Desserts That Start With W (Popular Sweet Treats From Around the World)

Written by Vishwa Parmar | November 15, 2023

In India, be it preparing a meal or baking a dessert, milk is one of the most loved cooking elements. Be it the natural sweetness it carries or the creamy consistency it lends to the dishes, the goodness of milk has always been utilized in Indian cuisine. And it does not apply to the liquid version only. Whole milk powder is equally popular in Indian kitchens. Known for its sweet, milky taste and smooth, powdery texture, it is frequently used in several recipes.

While the store-bought packets often do the job, there is nothing quite like the homemade version. Making milk powder at home is a meticulous process that transforms liquid milk into a dry powder form. If you are wondering how to make milk powder and what to know about the milk powder ingredients, here are the details.

What Is Milk Powder And Why Is It Used In Cooking?

Fresh milk is pasteurized liquid milk that expires quickly and needs to be refrigerated constantly. Powdered milk is what we get upon dehydrating the milk into a dry powder. Although both offer comparable amounts of calcium and proteins, powdered milk is substantially affordable and has a longer shelf life. One of the most important characteristics of powdered milk is that it doesn't need to be refrigerated until it is made. Milk powder is commonly used in baking desserts.

Whole milk powder has a rich, creamy flavor that is perfect for baking, chocolate, and quick drinks because it keeps around 26–28% milk fat. However on the other hand skim milk powder as the name suggests, has less than 1.5% fat. While it has a higher protein content but much less calories. One more advantage of skim milk powder is that it has a much longer shelf life.

Why Homemade Milk Powder Is Better Than Store-Bought Versions

Anything homemade comes with several benefits over its store-bought counterparts. In the case of milk powder, the advantages include better ingredients and nutrient retention. The homemade ones are mostly free from preservatives, and they ensure better nutrient retention due to less industrial processing. Moreover, while making them at home, the maker can be in complete control of ingredients, while the store-bought ones are more likely to be high in sugar.

One can easily customize sweetness and fat content as per preference. Homemade milk powder is also useful for long term storage.

Ingredients And Equipment Needed To Make Milk Powder At Home

Ingredients

Making milk powder at home requires 4 cups of fresh full-cream milk and 1 cup of sugar.

Equipment

Heavy-bottomed Pot: The magic starts here. Milk is simmered and evaporated in this to reduce the drying time in the oven.

Stove: This is essential for heating the milk.

Lined baking tray: Once the milk thickens, a parchment-lined baking tray is needed to hold it during drying.

Oven/Food Dehydrator: This is the main equipment. Both are commonly used for making homemade milk powder by drying evaporated milk at low temperatures.

Blender: Once the milk is dried, a blender is needed to grind the dried flakes into a fine milk powder.

Fine-mesh Sieve: This is needed in the final step tp To ensure a smooth texture.

How To Make Milk Powder At Home Using The Oven Method

Method 1: Oven Drying

Step 1: Simmer and reduce the milk before drying

Pour the milk into a saucepan with a heavy base. Heat it gently over a flame until it reaches a simmer point. Keep stirring it at regular intervals to prevent burning or sticking to the pan.

Continue simmering while ensuring stirring to prevent scorching at the bottom. This process might take hours as the milk gradually reduces, thickens, and forms a thick paste.

Step 2: Spread the thick milk and dry

Once ready, spread the thick milk paste thinly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Put it in an oven preheated to the lowest temperature (60°C-70°C) for at least hours. Let it dry until all the moisture evaporates and forms a powdery texture.

How To Make Powdered Milk At Home With A Food Dehydrator

Method 2: Food Dehydrator

Pick fresh regular milk and boil and reduce it on the stove first. This cuts down drying times in the dehydrator.

Cover the mesh dehydrator with solid plastic sheets, silicone mats, or parchment paper. This prevents dripping during the drying of the milk.

Set the dehydrator to the lowest possible temperature (55°C-60°C). In this setup, drying often takes around 12 to 15 hours.

Once the milk is completely dry and brittle, put it in a blender to grind the pieces until a fine consistency is achieved.

How To Grind Homemade Milk Powder Into A Smooth Texture

The taste of milk powder lies in its smooth, powdery texture. And perfect grinding ensures that. To grind the dried milk, break the dried milk into pieces. Next, place the brittle milk shards into a high-speed blender and pulse them in small batches. Continuous grinding can turn it into a paste.

Overheating the milk

Drying at high temperatures

Grinding while warm

Incomplete drying causing spoilage

Using very high-fat milk incorrectly

How To Store Homemade Powdered Milk For Long Shelf Life

Always use an airtight container storage to prevent moisture. Store the milk powder in cool and dry conditions. Furthermore, it is advised to store the milk powder in the refrigerator because it increases the shelf life of homemade milk powder.

Best Recipes You Can Make With Homemade Milk Powder

Pancakes

Ingredients

Milk powder

Flour

Baking powder

Sugar

Eggs

Water

Instructions

Mix the ingredients, then add eggs and water to make a batter.

Cook on a griddle until they turn golden.

Serve with maple syrup or honey and fresh berries.

Chocolate truffles

Ingredients

Milk powder

Cocoa powder

Sugar

Buttercream

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients, shape them into balls, and chill until firm.

Enjoy with a cup of coffee or as a dessert on its own.

Ice cream

Ingredients:

Milk powder

Sugar

Cream

Vanilla extract

Method:

Mix all the ingredients. Churn them in an ice cream maker before freezing.- Pair it with fresh fruits or sprinkle cookie crumbles on top for added texture.

Cheesecake

Milk Powder Cheesecake

Ingredients

Milk powder

Cream cheese

Sugar

Eggs

Graham cracker crust

Instructions

Beat the ingredients together.

Pour them into the crust.

Bake until set.

Pair with berry compote or a sprinkle of lemon zest.