Is There Milk In Bread?

Written by: Kelly Donovan

Who doesn’t love bread? It’s delicious and flavorful, and there are about a million ways to make it. It’s filling and versatile, and it goes with almost anything.

Although not all bread has milk or dairy products, some do. Most bread recipes are made with flour, salt, sugar, yeast, and water, but some include butter or other dairy products.

It’s important to check the label on store-bought bread to make sure that the ones you are purchasing do not contain any dairy products if you are someone who has lactose intolerance.

Is There Milk In Bread?

While a simple question, there isn’t a single, simple answer to this one.

Many store-bought bread loaves are made without any kind of dairy product, and you can usually just check the ingredients list to make sure you’re buying one that is dairy-free.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a bread recipe to make at home, there are many more options and many more types of bread.

A good number of fresh bakes bread and rolls have milk or dairy products in them, so it’s essential to be aware of the types of recipes available.

You may want to look at alternative ingredients to use if you find a delicious-looking recipe for Amish milk bread or sweet rolls and want to test your culinary prowess.

loaf of bread on cutting board

Which Breads Have Dairy Products?

Many bread types contain some form of dairy or another.

If you’re buying from the store, it’s always best to check the label.

  • Processed Sandwich Bread
  • Quick Bread (like banana or pumpkin bread)
  • Yeast Bread (like french loaves and sourdough)
  • Wheat bread

These products may contain different dairy products, such as whey powder, butter, or nonfat milk powder.

You can find most of these non-dairy versions of these products—sometimes in the grocery store's refrigerator section. If that option isn’t appealing, then make them yourself at home.

sliced loaf of bread on dark table with seeds scattered

Can You Substitute Dairy Milk?

Yes! Substituting milk in baking recipes isn’t as tricky as it sounds.

You can easily replace milk in bread recipes with almond milk, oat milk, or several others.

Both almond and oat milk have unsweetened options, and you can use them to replace milk in most baking recipes at a direct one-to-one ratio.

Make sure that you are aware of the changes that might be necessary going from one milk to the other. There may be some adjustments that need to be made to the time the recipe takes to cook or to the preparation of the recipe itself.

Here's a recipe for delicious fluffy vegan bread without milk, egg, or butter!

Summary

Although the majority of bread products do not contain milk, some do still have dairy products in them.

It’s helpful to research the kinds of bread that commonly include things like whey powder or butter in the recipe if you’re buying them from the store.

About the Author

Kelly Donovan is a freelance writer. She enjoys helping people reach their wellness goals by educating them about how food plays a role in their health.