🥐 Pastry
Also known as: baked goods
Milk, butter and cream in doughs and fillings.
Baked goods are things made from dough or batter and cooked in the oven: bread, buns, pies, biscuits, cakes. Milk and dairy products go into many kinds of baking.
Milk often replaces water in dough. Dough made with milk turns out softer, and the crust browns better. This is down to the Maillard reaction: when heated, sugars combine with proteins and give a brown colour and a pleasant smell. Milk proteins set during baking and help the dough hold its shape. Butter makes dough tender and crumbly, and makes biscuits spread. Cream goes into fillings and toppings, cottage cheese into fillings, and sour cream into dough and glazes.
Some desserts are made almost entirely of milk and eggs. Custard and baked custard are examples. Baked custard is cooked in a water bath so it does not overheat. Bakers also often use milk powder: it keeps well and mixes easily with flour.
How it connects to milk
Links
- Used in
- 🧈 Butter
- What is used
- 🥛 Milk
- Who works with it
- 🧑🍳 Pastry chef
Frequently asked questions
Why add milk to dough?
With milk, dough is softer and tastier, and the crust browns better.
Can I use water instead of milk in baking?
Often you can, but the dough will be drier and the crust paler.
Similar
🍳 Béchamel · ☕ Cocoa · 🍵 Tea with milk · 🥤 Milkshake · 🥣 Breakfast cereal · 🥞 Blini
ℹ️ Dairy products contain lactose and milk proteins: if you are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk protein, ask a doctor.