MILK GUIDE
Pudding used to be simple: whole milk, a box, done. But these days, every milk—from oat to coconut to classic dairy —brings its own flavor, texture, and personality to the bowl.
So we went a little overboard (in the best way possible) and tested 17 different milks and milk alternatives to figure out exactly how each one performs with Fancy Monkey.
Why? Because a tiny tweak can mean the difference between a really good dessert and a “wait… this is freaking incredible” pudding.
So no matter what’s milk is in your fridge, we make sure your recipe is perfect every single time.
Smooth and creamy with the kind of depth that makes a spoonful feel substantial. Full-bodied mouth feel, clean dairy finish, perfect consistency every time.
SET STRENGTH
TIP
Use 2 cups cold. Whisk vigorously for 2 minutes. No tricks needed.
We LOVE
Organic Valley whole milk
TRY IT WITH
PAIRS WITH
Silky and naturally sweet with a soft caramel undertone that comes from the oats themselves. Sets up beautifully and adds a gentle warmth that makes vanilla taste more like vanilla and salted caramel taste like a hug.
SET STRENGTH
TIP
Barista-style is the move — formulated for creamier texture and a more reliable set. Straight oat milk works great too, just a touch looser.
We LOVE
Minor Figures Barista or Pacific Foods Barista Series
PAIRS WITH
Light and gently nutty with a soft, spoonable set. A whisper of almond flavor sits in the background — delicate enough to let vanilla and citrus take the lead.
SET STRENGTH
TIP
Unsweetened only — you want the pudding mix running the sweetness, not the milk.
We LOVE
Three Trees or Pacific Foods
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Plush, rich, and unmistakably coconut. Sets up firm with a tropical depth that runs through every spoonful. This isn’t a neutral milk — it tastes like coconut. That’s a feature, not a bug.
SET STRENGTH
TIP
Refrigerated carton works great. Canned full-fat is the move when you want extra body.
We LOVE
Native Forest, Goya, or Trader Joe’s
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PAIRS WITH
Earthy, grassy, and unmistakably hemp — this one doesn’t disappear into the background. Sturdy body, reliable set, distinctive personality. Bold flavors love it; delicate ones get pushed around.
SET STRENGTH
TIP
Shake the carton well before pouring — hemp milk separates more than most. An extra 30 seconds of whisking gets you the most even set.
We LOVE
Pacific Foods
TRY IT WITH
PAIRS WITH
Subtly nutty, naturally sweet, and warmly beige — the color of pure crushed pistachios, before food coloring gets involved. Adds a gentle, refined richness that loves floral and Middle Eastern flavors.
SET STRENGTH
TIP
Pairs exceptionally with rose water, honey, and cardamom — a splash in your finished pudding gives it a Middle Eastern-inspired finish.
We LOVE
Táche
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Puddings, tart fillings, chess bars, baked desserts Tangy, rich, and deeply Southern. That bright acidic edge cuts sweetness and adds a complexity you can’t fake. Not a 1:1 swap for the cold pudding base — buttermilk wants to play a starring role in baked goods and tart fillings where its tang gets to shine.
SET STRENGTH
TIP
For a straight-up buttermilk pudding, whisk ½ cup pudding mix into 2 cups of cold buttermilk — tangy, thick, and almost no effort. In baked goods it still loves company: pair with eggs for structure and let the mix bring body and depth.
We LOVE
Organic Valley cultured buttermilk
PAIRS WITH
Cheesecakes, tart fillings, enriching Thick, tangy, and luxuriously spoonable — especially the Greek kind. That cultured brightness cuts sweetness the way buttermilk does, but with far more body, so it can carry a dessert instead of just seasoning it. This isn’t a neutral base; it brings a fresh, lactic tang that makes salted caramel taste deeper and berries taste brighter.
SET STRENGTH
TIP
Reach for whole-milk Greek for the most body — strained is your friend. Don’t try to set it like milk; fold about 1 cup of Greek yogurt into a finished pudding (one made with 2 cups milk) for a tangy, cheesecake-like result. Balance the tang with a touch more sweetness — see the Salted Caramel Yogurt Cheesecake.
We LOVE
Fage Total (whole milk) or Stonyfield Organic
PAIRS WITH
Sweetening, enriching, layering Velvety, intensely sweet, with deep caramel undertones. Almost always a co-star — it doesn’t dominate desserts, it lifts them.
SET STRENGTH
TIP
Sweetened condensed is for layering and lifting, not leading. Reduce the sugar in any recipe to account for what it brings.
PAIRS WITH
Whipping, piping, finishing This is where Fancy Monkey goes from pudding mix to pastry tool. Whips into pillowy peaks, holds shape beautifully, and brings a rich, clean dairy depth.
SET STRENGTH
TIP
Don’t use 2 full cups — that’s too much. Heavy cream wants its own ratios.
We LOVE
Organic Valley heavy whipping cream
TRY IT WITH
PAIRS WITH
Plush, naturally thick, and silky-smooth with a clean, neutral character. Brings serious body and a luxurious mouth feel without competing on flavor.
SET STRENGTH
TIP
Unsweetened for the most control. Thicker cartons set better — give it a full 2 minutes of whisking.
We LOVE
Elmhurst 1925
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PAIRS WITH
Rich, slightly buttery, and subtly tropical. Distinctive enough to be a feature, not background noise. Feels genuinely luxurious.
SET STRENGTH
TIP
Unsweetened only — sweetened versions make the pudding cloying. A pinch of toasted coconut on top is chef’s kiss.
We LOVE
Milkadamia
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PAIRS WITH
Creamy, neutral, and reliably solid. Sets up beautifully, takes any flavor cleanly, and never makes you fight for it. A total workhorse.
SET STRENGTH
TIP
Plain unsweetened only — vanilla-flavored soy will compete with the mix. A full 2 minutes of whisking gives you the best set.
We LOVE
Pacific Foods
TRY IT WITH
Tastes nothing like peas (promise). Creamy, neutral, and impressively allergen friendly — nut-free, dairy-free, and soy-free all at once. The pudding mix is completely in charge.
SET STRENGTH
TIP
Unsweetened only. The go-to choice when feeding a mixed allergy crowd — covers nut, dairy, and soy avoidance in one carton.
We LOVE
Ripple Unsweetened
Gently earthy with a soft, nutty edge. Slightly lighter body, mild flavor, and a quiet warmth that grounds bold flavors beautifully.
SET STRENGTH
TIP
Pair with bold flavors that can stand up to the earthiness. Chocolate and salted caramel are the natural partners.
We LOVE
Good Karma