Energy-efficient processes for spray drying aqueous liquids in a spray dryer supplied with furnace-heated drying gas which processes comprise withdrawing the spent drying gas from the spray dryer, spraying the spent drying gas with water adiabatically to cool the gas and increase the water content thereof, and recycling a portion of the humidified gas to the furnace, the recycled portion being from about 40 percent to about 70 percent of the total humidified gas, together with apparatus for carrying out the processes.