but would prefer to use milk for your recipe, you can simply mix water with half and half.
You’ll need to stick to the recipe in terms of measurement, but you can simply add water to top up the half and half.
For example, if a recipe calls for one cup of milk, try using ¾ cup of half and half, and ¼ cup of water.
This will get you closer to regular milk in terms of flavor and texture.
You can do the mixture in a simple measuring cup.
These classic Pyrex Measuring Cups are popular for home baking and food prep.
Can I Substitute Half and Half for Milk in Baking? The Bottom Line
You can substitute half and half for milk in baking.
Using half and half will add a richer flavor and density to your recipes.
It’s worth experimenting to see if you like the difference, and, in a pinch, you could mix half and half with water to get closer to regular milk.
Try experimenting with your recipes and you’ll learn new tricks and techniques to make you a more versatile home baker.
