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    Home » Sweets » How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk (with Secret Ingredient!)

    How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk (with Secret Ingredient!)

    Dec 3, 2014 · 18 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Making your own sweetened condensed milk is as easy as blending three ingredients together in a saucepan. Read how you can use natural sweeteners such as honey and coconut sugar and find out what the secret ingredient is that makes this so creamy and rich! Check out this easy 3-ingredient tutorial on how to make sweetened condensed milk!

    How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk -Making your own sweetened condensed milk is as easy as blending three ingredients together in a saucepan. Read how you can swap to use natural sweeteners such as honey and coconut sugar and find out what the secret ingredient is that makes this so creamy and rich! Check out this easy 3-ingredient tutorial on how to make sweetened condensed milk! #condensedmilk #homemade

    I may receive a commission if you purchase with links in this post. Full disclosure. 

    With baking season in full swing, bakers and chefs alike are ambushing the grocery stores stocking up on sweetened condensed milk for that homemade fudge, or cranberry cream bars, or eating straight out of the can.

    But if you only knew how easy it is to make sweetened condensed milk at home!!

    What is Sweetened Condensed Milk?

    Traditionally, condensed milk is made using cow's milk but I've had success with coconut milk and I read that nut milks typically work well also.

    Condensed milk is just that. You gently boil it so as much of the water content is evaporated as possible.  The difference between evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk is the sugar content. As the title suggests, sweetened condensed milk has sugar added, making it a luscious, rich heavenly concoction of sweetened condensed milk. That's why it's often used in baked goods.

    How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk -Making your own sweetened condensed milk is as easy as blending three ingredients together in a saucepan. Read how you can swap to use natural sweeteners such as honey and coconut sugar and find out what the secret ingredient is that makes this so creamy and rich! Check out this easy 3-ingredient tutorial on how to make sweetened condensed milk! #condensedmilk #homemade

    What is the best sweetener to use in Sweetened Condensed Milk?

    The main ingredients in sweetened condensed milk is sugar and milk. The secret ingredient that makes this rick and creamy is butter but let's talk about sweeteners for a bit.

    Typically, regular cane sugar is used in sweetened condensed milk. Admittedly, that is what I've used for years until I learned that this creamy staple can be made with honey or coconut sugar. And although I have not attempted to use wholesome sweeteners, I can almost bet that it would work just as well as regular sugar. The only thing to be mindful is the finished product may be a reflection of the sweetener you use (i.e. coconut sugar is a deep brown color).

    Note: I have notes in the recipe card for substitutions. But please note, I've not personally tested these alternative sweeteners. I have no reason to believe that they would NOT work, but the only tested recipe by me is using organic cane sugar. I will update this post if I do try alternative sweeteners in sweetened condensed milk. Likewise, if you used other sweeteners, please drop a comment here to let us all know!

    Want to read more on wholesome sweeteners? Check out this post on Alternative Natural Sweeteners!

    How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk -Making your own sweetened condensed milk is as easy as blending three ingredients together in a saucepan. Read how you can swap to use natural sweeteners such as honey and coconut sugar and find out what the secret ingredient is that makes this so creamy and rich! Check out this easy 3-ingredient tutorial on how to make sweetened condensed milk! #condensedmilk #homemade

    How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk

    The key to making the perfect batch of sweetened condensed milk is to cook it at low steady heat and for long period of time, reducing the quantity by half.  And butter.  Adding butter is what makes it creamy and decadent.  I promise you, it will be just like the store-bought thick and smooth texture and flavor that we all remember from our childhood.  I remember licking every bit of the condensed milk from a can as if it was the last can on earth.

    How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk -Making your own sweetened condensed milk is as easy as blending three ingredients together in a saucepan. Read how you can swap to use natural sweeteners such as honey and coconut sugar and find out what the secret ingredient is that makes this so creamy and rich! Check out this easy 3-ingredient tutorial on how to make sweetened condensed milk! #condensedmilk #homemade

    How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk -Making your own sweetened condensed milk is as easy as blending three ingredients together in a saucepan. Read how you can swap to use natural sweeteners such as honey and coconut sugar and find out what the secret ingredient is that makes this so creamy and rich! Check out this easy 3-ingredient tutorial on how to make sweetened condensed milk! #condensedmilk #homemade

    How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk

    Anya @ Prepare & Nourish
    Make this baking staple with 3 ingredients!
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr 30 mins
    chilling time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 35 mins
    Course Dessert
    Servings 1 pint

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups whole milk
    • ⅔ cup organic granulated sugar see notes for substitutions
    • 3 tablespoons real butter

    Instructions
     

    • In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, whisk milk and sweetener together.  
    • Whisking often, bring to a boil on medium-high heat. Watch the milk closely so it doesn't boil over. 
    • As soon as the steam starts lifting off the milk and sugar is dissolved (about 13 minutes), reduce heat to the lowest setting and continue to gently boil. 
    • Add butter and continue to cook for about another 1hr 15 minutes, stirring the milk approximately every 15 minutes.
    • Once reduced to about 1 cup, pour into a pint size jar. 
    • Allow to chill and it will thicken just like the stuff in the jar ready to be used in your favorite recipes. 

    Notes

    To use alternative sweeteners, follow this guideline:
    • use same amount of coconut sugar but please note, the color of the finished product will be darker than in photos
    • to use honey or maple syrup, use ½ cup instead of ⅔ as per recipe. Use light colored honey. If using maple syrup, the color of finished product will be darker than in photos. 
    This recipe works great when doubling. 
    Nutrition Information
    The information shown is an estimate provided for your convenience by an online calculator. It should not be considered as a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our complete Nutritional Information Disclaimer.
    Keyword GAPS, honey-sweetened, sweets
    ©Prepare and Nourish • Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated but please do NOT screenshot or copy/paste complete recipes to websites or social media.
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Mention @prepareandnourish and be sure to tag #prepareandnourish!

    If you liked the recipe above, please consider rating the recipe and leaving a comment below. Also, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk -Making your own sweetened condensed milk is as easy as blending three ingredients together in a saucepan. Read how you can swap to use natural sweeteners such as honey and coconut sugar and find out what the secret ingredient is that makes this so creamy and rich! Check out this easy 3-ingredient tutorial on how to make sweetened condensed milk! #condensedmilk #homemade

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    In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Please note that I only endorse products that are in alignment with Prepare & Nourish’s ideals and that I believe would be of value to my readers. Prepare & Nourish is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and/or information are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. For additional information, please visit my full Disclosure page.

     

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    About Anya

    Sharing wholesome recipes using seasonal ingredients and simplified methods since 2014. My hope is you'll feel right at home in this online kitchen, where you'll find real food recipes for real families.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lu says

      July 17, 2018 at 9:27 am

      Where the recipe ? I couldn't find anywhere how much milk , sugar and butter ?Please Thank You!

      Reply
    2. Lu says

      July 17, 2018 at 9:50 am

      Please can you email me the ingredients list ? How much of sugar, milk and butter ?

      Reply
      • Anya says

        August 01, 2018 at 12:10 pm

        Hi Lu,
        I apologize for that. The recipe has been fixed. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Jan says

      January 22, 2019 at 7:29 am

      Any results with using honey? Interested in keeping down the sugars

      Reply
      • Anya says

        January 23, 2019 at 6:42 am

        I'm sure it would work just as well. The finished product will most likely be darker in color but the taste still delicious - and yes - much healthier!

        Reply
    4. Tami says

      June 24, 2019 at 8:33 am

      How long does this last?

      Reply
      • Anya says

        June 26, 2019 at 8:33 am

        I would not store it beyond 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator. But it usually goes fast - especially with baking!

        Reply
    5. Jennifer Warren says

      July 10, 2019 at 8:24 pm

      Would 2% milk work?

      Reply
      • Anya says

        July 11, 2019 at 12:45 pm

        It should! But I haven't tried it myself to let you know how it turns out. If you do, please come back and tell us how it goes. 🙂

        Reply
    6. Ben says

      November 04, 2019 at 7:02 am

      Idk bloggers don’t just put the recipe at the top. No one actually reads all the mumbo jumbo bull*** before you actually get to the ingredients!

      Reply
      • Anya says

        November 14, 2019 at 9:33 pm

        The bull**** you're referring to has very important information about the recipe itself. Feel free to scroll down to the ingredients if you don't care for helpful tips and tricks to get a successful recipe.

        P.S. I edited your comment to reflect my no-cursing rule on my site. Thanks for understanding. 😉

        Reply
    7. Sam says

      November 04, 2019 at 7:04 am

      What is the “secret ingredient” supposed to be? The organic sugar?

      Reply
      • Anya says

        November 14, 2019 at 9:30 pm

        The butter to make it rich and creamy. 🙂

        Reply
    8. Elizabeth says

      October 30, 2022 at 5:11 pm

      What brand you use as real butter?

      Reply
      • Anya says

        October 31, 2022 at 10:03 am

        We prefer Rumianos or Kerrygold unsalted but any grass-fed butter will work.

        Reply

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