4 Milk Powder Substitutes
What is milk powder?
Milk powder, also known as powdered milk, is made from dehydrating cow's milk, which removes the water and leaves a soluble powder.
It's a versatile ingredient used in several recipes from baking to drinks to sauces. You'll often spot it in the ingredients list of many common foods.
What is a milk powder substitute then?
A milk powder substitute is a non-dairy milk powder derived from plants like oats, soy, rice or coconut. It's made by dehydrating plant milk into a powder.
The below milk powder substitutes are ideal for those lactose intolerant or on a plant based diet and can also offer a much more sustainable alternative to dairy based milk powders.
Simply use these substitutes as a direct replacement for milk powder in recipes or even for a cuppa when out and about!
4 milk powder substitutes
Oat Milk Powder
Oat milk powder is known for its creaminess, delicious taste and sustainability credentials. Just like regular oat milk, it's is the most popular type of milk powder substitute.
- Sustainable – 72% lower emissions vs. dairy.
- Best tasting, and dissolves very easily (even in cold water).
- Good nutritional profile - high in fibre, no added sugar.
- Best value, from £1.37 per litre.
❌ Cons
- Lower in protein vs. other vegan milk powders.
Buy Now: Overherd (£10.99)
Coconut Milk Powder
Coconut milk powder is a common powdered milk alternative primarily used in cooking due to its widespread use in Asian cuisine.
✅ Pros
- Affordable, from £1.90 per litre when mixed.
- Gluten free & non-GMO.
- Commonly used for cooking.
- Creamy texture.
❌ Cons
- Very high in fat - contains over 50% fat.
- Doesn’t dissolve particularly well, so not ideal for other milk applications beyond cooking.
- Poor sustainability - typically made in Asia and so high food mileage.
- More expensive than other alternatives.
Buy now: Island Source Coconut Milk Powder (Amazon £18.99, 1kg)
Rice Milk Powder
Rice milk powder is typically made from dehydrating rice milk and is not as common as other vegan milk powders but offers a decent nutritional profile.
✅ Pros
- Usually allergen free.
- Good nutritional profile.
❌ Cons
- Low in protein vs. other vegan milk powders.
- Not as affordable as others at £2.80 per litre.
- Watery consistency vs. other vegan milk powders.
Brands: Natures Finest (Amazon £6.99, 250g)
Soy Milk Powder
Soy milk is the UK's second most popular plant milk, and thus it offers a degree of familiarity. However, it generally scores lower in taste tests, and there are some concerns surrounding the sustainability of soy farming.
✅ Pros
- High in protein - highest protein per 100g.
- Familiarity - already a popular plant milk.
❌ Cons
- Very expensive - from £6.50 per litre, so cannot be used regularly as a milk powder replacement.
- Poor sustainability - soy farming can cause deforestation and fertiliser runoff.
- High fat content vs. other vegan milk powders.
Brands: Hye Foods (Amazon £12.99, 200g)
What's the point of vegan milk powder?
1️⃣ Suitable for vegans
Plant based milk powder offers an ideal alternative to dairy milk powder for those who are vegan or lactose intolerant.
It is a common ingredient in recipes and is ideal for camping and travel.
2️⃣ Familiarity
With one in three Brits now drinking plant milk, being able to buy a powdered version of the variety you know and love is valuable.
3️⃣ More sustainable
Dairy is notoriously damaging to the environment producing double the emissions of the entire aviation industry.
Plant based milk powder offers a far more sustainable alternative to dairy milk powder.
Vegan milk powder is also more environmentally friendly than its liquid counterparts because of its reduced weight.
Check out our full article on why plant based milk powders are the most sustainable option you can choose.