This recipe for Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk is a DIY hack that may come in handy on a busy baking day. Use it in recipes just as you would any condensed milk for your own version of this pantry staple.
Easy Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe
Every cook has found themselves in the middle of a baking project without a needed ingredient from time to time. One of those" oh no" moments. Sweetened condensed milk can often be the missing link between your fabulous recipe creation and your lips. That qualifies as a bonifide baking emergency for sure. This homemade version works like a charm. Another handy resource, is this post featuring other common baking substitutions, as well.
How to Make the Best Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe
There are several techniques for making homemade sweetened condensed milk using a plethora of ingredients. The variations typically depend on personal dietary needs and the cook's preference. This recipe is a terrific substitute for the real deal and will work well in most recipes a pinch.
- Ingredients you'll need to make this recipe for easy homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk: Granulated sugar, water, butter, dry powdered milk and vanilla extract.
- Sweetened condensed milk is not to be confused with evaporated milk. Evaporated milk is whole milk that's been cooked and reduced intensifying the flavor. Sweetened condensed milk is a thicker much sweeter product and they can't be used interchangeably in recipes.
- This recipe is meant to give you options in one of those "missing" ingredient moments. It's always best to use the ingredients called for in any given recipe for the very best result. But, if you find yourself in the middle of a task and need a substitute, hopefully this will give you an opportunity to redeem your time and effort.
- You can use this as an ingredient in recipes such as cakes, pies, desserts, cookies, bars or fudge that call for sweetened condensed milk. You can also use it to sweeten coffee, tea or make milk shakes and smoothies.
- A 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk will yield approximately 1 ¼ cup. This recipe makes approximately 2 cups. So, measure according to the amount called for in the recipe that you're following.
- How long will it last? You can store this homemade sweetened condensed milk in the refrigerator in a mason jar for up to 5 days.
Desserts Using Sweetened Condensed Milk to Make
Sweetened condensed milk has that thick and creamy irresistible texture that turns most any dessert into something special. More recipes using sweetened condensed milk to try:
- Sweetened Condensed Milk Butter Cake topped with whipped cream and fresh berries.
- No bake Chocolate Coconut Toffee Bars require no cooking at all.
- The lemon layer for this Blueberry Lemon Trifle uses condensed milk as an ingredient.
- Made from scratch Tres Leches Cake is filled with a triple combination of milk.
- You can also make your own homemade Dulce de Leche using sweetened condensed milk in a crockpot.
- Looking for a low sugar version? Try this Low Carb Sweetened Condensed Milk recipe from All Day I Dream About Food.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk
Ingredients
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup water
- 4 tablespoon butter
- 1 ⅓ cup powdered milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla
Instructions
- On the stove top in a heavy bottomed saucepan, cook together sugar, water, and butter over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Cook stirring constantly just until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from the heat.
- Carefully pour into a blender. You can use a hand mixer as well. Add vanilla and powdered milk. Blend until smooth and thickened.
- If needed, you may add additional boiling water 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- Cool to room temperature, if using immediately. The sweetened condensed milk will continue to thicken as it cools.
- If making in advance, store chilled in an airtight container chilled for up to 5 days.
- When chilled, bring to room temperature to allow the condensed milk to loosen a bit before using.
Nutrition
My name is Melissa and I'm the Creator of Melissa's Southern Style Kitchen. Cooking, baking, developing recipes and kitchen tips is my passion. I love sharing my dishes and connecting with people through the food that I create.
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Angela Ramey
This stuff is the bomb! I ran out of ID coffee creamer and I didn’t have any condensed milk to try to make some “homemade” ID. I found your recipe for condensed milk any this stuff turned out so good that you could just eat it by the spoonful!
Melissa
I'm so happy you loved it, thank you!
Eric Lynn Rodzankas
I like many, Love homemade fudge! Mom used to make it from her Mom, it took forever Temp and Constancy were critical to get good results! 2cups Sugar, 2cups whole milk, 1cup HEAVY Cream, 8oz to 12oz (depending on how chocolate you want it)Bakers hard Chocolate ( melted;) teaspoon of Vanilla, 1 stick of SALTED Butter. Put all in appropriate Pot, bring to a gentle boil until a DROP of boiling mixture into a container of cold water forms a soft ball. Get a heavy duty (NOT WOOD!!!) stir mixture until begins to lose “glossy” look! (Getting to that point “might wear out stirring arm -so have a relief stirrer stand by to relieve you !!!!!) When mixture starts to lose gloss, dump quickly into buttered pan or dish with at LEAST 1” walls! If you want nuts or marshmallows in the fudge put into pot mixture when fudge is ready to stir!! Not before fudge is boiling! ONLY WHEN FUDGE IS READY TO BE.STIRRED!! OH YEAH I FORGOT, Remove from heat as soon as the hot mixture finally forms that “semi hard yet soft drop ball when dripped into COLD water
Carolyn Ketchum
Hey, thanks for the little shout-out, Melissa! So very much appreciated. And isn't is crazy how easy it is to make?
Melissa
Hi Carolyn, my pleasure! I know so simple.
Melissa
Hi Annette, that is such a great question. I have never done it and really don't know how well it would do. It would be super handy if it worked, I agree, I just can't confirm from personal experience.
Rhonda
It works really well
Melissa
Great!
annette rumley
This is a great idea. Thank you sharing. I would like to know do you think I could can this since it uses powdered milk? It would be a time saver if I could. I'm always looking for ways to preserve. Thank you in advance.
Melissa
Hi Linda, you just never know! There are other methods as well, but, when using whole milk, it requires quite a bit of time cooking to reduce. This method takes minutes in comparison. I hope this is helpful to the cooking community!
Melissa
Thanks *Arthur in the Garden.* Maybe it will come in handy one day. I appreciate your visits!
Linda
You are a life saver for sharing this. Thank you sweet friend, much appreciated!
Arthur in the Garden!
What a great tip!