Traditional sweetened condensed milk can take hours to make with endless stirring, which can be very tiring. This quick and easy recipe to make it homemade with milk powder in just 5 minutes. With this method, you can make this sweetened or unsweetened which keeps you are in control of the sugar.
How often have you been in a situation when you start making a recipe and realized that you don't have one of the ingredients? Well, that happened to me this past week. I needed condensed milk to make my creamy semolina pudding. But when I went to get some at the store they were out. So I had to go old school and make some myself.
Often, some of you comment that you don't get condensed milk where you live, or that its' really expensive. So, I thought I'd show you how simple and easy it is to make it at home.
About this recipe
As the name suggests condensed milk is milk that has been condensed to about ⅓ of its original volume by evaporating the liquid over low slow cooking. Today we are making it in just 5 minute. What does that mean?
The Traditional method - The traditional way to make this takes hours. That's because it requires taking (4 cups) milk and heating it on low heat, stirring often until it is reduced to about ¼ of its original volume (1 cup).
That usually would take about an hour or more. Also, you do have to stir it frequently so it does not touch the bottom of the pan and get burnt. See a video here - how I make traditional condensed milk
This quick method - Thanks to modern technology and the availability of powdered milk you can make this recipe in 5 minutes. So basically what we are doing is instead of heating the milk and evaporating all the liquid we are instead adding the powdered milk. Which of course has also been made by evaporating liquid from the milk.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Milk - it's best to use whole milk that's at least 3% fat. Skimmed milk has too much liquid so it will take longer to evaporate and you won't get thick milk. You can also use coconut milk, almond milk, or oats milk.
- Milk powder - again, you don't' want to use skimmed milk powder as it will not give you a thick consistency.
- Sugar - I've used white sugar but you can use brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, agave syrup, or even sugar-free alternatives. Do take note though that what you use as sweeter will also flavor it as well. For example, brown sugar adds a nice caramel flavor while maple makes a delicious maple condensed milk.
- Butter - I like to use unsalted white butter - the color of the butter you use will affect the color of your milk.
Video and step by step instructions (pin)
- Place milk in a heavy-based saucepan and let come to an almost boil.
- Add sugar - stir until dissolved.
- When the sugar dissolves add in the milk powder stirring with a whisk to avoid any lumps. (see video)
- After the milk powder is incorporated add the butter and the vanilla.
- Stir on low for about a minute or two until the mixture comes to almost boil again.
- Remove from heat, strain to remove any undissolved milk powder.
- Let cool completely.
- The mixture will thicken further as it cools (see video)
Frequently asked questions
The cans have a shelf life of one year until opened, once opened it can be left in the fridge for about 2 weeks. Similarly, the homemade traditional method will last for about 2 weeks in the fridge.
Well, then you will need to make this the traditional method. See here how I make traditional sweetened condensed milk
Since this homemade version is made with fresh milk it's shelf life is rather short compared to the canned milk of course. Ideally, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
It's best to make it fresh and use it sooner rather than later.
This recipe here is similar to the one you buy in a can. I kept it the same sweetness so it won't alter the recipe you are following.
And yet, you can omit the sugar and make this an unsweetened milk which is known as evaporated milk.
Alternatively, you can reduce the quantity of sugar to make a less sweet dessert.
The only difference between the two is that condensed is always sweetened while evaporated is unsweetened.
Well, you can use this in any recipe that calls for condensed milk. I have used it very frequently and so far have not had any issues.
Condensed milk and evaporated milk are the same. One is sweetened and one is unsweetened. If you want to make condensed from evaporated - add ½ cup sugar, 1 tbsp butter, and 1 tsp vanilla to one can of evaporated milk. Bring it to a boil until all sugar has dissolved and let cool again. You can also make evaporated milk in 5 minutes from scratch using the method we used to make this recipe
What can I make with the leftover of this recipe?
There is so much you can do with leftover milk. Try my condensed milk cookies, Sweetened condensed milk cookies, Coconut Macaroons, Cakes with Mirror Glaze, Lychee Kulfi, Chocolate Fudge, Semolina Pudding. Have you tried my cinnamon rolls with a CM glaze?
Of course, all my no-churn ice cream recipes use condensed milk - try my strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, mixed berry, dulce de leche, tiramisu, Belgium chocolate, dark chocolate, Oreo, caramel banana, matcha
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Description
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250 ml) Whole milk
- 2 cups (250 g) Milk powder
- ¼ cup (50 g) Sugar
- 4 tbsp (60 g) Butter (unsalted)
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place milk in a heavy-based saucepan and let come to an almost boil.
- Add sugar - stir until dissolved.
- When sugar is dissolved add in the milk powder stirring with a whisk to avoid any lumps.
- After the milk powder has been well incorporated add the butter and the vanilla.
- Stir on low for about a minute or two until the mixture comes to almost boil again.
- Remove from heat, strain to remove any undissolved milk powder.
- Let cool completely.
- The mixture will thicken further as it cools.
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Catharina Anthonissen
Hi there
I tried the quick condensed milk recipe, followed the ingredients to the letter. However, I believe one should add 500ml milk and 250 milk powder. One is not even able to stir it with 250ml and 250g each!
I then doubled the sugar and butter, as it wasn't sweet enough. Please could you double check the recipe?
Regards
Arina
Veena Azmanov
The recipe is correct, Catharina. Once you melt the sugar, the liquid is almost doubled. Plus milk melts giving you more liquid.
And the powdered milk melts in the milk so it does the job of thickening it.
If you add more liquid it will not be as thick as condensed milk.
I do have a video on the post. Thanks
Gigi
Could you make sweetened condensed milk with canned coconut milk using the 5 minute method. Allergies to regular milk.
Thanks
Veena Azmanov
Gigi. If you want thick coconut milk use coconut cream at the right consistency. If you add desiccated coconut to canned coconut milk it will be very grainy because it does not absorb the same way as milk powder. I hope that makes sense.
Rachael
Hi Veena
Was searching for homemade condensed milk recipe and yours looks quite easy.
Unsalted butter is not easily available were I am, so I was wondering if I could use margarine in place of unsalted butter?
Veena Azmanov
I have not tried margarine so not sure if it will work. You can use salted butter. Later if you use it as an ingredient you can adjust salt accordingly. I hope this helps
Fatima
Hi Veena, This sounds delicious! I'm really interested in trying this out with honey or maple sugar because I try to avoid refined white sugar altogether. Just a quick question.....Can this recipe be made using evaporated milk only...no powder or fresh. Your response will be appreciated, thanks a lot!
Veena Azmanov
Hey Fatima. I think you can make it with evaporated milk. Both are the same except that evaporated milk is condensed milk without sugar. As for the honey or maple - You can do it but you will need to reduce the milk some more. As they would would involve adding more liquid.
Julie Angwin
Didnt work for me even tho i used a heavy bottom pan it burned. Third attempt i put the heavy bottom pan in another pan of water to make a more gentle double boiler. Took ages to boil and even though stirred constantly had a grainy consistency even when left to thicken for an hour.
Would have been easier to just go buy some. Its obviously best left ro the experts
Veena Azmanov
Julie this is condensed milk in 5 minutes, not the classic condensed milk.
So, you don't need to cook it for so long. It thickens as it cools.
The whole process should take no more than 5 minutes.
Diane
Could I substitute coffee whitener for powered milk?
Veena Azmanov
Hey Diane, I have not tried coffee whitener? Is it dairy milk powder? If yes, then I suggest making a small batch first. If you like the consistency and taste only then make more. Thanks
Jayla
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.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Jayla.
Poonam
Hi..
What is the final yield in cups for this recipe
Thanks
Veena Azmanov
It makes about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cup Poonam. Depends on how much you cook it too. Thanks
Purvi Gogri
Hi,
Thank you for the recipe.
1.5 - 1.75 cup - is that about 400gms? or more?
Veena Azmanov
Usually 1 cup condensed milk is about 300 grams. This will be about 1 1/2 cup so, yeah that sounds about right.
Jasmine
Thank you for this recipe. Worked out great. Such a life save in just 5 mins
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Jasmine. happy to hear the recipe worked out well for you. Thanks for coming back to write this feedback. Love to hear from people who try my recipes. Have a nice day. Thanks
Geoffrey Stuart
What do you mean by "1 cup whole milk (not fat)"?
Veena Azmanov
Goeffrey - it suppose to be not low fat!! the word low was missing.. just changed it - thanks for bringing it to my attention.