Homemade Condensed Milk in 5 minutes

Homemade Condensed Milk in 5 minutes

Traditional condensed milk can takes hours but this quick and easy recipe for homemade Condensed milk will do the trick in just 5 minutes. Make sweetened or unsweetened condensed milk.

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 back old school and make some myself.

Some of you often comment that you don’t get condensed milk where you are or that its’ really expensive. So I thought I’d show you how simple and easy it is to make condensed milk at home.

The long method

Truth be told the traditional way to make condensed milk would really take hours to make because it would mean taking 4 cups milk and heating it on low heat stirring often until it reaches 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 alos been made by evaporating liquid from the milk but with the help of technology.

Want less sugar or unsweetened condensed milk?

This one is close the condensed milk you get in a can or may be a tad less sweet. But you can omit the sugar and make this an unsweetened condensed milk.

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 sauce pan over medium to low heat and let come to an almost boil.
• Then 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 – say about 2 to 3 cups.
• The more you reduce the more thicker your condensed milks.
• When you have reached desired consistency add the butter and vanilla extract.
• Remove from heat. Pour into a sterilized glass container and let cool completely before you store in the fridge.

Video – Homemade Condensed Milk in 5 minutes

Finally how to make Homemade condensed milk in 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole milk (not fat)
• 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 sauce pan and let come to an almost boil.
• Add sugar – stir till 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 thicker further as it cools

and Voila!! you have your condensed milk ready and good to go.

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 than later.

Save this recipe for later, you can find a collection of my recipes and tutorials here on Pinterest 

Recipe Card – Homemade Condensed Milk in 5 minutes

 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.