Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (2024)

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Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe Ingredients Instructions More For The Home Reader Interactions Comments Leave a Reply FAQs References

Aug 18, 2015 · 32 Comments

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Use this simple, 2-ingredient Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe whenever you need sweetened condensed milk but don't have any on hand.

Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe

I can't tell you how many times I've gone to make a recipe with sweetened condensed milk, only to find out I didn't have any. Or worse yet, I think I bought the sweetened condensed milk but actually grabbed a can of evaporated milk because they're right next to each other and I was pre-occupied with the kids.

That always puts me in a pickle because now I either have to forego my cooking or pack all three kids into the car and drive to the grocery store for ONE can of sweetened condensed milk.

Well I decided I needed a better option. I decided to try to figure out how to make homemade sweetened condensed milk so that I would never be in that unfortunate situation again. It turns out homemade sweetened condensed milk is literally just milk, sweetened with sugar, and reduced down.

This homemade sweetened condensed milk recipe takes about an hour to make BUT don't run away because it's a very hands-off, little effort recipe. You just add the ingredients to a saucepan, bring to a boil, then allow to simmer for about an hour, stirring whenever you're in the area and/or remember.

Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe

Use this simple, 2-ingredient Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe whenever you need sweetened condensed milk but don't have any on hand.

4.84 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 1 /2 cup

Calories:

Author: The Gracious Wife

Ingredients

▢ 1 ½ cups milk
▢ ½ cup sugar

Instructions

Combine milk and sugar in a medium saucepan. Stir to combine.
Bring mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Reduce heat and continue to simmer for about an hour, still stirring occasionally. Continue reducing until mixture is thick, ivory in color, and is down to about ½ cup.
When mixture is reduced, remove from heat and transfer to a container with a lid until ready to use. Keep refrigerated until used. Homemade sweetened condensed milk will be good at least until the expiration date of the milk used to make it.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Diane says
August 18, 2015 at 11:05 am

This recipe is so useful thank you! I will definitely save it for later. I'm always running out of ingredients I need like this one!
Reply
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- Kathy Littrell says
  February 02, 2023 at 12:47 pm
  
  Could you use evaporated milk and sugar to make this?
  Reply
  - Michelle says
    February 06, 2023 at 1:07 pm
    
    I've not tried it, but probably. Evaporated milk has already been "condensed," so the boil time would probably be shorter to get it to the sticky caramelly point
    Reply
All that's Jas says
August 21, 2015 at 12:25 pm

I had no clue you can make your own! Thanks for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop!
Reply
Jenna says
September 17, 2015 at 6:44 pm

I've always wondered how this was made and I will have to try this next time. Thanks!
Reply
Maria da Conceição says
December 15, 2015 at 12:18 pm

adorei esta receita vou testá~la com adoçante de forno e fogão.
obrigada!
Reply
Jane says
February 17, 2016 at 9:08 pm

Just came across this. What kind of milk can I use? Would it matter if I used 2%?
Reply
- Michelle says
  February 17, 2016 at 10:11 pm
  
  You can use 2% to make it, but it just may not taste as rich as a whole milk version of it.
  Reply
Pam says
March 10, 2016 at 7:03 pm

This is great! Thanks for sharing!! Do you think using Splenda would work for a "sugar free" sweetened condensed milk? I have a family full of diabetics and am always looking to cut sugar!
Reply
- Michelle says
  March 11, 2016 at 6:53 am
  
  I've never tried it, but it might! I think it might be a tad more runny since the sugar makes it sticky, but as long as you reduce it down, I think it could work. Let me know how it goes if you try it!
  Reply
Joey says
July 15, 2016 at 4:45 am

Hi! I plan on using this recipe for tonight's no-churn ice cream! Quick question, how long do I leave the mixture boiling and how high should the heat be?
Reply
- Michelle says
  July 15, 2016 at 7:59 am
  See Also
  How to Make Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Tea Recipe (Golden Milk) by Elizabeth Rider
  
  It takes about an hour to reduce it down. Start off with medium-high heat to bring to a boil. Then reduce it down to medium to medium-low, depending on where you see it start simmering.
  Reply
Nicole C. says
September 18, 2016 at 12:59 pm

Tried this with refrigerated coconut milk and coconut sugar. Didn't reduce at all. I'll give it another try with another milk and sugar. Really hoping to find something dairy free that works. Thanks for posting this recipe!
Reply
- Sherry says
  May 26, 2017 at 6:32 pm
  
  Did you ever find a dairy free combo that worked?
  Reply
Queene Greene says
October 26, 2016 at 10:50 pm

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Searched for a recipe for Sweetened Condensed Milk (for my Iced Coffee recipe) and found a boat-load all with added fat (butter) then stumbled on your recipe. PERFECT!!! Will never buy canned Sweetened Condensed Milk again! Thank you for sharing truly appreciate it!
Reply
Queene says
October 27, 2016 at 2:56 pm

Update: My second batch (made exactly to recipe) resulted in a thick (peanut butter like ) and grainy consistency. Although it tasted good, it wasn't pourable whatsoever. Anyone have any ideas where I went wrong? Appreciate any help.
Reply
- Michelle says
  October 28, 2016 at 7:06 am
  
  It sounds like the heat was too hot or it was cooked too long. Best guesses without actually seeing what happened
  Reply
- Danielle says
  December 13, 2016 at 11:27 am
  
  Did you use it in a recipe or did you discard it. Mine has turned out thick as well.
  Reply
Michelle says
January 18, 2017 at 9:33 pm

If a recipe calls for one can (14oz) would I have to triple this recipe? You've made it sound like the amount made would be the equivalent when needing a can but your recipe says it only yields 1/2 cup. Just want to clarify.
Reply
- Michelle says
  January 19, 2017 at 8:49 am
  
  A can of sweetened condensed milk is about 1 1/4 cup, so you would need to adjust the recipe accordingly, yes. To get exactly as much as in the can, use 1 1/4 cups sugar and 3 3/4 cups milk.
  Reply
Debbie says
August 19, 2017 at 2:26 pm

I have made this recipe many times now and have had different results. I always get hung up on simmering it down to 1/2 a cup. When I leave it too long it starts to caramelize and becomes way too thick. However, if this happens there are a few great cookie recipes that call for condensed milk and this "whoops" works well in it. I hate waste.
I don't know if it's our high altitude in Calgary but when you simmer it down for an hour it's not overly thick, but settles nicely in the refrigerator. I get approximately 1 cup from it. As well. I find it beneficial to whisk it in the pot regularly to keep it smooth.
I love this recipe and an anxious to try it with 2%
Reply
Becky says
August 20, 2017 at 12:03 pm

I love, I repeat love this recipe! I will never buy the canned version ever again. I mostly use it to make my own coffee creamer and use 2% milk since that's all I buy. I do more of my decadent cooking for the holidays and will use whole milk then. Can't wait! I can never get it reduced enough for the exact amount that is in the can but oh well the more the merrier.
Reply
Nicole says
August 27, 2017 at 11:58 pm

I would like to know if I use skim milk will it come out same. I love this recipe Very much. Some time went you need it you get it.
Reply
Roxana Dell’Osso says
March 06, 2018 at 12:28 pm

Love this!
I am on a keto program. Could I use coconut milk or almond milk + Splenda or Erythriol to make it.
Reply
- Michelle says
  March 06, 2018 at 3:36 pm
  
  I'm not sure if that would work. I'm guessing you'd have a better chance with coconut milk than almond milk. I can't say for sure how either will work though, since I've only tested this recipe with the ingredients I listed in the recipe. If you do try it, let me know how it goes. I'd love to share a keto-friendly option in the recipe notes!
  Reply
Michelle says
May 07, 2018 at 8:50 pm

I can't figure out what I've done wrong, but I want so badly to figure it out so I can make this recipe! Right when my mixture began to boil, I immediately turned it down as low as my stove would go. After about 20 minutes it began to curdle. Any idea how to fix this? Thanks!
Reply
- Michelle says
  May 07, 2018 at 9:32 pm
  
  I'm not sure if you can fix a curdled batch. But if you were to try it again, you might want to try turning down the heat even further after it comes to a boil, all the way down to low. And if you're using a larger pot/pan the cook time will be different, so be sure it's a medium sized saucepan.
  Reply
Becky Jumps says
June 28, 2018 at 10:18 pm

Can you make sweetened condensed from condensed milk, I bought that accidentally?
Reply
- Michelle says
  June 29, 2018 at 9:07 am
  
  Most condensed milk is usually already sweetened, so double check on that. I'm not sure what you could do if it wasn't sweetened other than adding sugar
  Reply
Jasmine says
October 15, 2018 at 1:39 am

I know the health benefits of the milk and milk products and that’s why I have my own healthy dairy products business. Condensed milk is one of the few milk and milk products rich in milk proteins. It combines nourishing value of both malt and milk, making it a power drink. It’s a passion to express myself and to make humans healthy.
Reply
Elizabeth says
June 25, 2019 at 9:59 am

Just tried your recipe. Love it! Thank you so much!!
Reply
Peggy says
September 01, 2021 at 3:13 pm

It worked! Genius hack.
Reply

Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it worth it to make your own condensed milk? ›

Homemade Is Better

Also, canned condensed milk can contain preservatives or additives, while homemade condensed milk only takes two ingredients to make. Finally, you can personalize your homemade condensed milk by adding different spices and extracts such as cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate, or nutmeg.

Discover More ›

How long does homemade sweetened condensed milk last? ›

Homemade sweetened condensed milk can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one month.

How to turn evaporated milk into sweetened condensed milk? ›

Mix 1 cup evaporated milk with 1 1/4 cups sugar. Heat until the sugar is dissolved, then cool. For a better substitute for sweetened condensed milk, use powdered milk. Combine 1 1/3 cups instant nonfat dry milk, 1 1/4 cups sugar, 1/2 cup boiling water and 3 tablespoons melted butter.

Know More ›

What is a good substitute for sweetened condensed milk? ›

If you run out of sweetened condensed milk, simply substitute the same amount of evaporated milk for a one-to-one alternative. The consistency in the dish will be near the same, but the flavor will not taste as sweet. You can add sugar to the evaporated milk if you prefer to up the sweetness.

Tell Me More ›

Why is condensed milk not advisable? ›

Evaporated milk has added sugar and carbohydrates which are very high, making sweetened condensed milk not healthy for nutritional intake for babies and children, Ali explained.

Show Me More ›

Does homemade condensed milk taste the same? ›

You can infuse the milk with aromatics, and better control the sugar content, so the end result can be dramatically different from a canned equivalent (like using toasted sugar and chai spices, or a vanilla bean, etc). I think so, more caramelized flavor.

Read On ›

Why is my homemade sweetened condensed milk not thickening? ›

If you find that your condensed milk hasn't thickened, that means that the pan was removed from the heat too early. This can be corrected by returning your mixture to a pan and carefully continuing the heating process.

Explore More ›

How long does condensed milk last in Mason jar? ›

Both should always be refrigerated after opening. Due to its high sugar content, condensed milk will last longer after opening than evaporated milk but use both optimally within five to seven days after opening. Freezing of evaporated milk is not recommended.

Keep Reading ›

Why won't my homemade condensed milk thicken? ›

If your condensed milk doesn't thicken after a couple of hours, it means you removed the pan from the heat early.

How much sugar do you add to evaporated milk to make condensed milk? ›

Substitutions. While we don't recommend substituting condensed milk for evaporated milk or vice versa, you can make your own condensed milk when you're in a pinch. Simply heat together 1½ cups of sugar and one can of evaporated milk until the sugar has fully dissolved.

View Details ›

What's the difference between condensed milk and sweetened condensed milk? ›

Condensed milk is evaporated milk that typically has sweetener added, so much so that the terms 'condensed milk' and 'sweetened condensed milk' are used interchangeably. Sugar is added before canning; condensed milk is very sweet and contains about 40 to 45 percent sugar.

Find Out More ›

What happens if you use evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk? ›

Condensed milk is very thick and sweet, so if you just use a can of evaporated milk in its place your recipe will not taste the same. The best substitute for condensed milk is heavy cream plus some sugar, depending on how much condensed milk your recipe calls for.

Find Out More ›

Can you make sweetened condensed milk with regular milk? ›

With Milk

1 1/2 cups whole milk.
1/2 cup granulated sugar.
2 tablespoons butter.
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Aug 13, 2021

Discover More ›

What are the ingredients of condensed milk? ›

Pure and simple aren't ingredients, but that's what makes our milk special. Our signature Sweetened Condensed Milk is only made from milk and sugar.

Find Out More ›

Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of sweetened condensed milk? ›

Heavy whipping cream has a similarly thick texture to sweetened condensed milk, making it a great option. However, since it is naturally unsweetened, you'll need to add a bit of sugar for it to be an even match.

Tell Me More ›

What are the disadvantages of condensed milk? ›

There could be gas, cramps, and stomach discomfort. Because condensed milk is more concentrated than the same volume of regular milk, it contains more lactose. Sweetened condensed milk includes a lot of calories, but it also has a lot of saturated fat, which is dangerous for people with diabetes and heart issues.

Why is condensed milk so expensive? ›

Additionally, the increased demand for the product has driven up its price, as manufacturers are unable to keep up with the demand. This has led to a rise in the cost of the product, which has further limited its availability.

Why is my homemade condensed milk not thick? ›

If your condensed milk doesn't thicken after a couple of hours, it means you removed the pan from the heat early. You can pour the mixture into a small pan and carefully continue to reduce the mixture.

Read The Full Story ›

Is it better to use sugar or sweetened condensed milk? ›

Using sweetened condensed milk to boost calorie content may be more beneficial than using sugar alone since the product also provides extra protein, fat and some bone-healthy minerals like calcium and phosphorus. You can store sweetened condensed milk for a long time without refrigeration.