Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk

This homemade sweetened condensed milk is rich, creamy, and a perfect substitute for the store-bought canned version in any recipe! Not to mention, it will only take you 35 minutes to make and uses all common ingredients! You can use it for a variety of desserts or add it to your coffee for a sweet and decadent twist.

Best Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk

Whether you ran out of sweetened condensed milk and need some in a pinch, or you simply want to try out making your own- this is the best recipe out there! Traditional recipes for homemade sweetened condensed milk can take up to 6 hours to make (with constant stirring)!

For this recipe, I’ve added some heavy cream to prevent the milk from scorching. As a result, the temperature can be raised in order to be done cooking in just 35 minutes!

Jump to:

• Best Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 🥘 Sweetened Condensed Milk Ingredients
• 🔪 How To Make Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 💭 Tips & Notes
• ❓ What Is Sweetened Condensed Milk Used For?
• ❓ What Is The Difference Between Condensed Milk And Evaporated Milk?
• ❓ Can Sweeten Condensed Milk Be Used As A Coffee Creamer?
• 🍦 Recipes Using Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 📖 Recipe Card
• 💬 Reviews

🥘 Sweetened Condensed Milk Ingredients

These common household ingredients are easy to find if you don’t already have all of them. The butter is optional, but I completely recommend it!

• Milk – 1½ cups of whole milk.
• Heavy Cream – ½ cup of heavy cream.
• Sugar – ¾ cup of sugar.
• Salt – A pinch of salt.
• Butter (optional) – 4 tablespoons of butter (*see note).
• Vanilla Bean (optional) – Or, you can use vanilla paste, extract, cinnamon stick, or a splash of maple syrup.

See my complete guide for some quick and easy sweetened condensed milk substitute options to swap out at the last minute in any recipe!

*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts, & instructions!*

🔪 How To Make Sweetened Condensed Milk

The heavy cream will help to prevent scorching, but you should still make sure to stir frequently! The only things you’ll need are a saucepan and a silicone spatula.

This recipe will give you 10 servings of 1-ounce portions.

1. Add milk and cream. In a medium saucepan, add 1½ cups of whole milk and ½ cup of heavy cream and place it over medium-low heat.
2. Reduce. Simmer, stirring frequently, until it reduces to about half of the amount (roughly 30 minutes). *If using vanilla bean or cinnamon stick, add them to the milk mixture while you bring it to a simmer.
3. Add other ingredients. Once reduced, remove from heat and stir in ¾ cup of sugar, a pinch of salt, and butter, if using. Keep stirring until all of the sugar has dissolved and the butter is completely melted and incorporated. *If using vanilla paste, extract, or maple syrup- add them to the heated milk mixture along with the sugar and salt.
4. Cool. Allow it to cool completely before storing or using in a recipe.

You can use this homemade sweetened condensed milk to substitute the canned version in a variety of recipes like pumpkin pie or tres leches cake! I also love to use a splash of it in my coffee in the mornings! Enjoy!

💭 Tips & Notes

• This recipe will make 1¼ cups of sweetened condensed milk and each serving is for 1 ounce (8 fluid ounces per US cup).
• The butter adds a nice richness and depth to your sweetened condensed milk. However, you can omit it if you prefer not to use it.
• If you use salted butter, you can omit the pinch of salt. If you're using unsalted butter, still add in the pinch of salt as normal.
• To make this recipe sugar-free, use your favorite heat-safe sugarless alternative. I like to use stevia and swerve. 
• To store: Put your sweetened condensed milk into an airtight jar or container in the fridge for up to a week. Freeze with an inch gap for expansion for up to 3 months.

❓ What Is Sweetened Condensed Milk Used For?

Sweetened condensed milk is an ingredient used in baking. It is commonly used for recipes like cookies, ice cream, fudge, pudding, and more!

❓ What Is The Difference Between Condensed Milk And Evaporated Milk?

Both of these things are thick and creamy concentrations of milk. Evaporated milk is not sweetened like condensed milk commonly is and they do not have the same flavor. Evaporated milk adds a light and fluffy consistency when baking, whereas condensed milk contributes creaminess. For more information, check out my post about the differences between condensed milk and evaporated milk!

❓ Can Sweeten Condensed Milk Be Used As A Coffee Creamer?

Yes, and it is delicious! It adds a rich and creamy consistency, making it sweeter with hints of a slight caramel flavor. Yum!

🍦 Recipes Using Sweetened Condensed Milk

• Chocolate Revel Bars
• Hello Dolly Bars
• Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge
• Blackberry Cream Pie
• Chocolate Chip Maraschino Cherry Almond Bars
• Chocolate Fudge Cake With Fudge Frosting

📖 Recipe Card