Homemade Condensed Milk Quickly (with Powdered Milk)
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 with milk powder will do the trick in just 5 minutes. With this method, you can make sweetened or unsweetened condensed milk since 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 condensed milk at home.
What is condensed milk?
As the name suggests it’s milk that has been condensed to about 1/3 of its original volume by evaporating the liquid over low slow cooking.
Traditional vs quick method to make condensed milk
The Traditional method – Truth be told, the traditional way to make condensed milk takes hours. That’s because it requires taking (4 cups) milk and heating it on low heat, stirring often until it is reduced about 1/4 of its original volume (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.
The quick 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.
Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin)
- 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 condensed 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 the condensed milk. 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 condensed milk.
Useful tips and tools
- Use a heavy bottom saucepan that will not stick to the bottom when heating
- A spatula does a great job of stirring but a whisk helps keep the mixture lump-free
- If necessary strain the mixture thru a sieve if there are too many lumps.
- Save any leftovers in a mason jar for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
How to make Homemade Condensed Milk in 5 Minutes (Save/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.
- 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
And Voila!! You have your condensed milk ready and good to go.
Frequently asked questions
Canned condensed milk has a shelf life of one year until opened, once opened it can be left in the fridge for about 2 weeks. Similarly, homemade condensed milk will last for about 2 weeks in the fridge.
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.
This recipe here is similar 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 also 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 milk is always sweetened while evaporated milk 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.
There is so much you can do with leftover condensed milk. Try Coconut Macaroons, Cakes with Mirror Glaze, Lychee Kulfi, Chocolate Fudge, Semolina Pudding. 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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Homemade Condensed Milk in 5 minutes
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Ingredients
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.
Recipe Video
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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
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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
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.
Reeb
I did not know we could make condensed milk at home. I definitely going to try this soon. So cool.
Veena Azmanov
Yes we can and it’s really simple and easy too!
Preeti
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.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Preeti.
Helen of Fuss Free Flavours
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.
Veena Azmanov
It is expensive here too but also just so easy to make Helen. And yes making caramel sauce with it is not so economical
Chris
Love this recipe – Thanks
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Chris
Denise
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!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Denise. Condense milk is expensive here so this works great for me. Hope you find it useful too.
VideoPortal
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.
Denzehr
This sure will come in handy around the holidays.Thanks. Going on my recipe list for keeps!!!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you so much Danzehr
Kristine
I love making things myself and this recipe looks easy enough for me, haha! Thanks for sharing!
Veena Azmanov
You are so welcome Kristine
Sarah
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!
Veena Azmanov
Yes it is Sarah and it makes making milk desserts a lot easy. Delicious too!
Matt
How have I never thought of this?! Love that you could control the sweetness on this.
Veena Azmanov
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.
Giselle Rochford
I made condensed coconut milk over the summer and it was so good. Never realised how easy this stuff was to make!
Veena Azmanov
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