Substitute for Sweetened Condensed Milk + A Recipe - Shelf Cooking (2024)

You know you love the stuff. We all do. The sticky-sweet taste of sweetened condensed milk makes just about everything better. But what happens when you just don't have any on-hand? Make your own using our simple substitutes. We're even sharing a sweetened condensed milk recipe so you can DIY your own!

Substitute for Sweetened Condensed Milk + A Recipe - Shelf Cooking (1)

There are so many delicious baked recipes to enjoy this time of year! And so many of them call for the ooey, gooey, yummy ingredient known as sweetened condensed milk.

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So, what is sweetened, condensed milk? Furthermore, what do you do when you run out of the good stuff? Never fear! You can swap in these handy dandy substitutes OR go the DIY direction to make your own with our recipe below!

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WHAT IS SWEETENED, CONDENSED MILK?

Sweetened condensed milk is really pretty simple when you break it down. It's “condensed cow's milk” that has had most of the water removed from it. Then, it's “sweetened” using added sugar to make it extra delicious. No wonder it's so good.

Sweetened condensed milk is used for everything from making candy to brownies, frostings, and more. People even use it to sweeten tea and coffee!

It's important to note that sweetened condensed milk is not like evaporated milk (which is essentially unsweetened condensed milk).

NEED A SUBSTITUTE FOR SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK?

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So, knowing what makes sweetened condensed milk so unique, it makes sense why you'll need some unique options! That way, you can substitute as needed with any of these tried-and-true substitutions:

  • Cream of CoconutDon't confuse this with coconut cream. Cream of coconut comes in cans and is much sweeter. You can substitute it in at a 1:1 ratio for a great sweetened condensed milk option.
  • Evaporated Milk Combine one 12-ounce can of evaporated milk with 3/4 cup sugar and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Then let cool slightly before using it in a recipe.
  • Coconut MilkAllow a can of coconut milk to sit for 30 minutes and then skim the fat off the top. Then you can use the thinned liquid combined with 3/4 cup sugar to make a sweetened condensed milk alternative.

We love the cream of coconut option personally because it has the same effect in a dish as sweetened condensed milk with a tropical flair. (We're definitely in favor of any quick trip to the tropics!)

GOT LEFTOVER SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK?

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Have half a can leftover of sweetened condensed milk? Don't dump it out! There are lots of things that you can do to use it up:

  • Pour Over Ice Cream – Mmmmm…. Doesn't this sound amazing? The combination of cold, creamy ice cream and sweet and amazing sweetened condensed milk. Excuse us while we wipe the drool.
  • Improve a Soda – Add a little splash to your Diet co*ke or Dr. Pepper for a creamy delicious extra.
  • Add It to a Sweet Treat – Make up a quick box of brownies and then drizzle your leftover condensed milk to take them to next level UH-MAZING.
  • Top a Shaved Ice – Sweetened condensed milk is something shaved ice aficionados use all the time in Hawaii. Simply drizzle it over the top of your shaved ice and enjoy your very own Hawaiian-style shaved ice.
  • Overnight Oats – Make our yummy overnight oats and add your sweetened condensed milk as the sweetener.

Pro Tip: If you don't want to use up that leftover can just yet, good news! You can store sweetened condensed milk in the fridge for up to a month if you transfer it to a sealed container.

MAKE YOUR OWN DIY SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK

If you want to try your hand at making your own batch of sweetened condensed milk, you can use this super simple recipe that keeps for up to a week in the refrigerator.

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Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe

Whip up this simple substitute for sweetened condensed milk using regular milk and sugar. It's sooooooo good!

5 from 1 vote

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 55 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Ingredient

Cuisine American

Servings 1 cups

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • ¾ cup sugar

Instructions

  • Add milk and sugar to a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat to dissolve the sugar.

  • Once the mixture boils, reduce the heat to medium-low.

  • Let it simmer uncovered for 45 minutes or until the mixture reduces to 1 ⅓ cup.

  • Remove from heat and allow to cool.

  • Use immediately or transfer to an air-tight storage container to chill for up to 1 week.

Keyword delicious

This is a super easy and cost-effective way to avoid paying the high prices at the grocery store for sweetened condensed milk. Man, that stuff is spendy, especially during the baking season (if you can even find it)!

Can you think of other ways to use up sweetened condensed milk? Leave a comment below and share with us your suggestions.

Substitute for Sweetened Condensed Milk + A Recipe - Shelf Cooking (5)

Looking for other ways to substitute common ingredients?

  • Find an easy cream substitute with lots of different types.
  • 10 smart suggestions for egg substitutes.
  • The very best fake-out take-out honey sesame chicken.

Stay sweet!

Substitute for Sweetened Condensed Milk + A Recipe - Shelf Cooking (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for sweetened condensed milk in recipes? ›

For a substitute, simmer 2 cups of almond milk over low heat until the liquid reduces to 1 cup. (This is not a one-to-one alternative. You do need 2 cups of almond milk to make one cup of sweetened condensed milk.) To sweeten this up, you can add 2/3 cup of any type of sugar and mix.

How much sugar do I substitute for condensed milk? ›

One 14-ounce can is roughly the same as adding 1 cup of evaporated milk and 1 cup of granulated sugar (more accurate is 7 oz. evaporated milk and 7 oz- which is 1 cup- sugar). You can also use half-and-half, whipping cream, coconut milk, coconut cream, or powdered milk mixed to double strength.

How do you turn evaporated milk into sweetened condensed milk? ›

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.

Is half-and-half same as condensed milk? ›

Half and Half, is half milk and Half cream. Condensed milk is milk with water boiled away leaving a thick milk. It is also often sweetened. So many times condensed milk and sweetened condensed milk are thought the same.

What is the same as 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.

Can I use regular milk instead of condensed milk in a recipe? ›

While you could use ordinary milk wherever evaporated is called for, in sauces or in coffee, it would taste thinner. CONDENSED milk is both evaporated and preserved with a great deal of sugar. It is almost a liquid candy straight out of the can. To substitute you would need to add more sugar to your recipe.

What can I use instead of condensed or evaporated milk? ›

We have 6 different suggestions for evaporated milk substitutions.
  • Regular Milk (whole, 2% or skim) ...
  • Heavy Cream. ...
  • Half-and-Half. ...
  • Powdered Milk. ...
  • Regular Non-Dairy Milk (almond, oat, etc) ...
  • Coconut Milk.
Feb 28, 2023

Can you make condensed milk at home? ›

Method
  1. Begin cooking the ingredients: Combine the milk, sugar, and salt in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan. ...
  2. Lower the heat and simmer: Once the sugar is dissolved, lower the heat to maintain a simmer. ...
  3. Check the color and consistency: ...
  4. Store:
Mar 13, 2023

How do you substitute milk and sugar for condensed milk? ›

This homemade sweetened condensed milk makes enough to substitute one 15-ounce can. Multiply based on your recipe needs. In a medium saucepan ($20, Target) combine 2 cups whole milk and 1 cup sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar.

Is evaporated milk directly interchangeable with sweetened condensed milk? ›

Even though these are both shelf-stable, concentrated forms of milk and have some similarities, evaporated and condensed milk cannot be used interchangeably.

Is baking with evaporated milk the same as condensed milk? ›

As Leal explains: "Evaporated milk offers creaminess without sweetness and is suitable for savory dishes and some desserts. On the other hand, sweetened condensed milk is intensely sweet and used in desserts and sweet treats, thanks to its thick, syrupy texture."

Are evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk interchangeable? ›

No! 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.

What is the best substitute for condensed milk? ›

If dairy isn't an issue, heavy cream can substitute for condensed milk. But if you're avoiding dairy, the only thing that can sometimes substitute for condensed milk “as is” is full-fat coconut milk. However, full-fat coconut milk may not have the condensed milk consistency you're going for.

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.

Can I use cream instead of condensed milk? ›

Can you substitute sweetened condensed milk for heavy cream or half & half in recipes? Simply mix 1 cup of heavy cream with ¼ cup of sugar to get a creamy rich alternative. You can use this as a 1:1 exchange for sweetened condensed milk in any recipe.

What does sweetened condensed milk do in baking? ›

It provides a concentrated creaminess and sweet, milky flavor to whatever you put it in, without all the excess moisture that you get from regular old milk. That makes it perfect for creamy things that you want to set to a near-solid, like key lime pie, fudge, frozen margarita pie, or caramel.

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.

Why do you use sweetened condensed milk in baking? ›

Underrated but definitely not underused, sweetened condensed milk is as much of a backbone in classic baking as sugar is. The thick syrup contributes both the sweetness of sugar and the benefits of milk without adding too much liquid since condensing milk removes moisture and concentrates the natural sugars.

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