That milk is a healthy product is an unshakable assertion, proven by many years of experience. What makes milk unique is its highly balanced composition, created by nature itself and containing the necessary amount of nutrients.

It turns out that milk desserts are healthy dishes, rich in protein and calcium. Moreover, milk protein is perceived by the body much better and is more easily digested than animal protein, knowing all this makes cooking with milk even more enjoyable.

We're used to milk derivatives like cottage cheese, cheese, sour cream, and cream being used more often in desserts. But fresh milk is also a wonderful ingredient for creating delicious, delicate, and airy sweet dishes.

We all remember the melt-in-your-mouth "Ptichye Moloko" cake from childhood, and then the candy of the same name appeared. But do you know what came first? It was a cake, invented by talented Moscow chefs in the 1970s at the Prague restaurant. They even managed to patent the unusual recipe, but only the ingredients, not the name.

Milk desserts

The cake got its name "Bird's Milk" due to the authors' imaginative assumption that the milk of an unknown bird of paradise should taste similar to this delicacy.

Bird's Milk Cake

So, here's the recipe for this legendary cake, adapted for home cooking. You'll need three sets of ingredients: for the dough, the cream, and the glaze.

For the test

  • a glass of wheat flour (be sure to sift it through a sieve first);
  • eggs 4 pcs;
  • sugar 1 cup;
  • vanilla sugar 1 teaspoon;
  • butter for greasing the baking pan.

To prepare the dough, beat the eggs (remove them from the refrigerator ahead of time so they're at room temperature). Mix the sugar with the vanilla and gradually add it to the eggs. Beat until the sugar dissolves, then gradually add the flour.

Bird's Milk Cake

The whipped sponge cake needs to be baked as quickly as possible to prevent it from sinking. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit). Grease a deep baking pan, pour in the batter to a thickness of about 1 cm, place it in the oven, and bake for about 7-10 minutes. It's best not to open the oven during baking.

After preparing the sponge cake, it must be cooled and then cut horizontally into two parts.

Preparing the legendary cream

Ingredients required:

  • a glass of milk;
  • eggs 10 pieces;
  • sachet of gelatin granules 40 g;
  • potato starch 1 tablespoon;
  • butter 300 grams;
  • sugar 2 cups;
  • vanilla sugar 3 teaspoons.

First, dissolve the starch in one tablespoon of water. Next, separate the whites from the yolks, then beat the yolks with sugar. This should be done in a deep bowl that can be placed on the stovetop later, as the cream will need to be boiled.

Whisk the egg yolks with one cup of sugar, add vanilla, then pour in the milk and diluted starch. Once thoroughly mixed, place the bowl with the mixture in a double boiler. This is the most crucial step in preparing the cream. While in the boiling boiler, the cream will begin to thicken. When you notice it has thickened significantly, remove it from the heat and let it cool. Next, soften the butter, add it to the cream, and whisk everything together.

Bird's Milk Glaze

Now soak the gelatin in water for about 20 minutes (you'll need about 150 ml of water). Heat it in a double boiler or over low heat until all the gelatin granules are dissolved. To ensure the cream has a perfectly smooth consistency, strain the gelatin.

Next, beat the egg whites with the remaining cup of sugar and mix in the gelatin. Pour the gelatin into the egg whites in a thin stream, stirring constantly. Now you can add the cream you prepared earlier and mix everything together.

Finishing: Place one sponge cake layer in a deep pan and fill it with cream. Place the second layer on top and refrigerate for 5-6 hours. If you want to add a little extra flavor, soak the layers in cream liqueur, and you'll have your own signature recipe.

Prepare the glaze

For the glaze you should take

  • butter 50 grams;
  • 200 gram chocolate bar.

Melt the chocolate, mix with butter and pour over the top layer.
The recipe is certainly not simple, but by making this cake, you will delight your loved ones with an unforgettable dish, and they will certainly appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Bird's Milk Cake

Quick cocktails

But all this, of course, takes a lot of time, so what delicious thing can you whip up with milk in a hurry? The simplest answer is milkshakes! Milkshakes are a perennial hit with both children and adults.

The ingredients can be varied, but the classics are milk, sugar, ice cream, and fruit toppings. Whatever your taste, bananas, strawberries, chocolate, or raspberries will all taste delicious with milk and ice cream.

To prepare the most popular cocktail you need:

  • 300 ml milk;
  • 100 g ice cream;
  • sugar, mint, vanillin (very little);
  • about 15 strawberries.

Preparation

Wash the berries, remove the stems, and dry them. It's worth noting that you can use slightly crushed, irregularly shaped, or very small berries in the smoothie. Place the berries in a blender, along with a little sugar (if they're tart), and the mint. Powdered sugar is even better—it'll dissolve faster.

Add ice cream; regular vanilla ice cream is best. Now whisk everything together. The next step is adding milk. You can adjust the consistency here—if you want a thicker shake, add less milk, or if you prefer a thinner one, add more. The milk's beneficial properties and delicious flavor are not lost, and you'll have a delicious drink—enjoy!

Milkshake
Simple nuances and tricks to make your cocktail even more delicious:

  • If you plan to add flavored ice cream to your shake, it's best to choose flavors that complement each other perfectly with the other flavors and syrups. For example, fruit with fruit, chocolate with vanilla, or caramel with bananas.
  • If you decide to use ice cream without fillers, then you can choose any syrup.
  • If you've overdone it with syrups or sugar, you can remedy the situation by adding a little lemon juice. The cocktail will taste less cloying, and the lemon will add a piquant aroma.
  • Before serving, be sure to chill the glasses or special cocktail glasses, otherwise the whipped foam will settle too quickly, and you won’t have time to enjoy the delicate consistency of the drink.

Milk pudding with cinnamon

There's another delightful dish that oozes with strict traditions and Christmas festivities: English pudding. This dish, like the process of making it, has a very special history for the people of Great Britain. By making this milk pudding with cinnamon, you can touch the history of this country. The recipe is simple and delicious.

So, you will need:

  • 2 tablespoons of wheat flour;
  • 6 tablespoons of granulated sugar;
  • 250 ml milk;
  • butter 25 grams;
  • one yolk;
  • ground cinnamon, cocoa, powder - just two teaspoons each.

Mix the flour and sugar in a deep bowl. Heat the milk and add it to the dry ingredients. Whisk the yolk with the sugar. Place the saucepan with the milk mixture over the heat, whisking constantly, pour in the beaten egg, add the cinnamon, and mix thoroughly. When the mixture thickens, remove from the heat.

All that's left to do is arrange it in pretty bowls, garnish with sprinkles and cocoa, and refrigerate until set. After an hour, serve this wonderful milk dessert. You're sure to love its taste!