Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk takes three pantry ingredients and five minutes of whisking. No stove, no can opener, no last-minute grocery run. It comes together in one bowl and thickens as it rests. One batch replaces a standard 14 ounce can.
Here are a few other recipes that you can make when you need them. Learn How To Make Ricotta Cheese and How to Make Marshmallow Fluff.
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Why this Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe is a Keeper
This is the recipe that saves a baking project at nine on a Sunday night. Here is why it works.
ONLY USE 2-4 OF THE MOST APPLICABLE FEATURES.
- No Cooking Required: Hot tap water does all the dissolving, so the stove stays off entirely.
- Pantry Ingredients: Sugar, dry milk powder, and water. That is the whole list.
- Ready in 15 Minutes: Five minutes to whisk, ten minutes to thicken, and you are back to baking.
- Easy to Adapt: Swap in coconut milk powder or a sugar alternative depending on what you need.
- Use Sweetened Condensed Milk in my: Vanilla Fudge (2 Ingredients), Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew Coffee or my Crock Pot Hot Cocoa.
What is the Difference Between Condensed and Evaporated Milk?
Sweetened condensed milk is milk with added sugar, making it thick, sticky, and very sweet. Evaporated milk is unsweetened milk with more than half the water removed, making it creamy but pourable. They’re not interchangeable because the sugar content dramatically changes flavor, texture, and behavior in recipes.
Pro Tip to Make Homemade Condensed Milk
Use water that is genuinely hot, not warm. Lukewarm water leaves grainy undissolved sugar behind. If lumps of dry milk are still floating after a minute of whisking, keep going. They will smooth out.
Pantry Staple Ingredients
Three ingredients, and each one has a job. Here is what to know.
This is an overview of key ingredients. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Granulated Sugar: This provides both the sweetness and the thick, syrupy body of the finished milk.
- Use Powdered Milk: This is dehydrated whole milk with the water removed, which is what makes the mixture concentrated.
- Hot Water: It needs to be hot enough to dissolve both the sugar and the milk powder completely.
Variations and Substitutions – Make Dairy-Free
These sweetened condensed milk recipes adapt easily to what you have. Try one of these swaps to make this recipe.
➡️ Swap the Sweetener: Honey, maple syrup, or a white sugar alternative all work in place of granulated sugar.
➡️ Go Dairy Free: Coconut milk powder makes a non-dairy version with a slight coconut note.
➡️ Use Cream of Coconut: It gives a richer, sweeter result that works well in tropical desserts.
➡️ Try Almond Milk Powder: This makes a lighter version for anyone avoiding dairy.
➡️ Double the Batch: Scale it up if a recipe calls for more than one can worth.
Kitchen Tools To Make Easy Homemade Condensed Milk
Nothing specialized. These four things are all you need.
- Mixing Bowls: One medium bowl gives you enough room to whisk without splashing. Shop here: Mixing Bowls
- Measuring Cups: The sugar to milk powder ratio matters, so measure rather than eyeball. Shop here: Measuring Cups
- Airtight Container: You need one for storing any portion you do not use right away. Shop here: Airtight Containers
How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk
Here is the short version. Full detail is in the recipe card below.
These are just highlights. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Combine the sugar, dry milk powder, and hot water in a medium mixing bowl.
- Whisk until the sugar dissolves and no lumps of milk powder remain.
- Rest the mixture for about ten minutes so it thickens properly.
- Use it right away, or refrigerate it in an airtight container until you need it.
Prep Ahead and Short Cut Tips to Make Condensed Milk
This is fast enough to make on demand, but a little planning helps.
➡️ Make It a Day Early: Mix a batch the night before a baking day and keep it chilled.
➡️ Measure Dry Ingredients Ahead: Portion the sugar and milk powder into a jar so you only add water later.
➡️ Keep Milk Powder Stocked: A canister in the pantry means you are never stuck without a can.
➡️ Batch for the Holidays: Double or triple the recipe when you have several dessert projects lined up.
➡️ Label the Container: Note the date, since this keeps four to six days in the fridge.
Alternate Cooking Methods
If you have evaporated milk instead of milk powder, there is another route.
- ➡️ Simmer Evaporated Milk: Combine one 12 ounce can of evaporated milk with one and a half cups sugar in a saucepan.
- ➡️ Boil Then Reduce: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat while stirring constantly, then simmer on low until it thickens.
- ➡️ Blend It Smooth: A blender handles the dry milk version faster than whisking by hand.
Will My Condensed Milk Thicken as it Cools?
This mixture thickens as it cools, not while you are whisking it. Give it the full ten minutes before you judge the texture. It will keep thickening in the fridge. If it still seems thin, check your measurements. Too much water throws off the ratio quickly. A cold batch straight from the refrigerator will be noticeably thicker than a fresh one.
Store and Use Leftover Sweet Condensed Milk
- Storing: Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for four to six days. It thickens further as it chills.
- Reheating: There is no reheating needed. Let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes or stir it to loosen.
- Using Leftovers: Stir a spoonful into coffee as a sweet creamer. It also works in fudge, banana pudding, no-bake pies, and homemade ice cream.
Expert Tips to Make Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk
A few things I have learned making this on short notice.
➡️ Whisk Longer Than You Think: I keep going past the point where it looks done, since lumps hide at the bottom of the sweetened condensed milk.
➡️ Let It Cool Fully: I never judge the thickness while it is still warm because it always looks too thin.
➡️ Measure the Water Exactly: I use a liquid measuring cup here, since a splash too much changes the texture.
➡️ Taste Before Using: I check the sweetness first, especially when I have swapped in honey or maple syrup.
➡️ Make It Fresh When Possible: I get the best texture from a batch used the same day I mix it.
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Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk
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Ingredients
- ¾ cup Granulated sugar
- ¾ cup Dry milk powder
- ½ cup Hot water
Instructions
- Combine the granulated sugar, dry milk powder, and hot water in a medium mixing bowl.
- Whisk the mixture until the sugar has fully dissolved and no lumps of dry milk remain.
- Let the mixture rest for about 10 minutes to thicken.
- Use the sweetened condensed milk immediately, or transfer it to an airtight container.
- Refrigerate the container until you are ready to use it.
Christina’s Notes
- Use Genuinely Hot Water: Lukewarm water leaves undissolved sugar and a grainy texture behind.
- Do Not Skip the Rest: The full ten minutes is what turns a thin mixture into proper condensed milk.
- Measure Precisely: Extra water throws off the ratio and leaves the batch permanently runny.
- Yields One Can: One batch replaces a standard 14 ounce can in most recipes.
- Refrigerate to Store: Keep it in an airtight container for four to six days.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Hello, thank you so much for this recipe. I’m pregnant and I’m afraid of having gestational diabetes. So can I apply this formula?
Donkey Kong