What are the best recipes for using goat milk in cooking and baking?

What can you cook with goat milk?

Almost anything you make with cow milk. Swap it one for one in these everyday recipes:

• Pancakes, waffles and muffins: goat milk adds a light tang; a bit of vanilla or cinnamon balances it.
• Custard, rice pudding and panna cotta: the slight tang works well with fruit and honey.
• Creamy soups and white sauce: make a roux as usual and add warm milk slowly.
• Mashed potatoes and gratins: use warm goat milk in place of cow milk.
• Hot chocolate and oatmeal: a simple, mild option.

Can you bake with goat milk?

Yes. In bread, cakes, scones and biscuits it behaves like other milk. Expect a slightly different flavor. If you use fat-free or low-fat goat milk, the result can be a little drier than with whole milk.

Can you make yogurt or cheese from it?

Goat milk is commonly used for yogurt and soft cheeses. Use pasteurized milk from the store unless you have proper dairy-making training, and follow a tested recipe. The FDA warns that raw milk from any animal can carry harmful germs.

Cooking tips

• Heat gently and stir; milk scorches easily.
• Keep acidic ingredients such as lemon, wine or tomato away from hot milk until the end, or the milk may curdle.
• Taste before adding salt; goat milk can taste a little salty or tangy to some people.
• Check labels for added vitamin D and sugars if you use flavored products.

Who should avoid it?

The NHS says goat milk contains lactose, like cow and sheep milk, so it is not suitable for lactose intolerance. People with a cow milk allergy should not use goat milk without medical advice. For babies under one year, the NHS says goat milk is not suitable as a main drink, but it can be used in cooked foods from six months.