If you are making waffles that call for milk, but you’re all out, no need to worry! There are multiple substitutes you can use instead of milk to make waffles.
Or maybe you want to replace the milk with a dairy free alternative, in which case you will find exactly what you need in this article.
In fact, I will cover both dairy free as well as milk replacements that contain dairy. So no matter what type of milk substitute you are looking for, you will find it right here.
So what are the best substitutes for milk when making waffles?
The top milk alternatives when making waffles are heavy cream, half and half, evaporated milk, almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, and soy milk.
Make sure to read on to learn how to use each of these alternatives in your waffle recipe.
Milk Alternatives that Contain Dairy for Making Waffles
Milk plays an important role in making delicious waffles. Whether you are making them from a mix or from scratch, milk adds texture and flavor so you need to use an appropriate substitute to achieve similar results.
Milk contains fat and protein and both of these help give your waffles that classic texture. Milk also elevates the flavor of your waffles, so the substitutes on this list are selected to provide your waffles with a similar texture and flavor that you would get by using milk.
Related: Egg alternatives in waffles
Heavy Cream
Heavy cream is an excellent way to replace milk while maintaining a wonderful flavor and texture. In my experience, heavy cream actually provides a richer flavor than using milk. It also creates the ideal texture.
Because heavy cream has a significantly higher fat content than milk, you will want to use less heavy cream than you would milk, and add a bit of water to get the right batter consistency.
Waffles made using heavy cream are perfect for any topping. Add fruit and whipped cream or simply top with some maple syrup.
Related: Heavy cream alternatives
Equivalent
2/3 cup of heavy cream and 1/3 cup of water equals 1 cup of milk
Half and Half
Half and half produces waffles that are quite similar in texture and flavor to those made with milk. Traditional half and half is made using equal parts milk and cream, so it does have a higher fat content than milk (less than heavy cream though).
Because of this higher fat content it will create a slightly thicker batter, and a denser finished waffle. The flavor is wonderful though so it is not an issue. But you can thin your batter by adding a little water if you prefer.
Related: Half and half substitutes
Equivalent
1 cup of half and half equals 1 cup of milk
Evaporated Milk
Evaporated milk has a number of uses in the kitchen, and one of those it is well suited for is replacing milk when making waffles.
It is produced by heating milk and evaporating some of the water content, resulting in a concentrated form of milk.
That means it has a higher fat content than regular milk, so you will want to thin it by adding some water. This will result in a great tasting and textured batch of waffles.
Related: Condensed milk vs heavy cream
Equivalent
1/2 cup of condensed milk with 1/2 cup of water equals 1 cup milk
Dairy Free Milk Alternatives for Making Waffles
If you are looking to replace the milk in your waffle recipe with a dairy free alternative, there are a number of options.
Most dairy free milk replacements have a significantly lower fat content and this will effect the texture of you waffles. I have found that waffles made without dairy tend to be flatter than their milkfat containing counterparts.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t make great tasting waffles without milk. Each of the milk replacements below will allow you to make waffles that have an excellent flavor.
Related Recipe: Dairy free waffles
Almond Milk
One of the most popular dairy free milk alternatives, almond milk can be used in any waffle recipe. It will bind your other ingredients together while adding a subtle, nutty flavor that works well with waffles.
Almond milk will produce a waffle with less volume than those made with milk, but the flavor is great and it’s an easy and convenient way to remove dairy from your recipe.
Related: Almond milk alternatives
Equivalent
1 cup of almond milk equals 1 cup of milk
Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is another great way to get rid of the dairy in your waffles. It provides a subtle flavor that goes well in waffles (if you like coconut) and the texture is pretty good.
Coconut milk is quite popular in dairy free and vegan baking, so it’s not a bad idea to keep some stocked in your kitchen. It’s quite the versatile ingredient.
Related: Replacements for coconut milk
Equivalent
1 cup of coconut milk equals 1 cup of milk
Oat Milk
If you don’t have almond milk or coconut milk available, oat milk can be used in a pinch. I’ve found that while the flavor of waffles made with oat milk is quite good, the texture is a bit flat and flaky.
It’s not exactly bad, but I have far better results with the options above. On the plus side, oat milk can be made at home quickly, so it’s a great option when you need something now and no other options are on hand.
Related Recipe: Pumpkin waffles with Bisquick
Equivalent
1 cup of oat milk equals 1 cup of milk
Soy Milk
If you cook with soy milk and keep it stocked in your kitchen, it can be used instead of milk when making waffles. Soy milk does not effect the other flavors in your recipe so it’s a good option no matter what you plan to top your waffles with.
Like oat milk, the texture is a bit lacking, but other than that soy milk is a solid milk substitute you can use whether making waffles from scratch or a mix.
Equivalent
1 cup of soy milk equals 1 cup of milk
Milk Replacement in Waffles FAQ
Can you use water instead of milk for waffles?
Yes you can replace milk with waffles in most recipes. Water will bind your other ingredients together but will result in a thin waffle batter.
The lack of fat content will result in thin waffles, but you can add a tablespoon of butter to increase the fat content of your waffle batter.
Can you use sour cream in place of milk?
Yes, sour cream can be used to make waffles. Mix a half a cup of sour cream and a half a cup of water for each cup of milk you are replacing.
Sour cream adds a tangy flavor to waffles, but that tends to work well with most types of waffles and toppings.
Can you use yogurt as a milk substitute when making waffles?
Yes, regular or Greek yogurt can be used instead of milk. When preparing your waffle batter, use a half a cup of unflavored yogurt and a half a cup of water for each cup of milk your recipe calls for.
Is rice milk a good milk substitute in waffles?
Rice milk can be used instead of dairy milk when making waffles. The texture will be a bit crispier than when milk is used but the flavor is quite good.
Use a 1:1 ratio when replacing milk with rice milk.