9 Best Ways To Substitute For Milk In Cereal

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Are you about to enjoy a delicious bowl of your favorite cereal? Just noticed you’re out of milk? Fret not. Here you will find 9 amazing ways to substitute for milk in cereal. The best part is that most of the substitutes are likely in your kitchen right now!

There are two definitions for cereal. It is either a grain used for food such as rice, oats, maize, rye, barley, sorghum, wheat and quinoa. Some of these can be eaten as they are as breakfast cereals like oats or quinoa for example.

Cereal can also refer to a roasted grain typically used as a breakfast food and usually eaten with milk. These include the favorites like cinnamon toast crunch, honey nut cheerios, rice krispies, apple jacks and raisin bran to name a few.

Maybe you’re about to make one of these for breakfast and can’t find any whole milk. Or, you’ve finally decided to cut whole milk out of your eating regime, chances are you’re looking for a good milk alternative for cereal right now.

Below you can find everything you need!

So, what are the best ways to substitute for milk in cereal?

The best substitutes for milk when making cereal include powdered milk + water, half and half and water, evaporated milk, almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, oat milk, cashew milk and water. Each of these will be discussed in more detail below.

Best substitutes for milk in cereal

Powdered milk + water

One of the best ways to substitute for milk is milk powder mixed with water. This can be used in all different kinds of cereal long as you’re not wanting a dairy free milk substitute.

To reconstitute milk powder into liquid add 1 part milk powder and 4 parts water to a bowl and mix well until it is properly combined. Substitute this at a 1:1 ratio.

Therefore, for 1 cup of reconstituted milk powder, you will need to mix ¼ cup powdered milk and 1 cup of water together until it forms a smooth liquid with no lumps.

1 cup reconstituted milk powder = 1 cup milk

Half and half

Half and half is another great milk substitute for cereal. Half and half is thick and creamy compared to milk so it needs to be diluted with water so that a consistency more like milk is achieved. 1 part half and half and 1 part milk is ideal for this consistency.

Therefore, for 1 cup of diluted half and half, mix in ½ cup half and half and ½ cup water.

Substitution: 1 cup of diluted half and half = 1 cup of milk

Evaporated milk

Evaporated milk is another great alternative for milk when making cereal. Evaporated milk does have a richer flavor and a creamier consistency compared to regular whole milk, but it works.

You can use it in its natural form, or diluted with water. Usually if I’m out of whole milk, I usually use diluted evaporated milk for most of my cereals including oats, quinoa, muesli and even buckwheat.

To dilute evaporated milk, I use 1 part evaporated and 1 part water.

Substitution: 1 cup of diluted evaporated milk = 1 cup whole milk

Best non dairy milk for cereal

Almond milk

A good dairy free option for milk in your cereal is almond milk. This type of milk is very easy to find and can be substituted at a 1:1 ratio in any kind of cereal. Also feel free to check out these great almond milk substitutes here.

Coconut milk

If you have it available, coconut milk is another healthy alternative for milk in cereals. This kind of dairy milk does have a strong coconut aroma but if you don’t mind its aroma, coconut milk is great for making creamy dairy free oatmeal, and even great for your prepared cereals.

Substitution: 1 cup coconut milk = 1 cup regular milk

Soy milk

Soy milk also makes a great milk substitute in cereal. Soy milk is of course made from soy beans but it’s quite thick and rich and closely mimics the consistency of regular milk for a dairy free milk option.

Oat milk

Oat milk is creamy and also makes a good alternative for milk in cereals. Oat milk is best for people who want a dairy free milk that is also creamy and smooth. It has a thicker consistency than whole milk but can be used at a 1:1 ratio. In fact, I personally consider oat milk to be the best non dairy milk for cereal.

Cashew milk

Cashew milk is another suitable milk substitute to add to your cereal. Cashew milk is made from cashews, water and a few other ingredients and is a mild, slightly nutty, slightly creamy milk that is light and dairy free.

It is best to use original or unsweetened cashew milk in place of milk. You will definitely enjoy the flavor of this light, non dairy milk poured over your cereal.

Water

If you have none of the other items listed above you can use water in place of milk for certain cereals like oats if you don’t mind not having a less creamy oatmeal recipe.

Surprisingly water can also work for prepared cereals like cornflakes and raisin bran for example, but only if this is your personal preference.

I personally do not like it in my prepared cereals, but some people actually do. Click the link below to see how people use water for their prepared cereals like bran flakes for example.

FAQs about substituting milk in cereal

Is water a good substitute for milk in cereal?

As seen above, water can work well for cereals like oats. Some people also use it for prepared cereals like cornflakes, bran flakes etc, but this in not a very popular thing to do.

What are some healthy milk alternatives for cereal?

Healthy milk alternatives for cereal includes non dairy milk options like soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, hemp milk and cashew milk

What is the best tasting non dairy milk for cereal?

The best tasting non dairy milk for cereal in my opinion is Oatly Oat Milk. This dairy free milk is creamy, smooth and has a delicious flavor. It does not have a chalky texture and while it is not like regular cow’s milk and it does have a bit of an oat-like flavor, it is perfect in cereals!

Final thoughts

There you have it! 9 easy ways to replace milk in your cereal. When it comes to making yummy cereals for breakfast, we all know whole milk is usually the go-to milk. But it no longer has to be as there are quite a few great ways to use other types of milk including milk powder, evaporated milk and non dairy milk in your favorite cereals!

Leave a comment below to let us know which milk alternative you like using for your favorite cereal and also feel free to check out these other milk substitutes for specific recipes below!

9 Best Ways To Substitute For Milk In Cereal

So, what are the best ways to substitute for milk in cereal?