​The classic 1 litre glass milk bottle

At Wares of Knutsford we have a number of top-selling glassware lines that never go out of fashion! From Kilner to Weck jars, customers of all ages love to stock up on these time-served staples because of their multiple uses, great prices and beautiful looks.

Take humble glass milk bottles for example. Our 1 litre glass milk bottle range has always been popular, but now it's becoming a real top seller as more farms are turning to sell raw milk from their farms.

Raw milk hasn't been commercially available for some years, but demand for this untreated, creamy and absolutely natural product is growing. What is raw milk exactly? It's the unpasteurised version that hasn't been treated to kill bacteria. For this reason, it must only be produced by cows who are free from disease, but fans of this unprocessed product, which used to be freely available when our grandparents were young, love the fact that it tastes creamier and has a richer nutritional profile. Many believe it also helps to treat allergies and other conditions.

The law prevents retailers from selling raw milk commercially in shops and supermarkets, however dairy farmers can sell it directly to customers, for example via farm vending machines or in farm shops. And judging by the spike in demand for our 1 litre glass milk bottle range, demand is growing fast!

Milkshake recipes to try:

Whatever style of milk or milk substitute you like, pasteurised, raw, nut, soy or even coconut, nothing beats a delicious milkshake, especially on a hot day. Why not treat the kids this weekend to an indulgent treat that will rival anything you could buy from a fast-food store. Even better, you retain full control of the ingredients and the sweetness.

Try a vanilla ice cream milkshake for a classic indulgence. Simply blend 250ml of milk and a scoop of really good quality vanilla ice cream, add a pinch of cinnamon and then top it with whatever you fancy. It's really easy to adjust this recipe to taste, and you can sneak in fruit too for your little ones. For example, add a banana or toss in a handful of fresh berries for a bright pink berry milkshake. Top with freshly whipped cream, chocolate chips or whatever takes your fancy.

For a chocolate milkshake that is positively dessert-worthy, cover the back of a teaspoon with chocolate hazelnut spread and gently spread it up along the side of a tall glass bottle or jar for presentation. Add a generous tablespoon of chocolate spread into a pan and heat it for a couple of seconds until it goes runny. Pop 250ml of milk and two big scoops of chocolate ice cream into a blender, along with an extra spoon of cacao powder if you fancy an extremely chocolatey taste. Blend the milk and ice cream, pour it into your prepared glass and top with whipped cream, a drizzle of the melted chocolate hazelnut spread and any marshmallows or toasted nuts that you fancy. Serve immediately with a straw and a dessert spoon on the side!

Gifting cakes in glass milk bottles:

Another exciting new way to use 1 litre glass milk bottles is to fill them with dry ingredients for cakes, brownies, cookies or muffins. These look really pretty and make great gifts for kids and families, especially with their enticing layers of nuts, sugar, and colourful toppings. Simply look for your favourite baking recipe, measure out the dry ingredients and layer them into the 1 litre milk bottle for easy presentation. Add the recipe and wet ingredient requirements to a pretty label and tie it to the bottle. Your cook can then simply pour out the bottle contents, add eggs and any milk and bake away!

To make it easy, use a canning funnel to layer your ingredients carefully, and remember to sift the flour before it's measured as it will then pack down more tightly into the bottle and leave space for other ingredients. Layer your ingredients from small to large in texture, with flour mix at the bottom and toppings such as chocolate chips or nuts at the top. Tamp down each layer so that it is well compacted. This will help to keep the layered effect looking great. Another good tip is to use brown sugar in two portions for layered effects. When you've reached the middle of the bottle, use half of the brown sugar and tamp it down into a thin layer before adding any pretty ingredients such as smarties, marshmallows or cocoa, and then add the rest of the sugar to seal off that section. You can then carry on adding the more powdery ingredients.

For more ideas to get the most from our huge range of glass bottles and jars and to see our latest selections, please visit Wares of Knutsford online or in-store and sign up to our newsletter for product releases, special offers, news and more!