The other day I got a comment from a reader asking for a substitute for condensed milk, which is not easily available in her country. So, here comes the solution: Home-made Condensed Milk.
That got me thinking that I should put up the recipe for home-made condensed milk on the blog… as making it at home is very easy and it takes all of 20 minutes!
You know I like making things from scratch and I am a strong believer in “home-made” cooking, whenever possible. Doesn’t it feel good when you know exactly what goes inside your tummy and in that of your loved ones? No hidden nasties or preservatives in this condensed milk and it tastes just like the canned stuff, if not better!
You can use this for any recipe that calls for condensed milk like my Condensed Milk Cookies,
Or my Condensed Milk and Coconut Cake.
Or eat it off the spoon… it is that good, believe me! Ask my kids! hehehe
Enjoy and don’t forget to let me know how you like it by leaving a comment in the comment section below!
Home-made Condensed Milk
How to make Home-made Condensed Milk in less than 20 minutes!
Ingredients
- 500 ml – 2 cups milk
- 200 gms – 1 cup sugar
- 1 pinch baking soda
Instructions
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Pour the milk in a pan and add the sugar.
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Bring to a boil and then simmer on a medium-high flame, stirring regularly. It needs to reduce by half its volume. This should take about 20 minutes. The milk can boil over anytime, so keep watching it.
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After about 17-18 minutes, the milk will turn a very vibrant color and the texture will be very frothy.
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Once cooled, stir well and store in an air tight container or use immediately.
Don’t forget to pin this post on how to make your own Condensed Milk at home!
Love this one Manu! How long will it keep?
It keeps for up to 1 month in the fridge, though mine never lasts more than a week. The good thing about it is that you can make just enough as you need, as it takes only 20 minutes – no wastage! 🙂
Lovely, thanks!
Can you can it at home after you make it? Most people buy it at the grocery store already canned. There are times when I’m in a rush and don’t have time to make something from scratch. I would make like a double batch use one for now and can the other for later.
Wow, I never thought of making my consensed milk at home, but it’s just a brilliant idea, since I don’t like the store bought one 🙂
At what stage do u add the sugar?
Immediately, together with the milk. 🙂
Can this sweetened condensed milk be frozen?
Do you know of or have you tried to make a non dairy milk sweetened condensed milk?
I am not sure where your brain is but you must have a genius IQ…lol..who thinks of this? Only you my friend. I never thought you could make your own. This is so fantastic because sometimes at 3 am I might be baking or what and needed this one can but didn’t want to go to the grocery store at that time of the morning for just that one item. Leave it to you, problem solved! ! Can of milk $1.59 ,having you as a friend and inspiration “PRICELESS”.!!!! Thank you.
Love it! I have a daughter who loves to open cans of condensed milk and keep them open indefinitely ; I will pass this on to her, after deciding that I will not be buying it from now on. Great site! 🙂
Do you think you could use alternative milks like soy or almond milk?
You may try with coconut milk… I haven’t made it yet, but I know people who use it.
What a brilliant idea Manu! I had no idea you could make condensed milk in 20 minutes. It’s an ingredient I always seem to be out of just when I need it, so I will try this next time instead of dashing to the shop! Thank you 🙂
Fantastic idea! Does the milk need to be full fat, or can you use lite milk? I only ask because we only have lite milk and I would have to buy full milk specially.
For this it’s better to use full fat milk. 🙂
I used 2% for mine and it turned out amazing!! I started timing the 20 minutes after the milk mixture started to boil.
This is a great idea! I love to make tres leches cake and if I ever need condensed milk, I now know how to make it. I like learning how to make things from scratch. Thanks for the recipe!
Great recipe! Will have to try this. By the way, where did you purchase those jars from? Especially the taller one. I’ve been looking for some to buy.
Thanks! 🙂 I got them from a bakery called Breadtop… it’s a franchise and they have many shops around Australia. They sell milk pudding in them. 🙂
Why we use baking soda.
This doesn’t look too difficult too do. I’m going to try making this at home seeing that it is not easy to get this around.
awesome! can’t wait to try it! and that picture has my mouth watering…
can you use sugar free sugar
thank you isabel
Hi Isabel. Unfortunately, you can’t. You need the sugar to caramelise, so that it thickens.
I just read your reply. I was thinking of using Splenda, but will use regular sugar. Thanks
can you use coconut sugar and coconut milk?????
Can you use coconut sugar as an alternative? Like you mentioned about using the coconut milk.
Hi guys,
If help, I use half sweetener and half raw sugars as I was too lazy to run down the store for more sugar and didn’t read the comments afterward.. mine turns out well and thinken nicely, however i did have to cook it longer than 20 mins. And it tasted a bit funny for me (think this could be from sweetener
Thank you so much for the recipe Manu !! Very much appreciated!
Can this be frozen?
What a great recipe, thank you for sharing it Manuela. It’s really handy as often a recipe doesn’t use a full can of condensed milk but now, I can make just the right amount from scratch! Also, I wanted to say how much I love your little jars – oh they are so cute! Am going to share this recipe on my FB page x
Wow I never thought you could make sweetened condensed milk from scratch at home. Thanks for sharing this!
I made this, and it is really much better than the tinned variety. Thank you for the recipe.
Thanks for the recipe Manu, I tried it exactly the way you said, but it didn’t thicken… why can it be?
Maybe it needed more cooking? Also, it thickens up more when it cools down.
I also didn’t cook long enough. There was foam, but it isn’t thickening. Can I cook more once there’s baking soda in it, or will it mess with the chemistry?
Hi Dawn
Try and cook it longer… I have not tried, but it’s worth a try! 🙂
Can this recipe be turned into caramel like you can do by boiling the timed variety
Hi Samantha! I haven’t made it yet with the home-made version, but I think it will work. 🙂
Hi do you need to use white sugar or can you use raw sugar.
I haven’t tried it with this specific recipe, but I think it will work. The final colour may be darker though.
Hi Manu,
I have made condensed milk at home before but it usually takes a long time and that’s why adding the baking soda is genius! It accelerates the process. The flavor was way much better than the can one but mine was very foamy. I didn’t know exactly what a pinch would look like so I measured 1/4 tsp of baking soda. Could it be too much? When it cooled down there was a thick layer of foam and the condensed milk was just underneath it. Does it really happen? Do you strain it off? Thank you!
Hi Luciana. I think you put too much baking soda. 🙂 A pinch would be less than and 1/8 tsp. You can still use the condensed milk you made, just scoop out the foam with a slotted spoon and it should be good to go. I am very happy you liked it. I don’t buy it anymore, home-made tastes so much better!
would it work with almond milk or coconut milk?
Thanks so much for this wonderful recipe. Condensed milk it pretty expensive so wasn’t something we indulged in too often. Tried your recipe as soon as I saw it n it turned out perfect.
Hi just wondering if this can be made in a thermomix?
Thankyou
Could powder stevia be used instead of sugar?
Even after 25 mins it didn’t get frothy
Unfortunately I didn’t have much luck with this recipe. I read the comments from others and it seems like this is a common problem for this recipe. Boiled a lot longer than 20 minutes….60 in fact. The mixture reduced and the color is correct, however it is NOT the right consistency for sweetened condensed milk. I fear it would fail in recipes that need that thicker product.
I found a recipe to make homemade coffee cream, and it required using Condensed milk… So, I made this recipe. It did not work well as coffee cream. It was way too sweet. Ever try it for cream?
Do you need whole milk or will 2% work?
For 200gms condensed milk how much milk and sugar should I take?
Hii, For 200gms milk how much milk and sugar should I take?