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    Home ~ Recipes ~ Small Batch Desserts

    How to Make Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk

    LAST UPDATED: Sep 16, 2022 · PUBLISHED: Sep 13, 2022 · BY: Sydney · 1 Comment

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    This sweetened condensed milk recipe is absolutely fabulous and so easy to make. Made with just 4 simple and fresh ingredients. Once you taste homemade you will never go back to the canned stuff again!

    this Recipe

    Bonus: You can also make sweetened condensed milk using just a can of evaporated milk and sugar. The process is in the recipe card notes section!

    Table of Contents
    • ✔ Main Ingredients Notes
    • 👩‍🍳 How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk
    • 📖Helpful RecipeTips
    • Tools For This Recipe
    • 🍽️Suggested Ways to Use Condensed Milk
    • Storage
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Comments

    ✔ Main Ingredients Notes

    When making from scratch you just need these four simple ingredients

    • Milk: My go-to for this recipe is whole milk, however, you can use the low-fat 2% milk. Almond milk can be substituted.
    • Sugar: White granulated sugar sweeten the milk. The sugar can be substituted with honey or maple syrup.
    • Vanilla Paste: This gives the milk that deep classic flavor. If you don't have vanilla paste then you can use an equal amount of vanilla extract.
    • Butter: Always use unsalted butter.

    See the recipe card for ingredient quantities.

    👩‍🍳 How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk

    (Note: please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the complete written instructions.)

    Pour milk and sugar into a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Whisking until the sugar has completely dissolved.

    Milk and sugar in saucepan with green handle.


    Allow the milk to slowly simmer for about 30 mins, it will reduce by half. Stir frequently to avoid burning. Milk burns easily so keep an eye on the saucepan.


    Once it has been reduced by half, remove the heat. Stir in the vanilla and butter. Return the saucepan to the stovetop and whisk until it’s well combined.

    Pour the mixture into a heat safe container and let it cool to room temperature, then transfer to the fridge for storage or use it right away.

    📖Helpful RecipeTips

    If the butter separates while cooling just stir it back together. Be sure to shake well before use.

    Tools For This Recipe

    (Amazon Affiliate Links) Check out my other recommendations on my Small Kitchen Stor page

    • Medium Saucepan - I prefer using an enameled saucepan for making condensed milk.
    • Whisk or Rubber Spatula
    • 8-ounce Glass Mason Jars

    🍽️Suggested Ways to Use Condensed Milk

    • Making quick fudge
    • No churn ice cream
    • Makes a great lemon tart filling
    • Cook it further to turn it into a caramel sauce
    • Dollop in your coffee

    Storage

    This recipe will stay fresh in a covered container for up to 5 days. The condensed milk can be frozen for up to 2 months. This is a wonderful recipe to keep on hand during the holiday season for those impromptu fudge recipes!

    Did you make this recipe? I would love it if you left a comment or review! Be sure to sign up for the email list, and follow "A Weekend Cook" on Pinterest and my Facebook page.

    📖 Recipe

    Mason jar with chalkboard label and filled with sweetened condensed milk.

    Sweetened Condensed Milk

    This sweetened condensed milk recipe is absolutely fabulous and so easy to make. with just 4 simple and fresh ingredients. Once you taste homemade you will never go back to the canned stuff again!
    4.50 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes
    Cooling: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
    Servings: 8 ounces
    Calories: 160kcal
    Author:Sydney Dawes

    Equipment

    • Mason Jar

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups whole milk
    • ¾ cups granulated sugar
    • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla paste or extract

    Instructions

    • Pour milk and sugar into a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Whisking until the sugar has completely dissolved.
      2 cups whole milk, ¾ cups granulated sugar
    • Allow the milk to slowly simmer for about 30 mins, it will reduce by half. Stir frequently to avoid burning. Milk burns easily so keep an eye on the saucepan.
    • Once it has been reduced by half, remove the heat. Stir in the vanilla and butter. Return the saucepan to the stovetop and whisk until it’s well combined.
      1 teaspoon vanilla paste or extract, 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • Pour the mixture into a heat-safe container and let it cool to room temperature, then transfer to the fridge for storage or use it right away.

    Notes

    Watch the saucepan carefully so as not to burn the milk.
    Bonus: 2 ingredients Sweetened Condensed Milk -You will need:
    1 (12-ounce) can evaporate milk
    1 ½ cups of granulated sugar
    Bring the evaporated milk and sugar to a boil, stirring constantly. Stir until the sugar is fully melted. Pour into a mason jar or air-tight container to cool for 30-45 mins. Use immediately or store in the fridge for up to 2 days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 8g | Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 24mg | Sugar: 22g | Calcium: 77mg

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Kat

      September 17, 2022 at 7:09 am

      It’s easy, worked out well!

      Reply

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    Cooking scrumptious small batch recipes for one and sometimes for two are created in my small 1960’s kitchen. I learned to cook Shepherds Pie in England and Classic Marinara while living in Italy. Born in Southern California and raised in the Midwest, my cooking represents the best of both regions with an added touch of Southern hospitality.

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