This secret ingredient makes legend-dairy holiday cookies.

Roll up your sleeves and get ready to make the most delicious cookies. You will impress your family and friends, as well as Santa, by incorporating this secret ingredient — non-fat dry milk. This dairy pantry staple delivers the flavor and protein of milk without the extra liquid.

When incorporated into cookie dough, non-fat dry milk boosts the overall flavor of the other ingredients, and in particular, intensifies the flavor of chocolate. Dry milk also contributes protein to cookie dough, which enhances the texture and chewiness of cookies. A tablespoon or two of non-fat dry milk will turn an ordinary cookie recipe into an extraordinary one. It is an essential baking ingredient.

What is non-fat dry milk?

Non-fat dry milk is simply milk with the moisture removed. Any type of milk can be dried, including whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, fat-free, and buttermilk. However, the most common dry milk is non-fat dry milk, which has the lowest fat content. Like fluid milk, dry milk is also fortified with vitamin A and vitamin D.

Non-fat dry milk is the most shelf stable due to its lack of fat. Non-fat dry milk will keep for about one year when kept in a cool, dry storage area. When baking, a recipe may call for either the powdered form of dry milk or the reconstituted version. To reconstitute dry milk, simply add water. This pantry staple can save the day if you unexpectedly run out of fluid milk and do not have time to go to the store.

Non-fat dry milk boosts nutrition of baked goods

Because non-fat dry milk is made from fluid milk, it offers the same nutrition. A ¼ cup of dry milk is equal to 1 cup of fluid milk. This serving size of dry milk delivers the same 13 essential nutrients as fluid milk. Notably, dry milk is a source of protein, calcium, vitamin D, potassium, phosphorus, and vitamin B12. Dry milk works well in baking and batter recipes, as well as in oatmeal, creamy casseroles, and soups.

Non-fat dry milk is a recipe addition that you can feel good about. Dry milk increases the nutrition profile of anything it is added to. It is an easy way to add more calcium, potassium, and vitamin D to foods. Most Americans do not consume enough of these three nutrients on a regular basis.

Milk: The perfect cookie accompaniment

Of course, once the cookies are baked and ready to eat, you need the perfect drink. Choose a glass of cold milk to pair with these tender cookies, or, even better, consider warming up chocolate milk in place of traditional hot cocoa.

When you choose milk of any kind to accompany your cookies, you are choosing a nutritious drink that provides body-building nutrients.