21 Dessert Recipes That Use a Lot of Milk
Use up that gallon of milk on these rich, creamy milk dessert recipes!
We've all opened the fridge to find a scary sight staring back at us.
A gallon of milk that's about to expire.
Letting milk go bad is a waste of money, not to mention a waste of food. So, as that expiration date approaches, we like to do everything we can to use up that gallon of milk.
Making a yummy dessert out of the milk is obviously one of the most enjoyable ways to accomplish this!
There are so many delicious milk dessert recipes out there. As a rule, anything that is made with pudding or custard will probably use up a lot of milk. Homemade ice cream or milk shakes can also be a great solution! Although, when researching this article we did find that many milkshake recipes don't use as much milk as you would think (they're typically mostly ice cream).
So, we've compiled some of our favorite dessert recipes that use up a lot of milk. We hope that it helps avert at least one expiring milk disaster.
Easy Boston Cream Poke Cake
Test Kitchen Rating: 5 Stars
Milk Used: 4 Cups
Make this dessert just for the amazing experience of slicing into the finished cake. Your fork cuts a thick layer of rich chocolate ganache, sinks into fluffy vanilla cake, and finally releases a flood of gooey vanilla pudding. The textures in this poke cake are unreal, and we highly recommend making it right now. Maybe find a time machine so that you can start making it 5 minutes ago.
Get the recipe here.
Watch the Video!
Chocolate Pudding Dump Cake
Test Kitchen Rating: 5 stars
Milk Used: 2 Cups
This chocolate pudding dump cake is one of our favorite easy desserts in any category, but it's also one of our favorite dessert recipes that use a lot of milk. Even better, milk is one of only a few ingredients in the recipe! All you have to do is blend a few items together, pour into a baking dish, and relax while your house fills with the smell of molten chocolate cake.
Get the recipe here.
Oreo Dirt Pie
Test Kitchen Rating: 5 Stars
Milk Used: 3 Cups
If you think dirt pie is something you left in your childhood, think again. This ultra creamy, chocolaty, crunchy dessert is absolutely for everyone. The homemade vanilla pudding is indulgent, but still easy to make. It's the perfect summertime milk dessert recipe, but we will be making it all year long.
Get the recipe here.
Vintage Bread Pudding
Test Kitchen Rating: 4 Stars
Milk Used: 2 Cups
Bread pudding might be a bit of a forgotten dessert in today's world of green tea ice cream and acai berries. But we're doing our best to change that! This delicious recipe for bread pudding is everything you want in a dessert. Crisp and sweet on the outside, filled with gooey custard on the inside, you will be in heaven after the first bite. As a bonus, you can use up both leftover milk and leftover eggs with this recipe!
Get the recipe here.
1950s Hot Milk Cake
Test Kitchen Rating: 5 stars
Milk Used: 1/2 cup
This vintage cake recipe is one of our favorite desserts using milk. The finished cake turns out light and sweet, with the perfect springy texture. Dust the whole confection with powdered sugar and serve with a side of fresh raspberries.
Get the recipe here.
Pistachio Pudding Icebox Cake
Blogger Recipe!
Milk Used: 2 1/2 cups
This pistachio pudding cake recipe is a classic for a reason. If you're looking for recipes using 2 cups of milk or more, then this is a great one to try! You'll love the subtle pistachio flavor and creamy texture of this dessert.
Get the recipe here.
Almond Crusted Creamy Pudding Cake
Test Kitchen Rating: 5 Stars
Milk Used: 3 Cups
Get ready to indulge with this delicious pudding cake! We love this recipe because it is very easy to make and it tastes delicious. There's something about the crisp, sugary, almond-topped cake that we just can't resist. And the chocolate pudding is the icing on (wait, it's the icing under) the cake. Layers of rich chocolate pudding plus a scrumptious cake topping? Yes, please!
Get the recipe here.
Chocolate Eclair Cake
Test Kitchen Rating: 5 Stars
Milk Used: 3 Cups plus 1 Tablespoon
This is one of the delicious recipes from our own Chef Addie Gundry's No-Bake Desserts: 103 Easy Recipes for No-Bake Cookies, Bars, and Treats! It's everything you love about the classic chocolate pastry, but it's in cake form. You get layers of crisp graham crackers, creamy vanilla pudding, and an entire cup of Nutella. It's one of our favorite desserts, and it's also a fantastic dessert for using up leftover milk.
Get the recipe here.
Easy Chocolate Trifle
Test Kitchen Rating: 5 Stars
Milk Used: 6 Cups
If you need to use up a lot of milk, then this dessert recipe is a perfect choice. It feeds a crowd. You'll make a few batches of instant chocolate pudding and layer it with pieces of Cosmic brownies, whipped topping, and Bailey's Irish Cream. It's the perfect boozy dessert to serve to your favorite group of adults. Of course, if you don't wish to consume alcohol, feel free to omit the Bailey's! The dessert will still be absolutely indulgent.
Get the recipe here.
Oreo Delight Recipe
Test Kitchen Rating: 5 Stars
Milk Used: 3.5 Cups
Calling all Oreo lovers! This delicious chocolate dessert is brimming with crunchy cookies, creamy chocolate pudding, and fluffy whipped topping. It's so easy to make, and it is a great way to use up that gallon of milk before it goes bad. We think this would be a great dish to take to a potluck, too. Just be prepared for everyone to ask you for the recipe.
Get the recipe here.
Copycat Shamrock Shake Recipe
Test Kitchen Rating: 5 Stars
Milk Used: 1.5 Cups (per 2 milk shakes)
We couldn't end this list without an ice cream recipe. This copycat Shamrock Shake doesn't use up as much milk as some of the other recipes, but it will use up a lot more if you are making these for more than 2 people. So, invite over a few friends or family members and treat them to this indulgent copycat recipe. They will be so impressed that you know how to make them at home!
Get the recipe here.
Rise and Shine Slow Cooker Coffee Cake
Test Kitchen Rating: 5 Stars
Milk Used: 2 Cups
This delicious coffee cake recipe is actually made in your slow cooker (yes, really!). So you can just sit back and relax while this easy milk dessert recipe cooks away and fills your home with delicious aromas. The recipe calls for 2 cups of chocolate milk, which is great if you have some that you need to use up. But if not, go ahead and make your own chocolate milk according to your preferences.
Get the recipe here.
Strawberry Pudding Milk Shake
Blogger Recipe!
Milk Used: 3 cups
If you're more of a fruit person than a chocolate person, then this delicious milk shake is the perfect recipe to use up extra milk. It's rich and creamy, with a delicious flavor that you can only get from fresh strawberries. This is the perfect summertime treat, and we can imagine everyone enjoying it outdoors while the sun goes down. It would also make the perfect movie night snack!
Get the recipe here.
Creamy Dreamy Vanilla Pudding Cake
Test Kitchen Rating: 3 stars
Milk Used: About 3.5 cups
You can definitely make a milk dessert that doesn't use chocolate, and this is one of our favorites! A buttery Golden Oreo crust is topped with layers of creamy vanilla pudding, whipped topping, and white chocolate chips. This dessert is definitely perfect for people who have a sweet tooth, and it's great for people who aren't a big fan of chocolate.
Get the recipe here.
Chocolate Lover's Lasagna
Blogger Recipe!
Milk Used: About 3.5 cups
This chocolate lasagna is a reader favorite year after year, and it's easy to see why! Just look at those delicious layers of chocolate pudding and whipped topping. Although you might make this dessert for any number of reasons, one great one is that it's a recipe that uses up milk. In fact, we think you may actually be inspired to buy more milk just to make this recipe again.
Get the recipe here.
Springtime Dessert Pudding Cups
Blogger Recipe!
Milk Used: 3 cups
Look at these adorable pudding cups! If it's springtime where you live, then we can't think of any better way to welcome the season than with these adorable candy-covered strawberries. The idea of serving them on top of chocolate pudding cups is genius. Kids and adults will love the sweet presentation (and the scrumptious taste!).
Get the recipe.
Grandma's Magic Cake
Test Kitchen Rating: 4 stars
Milk Used: 2 cups
Grandma would definitely approve of not wasting ingredients, so it's fitting to include this yummy vintage cake recipe! This magic cake separates into layers of fluffy cake and creamy custard while it bakes, creating a dessert that will "wow" your family. Each bite is bursting with vanilla flavor and incredible texture. It's the perfect reminder that Grandma really does know best.
Get the recipe here.
Saffron Rice Kheer
Blogger Recipe!
Milk Used: 2 cups
This traditional Indian dessert recipe is rich, creamy, and delicious! This version uses aromatic cardamom and saffron to add subtle flavor, but the possibilities for seasonings are endless with this dessert.
Get the recipe here.
Chocolate Pudding
Blogger Recipe!
Milk Used: 4 cups 2% milk or whole milk
If you've never tried homemade chocolate pudding before, then you are in for a real treat! This rich, creamy recipe is full of chocolate flavor and will be a hit with any group. If you've ever wondered, "How do you make pudding from scratch?" this is the perfect recipe to try.
Get the recipe here.
Galatopita Greek Milk Pie
Blogger Recipe!
Milk Used: 6 cups whole milk
This milk pie is a popular dessert in Greece, and it's easy to see why! It's smooth and decadent, without being oversweet. If you like custard pie, then you've got to give galatopita a try.
Get the recipe here.
Peppermint Tres Leches Cake
Blogger Recipe!
Milk Used: 1.5 cups whole milk
Tres leches cake is a classic Latin American dessert and, as you might guess from its name, it uses a lot of milk! Condensed milk, evaporated milk, and whole milk (or cream) are the 3 types of milk used, and they combine for a dessert that is wonderfully rich and creamy. This peppermint version is a fun, holiday-inspired variation.
Get the recipe here.
Desserts with Evaporated Milk
Even though evaporated milk doesn't expire nearly as quickly as fresh milk, you might still find yourself trying to use up a can of it. Maybe you're clearning out the pantry, or maybe you've just been staring at the can of evaporated milk on the shelf for so long that you want to know what you can actually cook with it. Either way, here are some delicious recipes with evaporated milk. You and your family will love them!
Pumpkin Pie Sheet Cake
Tres Leches Cake
Candy Bar Fudge
Desserts with Condensed Milk
Condensed milk is an ingredient that's guaranteed to make any dessert sweet, creamy, and totally delicious. Check out these amazing recipes!
Homemade No-Churn Chocolate Ice Cream
Irresistible Cake Mix Bars
No-Churn Birthday Cake Ice Cream
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