Regardless of which delicious baking recipe youre making, one thing will almost always hold true: liquid and dry ingredients are mixed separately before being mixed together. But, what are the wet ingredients?

If youre a little confused about what liquid ingredients are in baking, youre not alone. Plenty of people dont know what constitutes a liquid ingredient in baking besides the obvious choices: water and milk.

Hey! My name is Michelle, and Ive enjoyed baking treats for the past ten-plus years. Throughout my experiences, Ive learned what baking recipes genuinely mean when describing liquid ingredients, and Im here to share my knowledge.

Lets dive into the liquids and no, I dont mean the pool in my backyard (although that does sound lovely. Pool party, anyone?)

6 Liquid Ingredients in Baking

While baking is a lot of fun, it can also be pretty confusing and challenging. After all, they say baking is a science, and I totally agree with that. With that said, some of these liquids in baking might surprise you.

Water

When most people think of liquid in baking, they think of water. Why shouldn’t they? Water is an essential ingredient in many recipes, from bread dough to chocolate chip cookies.

It can be used as a binding agent, which is its primary purpose in bread-baking or to simply supply a batter with necessary moisture. After all, trying to work with a dried-out batter or dough is not only tricky, but the result is a crumbly, disgusting mess.

So, if your recipe calls for water, you shouldnt try to go without it.

Milk

If your recipe doesnt call for water, it more than likely calls for some type of milk (whole milk, skim milk, 2% milk, almond milk you get the gist). Thats because milk and water serve the same purpose in baked goods to moisten.

But thats not all that milk does.

Milk actually does three magical things in baking recipes. First and foremost, it creates a soft, lightweight, and beautiful texture. Secondly, it adds a touch of sweetness and richness to the treat. Third, it establishes that desirable, delicious, and aesthetically-pleasing exterior browning we all know and love.

(Psst want to enjoy all the advantages of adding milk to your batter or dough without actually using milk? Check out these stellar milk swaps!)

Butter

If youre looking for unmatched textures and impeccable flavors, you wont want to forget to add butter a key liquid ingredient that is designed to transform your baked treats unlike never before. (OK, but you can still rock your baked goods with a butter substitute).

Oil

Some baking recipes call for oil rather than butter. While I tend to go the butter route (because Im a slave to the richness of butter no shame in my game), not everyone is a fan of butter in which case, they should opt for oil.

Oil is an excellent liquid component. It can help with the overall structure of your baked goods while also adding some much-needed moistness.

While oil is typically not used to impart flavor to the treat, that doesnt mean it cant. For example, this olive oil cake explicitly calls for lots of olive oil so that the cake has a flavor reminiscent of this heart-healthy fat.

Yogurt/Sour Cream

While oil is not commonly used to flavor the dessert, it is not impossible. For example, this olive oil cake clearly asks for a generous amount of olive oil to give the cake a taste evocative of this heart-healthy fat.

Yogurt and sour cream are used in so many recipes. Thats because it works as a binding agent but can also add some wonderful tartness to a treat. It can also cut down on the sweetness, ensuring your goodie isnt so sweet that it makes you sick.

Overall, yogurt and sour cream are an excellent addition to any baked goodie. You will instantly notice that the texture is light and fluffy with an enjoyable crumb, whether youre baking bread or muffins.

Eggs

Are you ready to be shocked once more? Eggs are considered a liquid in baking recipes and a vital component to your recipe, whether youre baking brownies, cookies, cakes, or other fab desserts.

Eggs are utilized for many reasons. For starters, they work as a binder and leavener to create gorgeous treats with picture-perfect structure and rise. Not only that, but they ensure a decadent texture with plenty of rich flavors. Yum.

If you can help it, always add this liquid ingredient to your dough or batter. If you must live without eggs (due to an allergy or lack of desire to run to the grocery store dont worry, I get it), you can use an egg substitution and still be successful.

Liquid Sweeteners and Extracts

Last but not least, we cant forget our beloved liquid sweeteners and extracts! Ingredients such as corn syrup, vanilla, and honey are all liquid ingredients that are mainly added to a dough or batter for sweetness.

However, some extracts have the bonus of adding unique flavors to a dessert. For instance, lavender extract can add some lovely floral notes, while lemon extract will put some kick into all of your beloved lemon desserts.

Alcohol

Alcohol is a liquid ingredient found in some baking recipes. For example, if you bake a rum cake, youll need, well, rum. But thats not the only time when alcohol can come into play while baking. For instance, some people add vodka to their pie crusts to ensure a superbly flaky crust!

Juice

Does your recipe call for fruit juice? Theres a reason. Not only will fruit juice enhance the overall flavor of your treat, but it will also ensure that theres a delightful browning on the exterior. It can also add a hefty dose of much-needed moisture that your taste buds will thank you for.

FAQs

At this point, its clear that liquid ingredients in baking go beyond water and milk. Pretty cool, huh? If you want to keep learning, Ive added a few more frequently asked questions to pique your interest. Let’s get started!

What is liquid in baking?

Liquid in baking is, well, like any other liquid. They have a purpose in baking recipes, though. Mainly, theyre used for moistening. However, they can also add flavor (as is the case with milk, fruit, etc.), leaven, or bind ingredients.

What are the most common liquids in baking?

The most common liquids in baking include water, milk, butter, oil, and eggs. However, its not uncommon to see liquid sweeteners like honey or extracts such as vanilla in a recipe.

What are dry ingredients in baking?

At this point, youre likely wondering what dry ingredients are in baking. While I wont list every single potential dry ingredient, I will mention the most commonly used ones. This includes flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder.

Liquid Ingredients Go Beyond Water in Baking

While most people think of water and milk as the only liquid ingredients in baking, there is clearly a lot more to add to the list! Liquids in the baking world extend to other items such as yogurt, sour cream, oil, and even eggs.

Do you have any other liquid ingredients to add?