Homemade Condensed Milk in 5 minutes
Traditional condensed milk can take hours to make with endless stirring, which can be very tiring. This quick, easy and effortless recipe for homemade condensed milk will do the trick in just 5 minutes. With this method, you can make sweetened or unsweetened condensed milk. Since you are in control.
Homemade Quick Condensed Milk in 5 mins
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 condensed milk at home.
Homemade Condensed Milk in 5 minutes
The long method
Truth be told, the traditional way to make condensed milk would really take hours to make. That’s because it requires taking 4 cups of milk and heating it on low heat and stirring often until it is reduced about 1 cup. That usually would take like 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. No one wants to have burnt milk – do we?
The short method
Thanks to modern technology and the availability of milk powder you can make condensed milk 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.
Homemade Condensed Milk in 5 minutes
Want less sugar or unsweetened condensed milk?
This recipe here is almost similar (maybe a bit less sweet) to the condensed milk 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 condensed milk or reduce the quantity of sugar to make a less sweet dessert. Cool eh?
Traditional Method – How to Make Homemade Condensed Milk
Ingredients
- 6 cups whole milk
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
Method
- Place milk in a heavy-based saucepan over medium to low heat and let come to an almost boil.
- Turn the heat down to an almost simmer and continue to boil stirring frequently – almost every 3 to 5 minutes.
- When the milk has reduced to about 3 cups add the sugar and continue to boil on low simmer stirring frequently.
- The milk should reduce to about 1/3 it’s original volume – (about 2 to 3 cups).
- The more it reduces – the thicker the condensed milk.
- When you have reached desired consistency add the butter and vanilla extract.
- Remove from heat. Wait a few minutes to cool.
- Pour into a sterilized glass container and let cool completely before you store in the fridge.
- This will stay in the fridge for up to 10 days.
How to make Homemade Condensed Milk in 5 Minutes (Save/Pin)
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk (not low fat or skimmed)
- 2 cups milk powder
- 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup – white castor sugar (or white fine grain sugar)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
Method
- 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
And Voila!! You have your condensed milk ready and good to go.
Homemade Condensed Milk in 5 minutes
How to use?
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. The only recipe I have not tried it with yet is homemade fudge – if you do please let me know in the comments how was the outcome so everyone will know.
How to store?
Since this homemade version is made with fresh milk it’s shelf life is rather short compared to the canned condensed 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.
Recipes with condensed milk?
I have used condensed milk in many desserts and cookies such as my Easy Coconut Macaroons, Cakes with Mirror Glaze, Lychee Kulfi, Chocolate Fudge, Semolina Pudding.
Homemade Condensed Milk in 5 minutes
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You can find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.
Homemade Condensed Milk in 5 minutes
Homemade Condensed Milk in 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 250 ml Whole milk
- 250 grams Milk powder
- 50 grams sugar
- 4 tbsp butter (unsalted)
- 1 tsp vanilla
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.
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Master the Basics and Dominate the Kitchen
One way to improve your cooking or baking skills is to get a grip on your basic recipes. Often it’s more easy and quicker than you think it is. Simple things like making homemade caramel or butterscotch take five minutes but are so much better homemade.
Baking the perfect pie or pastry crust from scratch can make a huge difference to your homemade pies and desserts.
Did you know homemade buttermilk or condensed milk take less than 5 minutes as well? Yes!!
See some of my Basic Recipes with details or check out my Recipe Index for a list of all my recipes.
A collection of basic recipes by Veena Azmanov on veenaazmanov.com
Thank you for this recipe. Worked out great. Such a life save in just 5 mins
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
What do you mean by “1 cup whole milk (not fat)”?
Goeffrey – it suppose to be not low fat!! the word low was missing.. just changed it – thanks for bringing it to my attention.
I did not know we could make condensed milk at home. I definitely going to try this soon. So cool.
Yes we can and it’s really simple and easy too!
Your recipe has given an extra boost to put the effort for making my cooking delicious. Thanks a lot. Can’t wait to try this.
Thank you Preeti.
Condensed milk used to be so cheap, but I’ve noticed it is one of those old school ingredients that has increased in price considerably. So making for example caramel sauce with it, is not so economical. This is a great idea, easy to make and much kinder on the purse.
It is expensive here too but also just so easy to make Helen. And yes making caramel sauce with it is not so economical
Love this recipe – Thanks
Thank you Chris
This is genius! My father-in-law keeps giving me powdered milk and I don’t know what to do with it. I would never have thought to make my am sweet and condensed milk. Thanks for the tip!
Thank you Denise. Condense milk is expensive here so this works great for me. Hope you find it useful too.
Traditional condensed milk can takes hours but this quick and easy recipe will do the trick in just 5 minutes. Make sweetened or unsweetened condensed milk.
This sure will come in handy around the holidays.Thanks. Going on my recipe list for keeps!!!
Thank you so much Danzehr
I love making things myself and this recipe looks easy enough for me, haha! Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome Kristine
Is this where I admit that I’ve never ever used evaporated milk!? Lol.. I think I wasn’t quite sure what it was, so I always skipped anything that said to use it. So it’s just really thick milk?! That’s so good to know!
Yes it is Sarah and it makes making milk desserts a lot easy. Delicious too!
How have I never thought of this?! Love that you could control the sweetness on this.
Yeah.. that’s the best part. My grandma could not have much sweet so mom would only use the less sweet condensed milk for her.
I made condensed coconut milk over the summer and it was so good. Never realised how easy this stuff was to make!
That is true Giselle – Many don’t make desserts that have condensed milk cause it’s either expensive or hard to find. Had to share it cause I love desserts