Here you will learn How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk with 2 ingredients within 1 hour! You can make a vegan version by simply using plant-based milk.
This simple condensed milk recipe, like my 1-minute immersion blender mayonnaise and 5-minute blender peanut butter, demonstrates how to make a staple pantry ingredient at home quickly and with minimal ingredients.
Since condensed milk is naturally gluten-free, it is a great recipe for people with gluten allergies or celiac.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Creates delicate and creamy condensed milk perfect for sweetening tea;
- Works great in desserts like Raffaello balls or Rocher Coco;
- Can be used to make no-machine ice cream!
Ingredients
- Milk - you can use regular dairy (any fat %) or plant-based milk.
- Sugar - an artificial sweetener won't work in this recipe. See this recipe for sugar-free condensed milk.
How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk
Step 1. Add milk and sugar to a heavy-bottomed medium-large pot (a Dutch oven works great). Heat the milk over low-medium stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves.
Step 2. Once the sugar dissolved, turn the heat up to medium-high and bring milk to a simmer but don't boil it. Let the milk simmer for 45-60 minutes (until it starts to thicken and turns a yellowish creamy color).
Don't stir the milk during sthe immering process. To check for consistency, turn off the heat and wait till the milk stops simmering, then check consistency with a spoon.
If the milk is too runny, simmer for another 5-10 minutes and check again. If it starts to thicken, take it off the heat and run through a strainer to get rid of larger bits.
Allow the milk to cool to room temperature before transferring it to the refrigerator, where it will continue to thicken as it chills. Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- If you accidentally boil the milk, simply remove the milk skin after it's done simmering and strain it to get rid of lumps.
- Make sure all sugar dissolves before simmering the milk or it will crystalize.
- Raise the heat carefully until you reach the simmering stage and check on the milk occasionally to avoid boiling or burning it.
- Don't be afraid to raise the heat, if your milk is only barely bubbling, the process will take longer.
- Don't stir the milk while simmering to prevent crystallization.
- For a no-cook version see this 5-minute condensed milk recipe!
- Make Dulce de Leche with your homemade condensed milk and use it for this Macarron Dulce recipe! For an even richer bite check out these Churro Macarons.
Common Questions
The homemade version is much cheaper than the store-bought. Moreover, homemade condensed milk has no additives and preservatives commonly found in commercial versions, instead, it only calls for 2-3 pantry ingredients.
Heavy cream with 2 tablespoon of sugar or coconut cream can be used instead in most recipes. See these condensed milk substitutes for more ideas!
Evaporated milk is unsweetened and has a thin runny consistency, whereas condensed milk is simmered with sugar until it becomes thick and creamy. Because of these differences, they are not interchangeable and yield different results in dessert recipes.
How to Store
- Homemade condensed milk will last in the fridge for up to 1 month in an air-tight container.
- You can freeze it for up to 3 months. If it separates after thawing, just give it a good whisk to restore its smooth consistency!
More Easy Recipes You Will Love!
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How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk
Equipment
- 1 heavy-bottomed pot or a Dutch oven
Ingredients
- 720 grams milk, dairy or plant-based
- 200 grams sugar
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Instructions
- Add milk and sugar to a heavy-bottomed medium-large pot (a Dutch oven works great). Heat the milk over low-medium stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves.720 grams milk,, 200 grams sugar
- Once the sugar dissolved, turn the heat up to medium-high and bring milk to a simmer but don't boil it. Let the milk simmer for 45-60 minutes (until it starts to thicken and turns a yellowish creamy color).
- Don't stir the milk during sthe immering process. To check for consistency, turn off the heat and wait till the milk stops simmering, then check consistency with a spoon.If the milk is too runny, simmer for another 5-10 minutes and check again. If it starts to thicken, take it off the heat and run through a strainer to get rid of larger bits.
- Allow the milk to cool to room temperature before transferring it to the refrigerator, where it will continue to thicken as it chills. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- If you accidentally boil sweetened condensed milk, simply remove the milk skin after it's done simmering and strain it to get rid of lumps.
- Make sure all sugar dissolves before simmering the milk or it will crystalize.
- Raise the heat carefully until you reach the simmering stage and check on the milk occasionally to avoid boiling or burning it.
- Don't be afraid to raise the heat, if your milk is only barely bubbling, it will take longer to make sweetened condensed milk.
- Don't stir condensed milk while simmering to prevent crystallization.
- For a no-cook version see this 5-minute condensed milk recipe!
- Make Dulce de Leche with your condensed milk and use it for this Macarron Dulce recipe! For an even richer bite check out these Churro Macarons.
- Homemade sweetened condensed milk will last in the fridge for up to 1 month in an air-tight container.
- You can freeze sweetened condensed milk for up to 3 months. If it separates after thawing, just give it a good whisk to restore its smooth consistency!
Abby says
Hi! Do you know of this could work with any sweeteners instead of sugar? I would either use allulose, erythritol, monk fruit, insulin, or a mixture of those. Thanks for any thoughts!
James says
I tried other recipes but all were a disaster, either too sweet or took hours to make. Yours was the only one that worked.
I used all ORGANIC ingredients (to ensure I didn't feed my family toxic agrochemicals). It was delicious!!!
THANK YOU!!!