How To Make Sweetened Condensed Milk

sweetened condensed milk in a glass with a light colored background

How To Make Sweetened Condensed Milk

This homemade sweetened condensed milk recipe is made of only 2 ingredients - and I hate to talk in absolutes but I can pretty much guarantee you currently have these ingredients in your fridge and pantry. I love to make sweetened condensed milk and put it in my coffee, drizzle on top of my favorite fruit, or use it as a baking ingredient.

Course Sauces, Dressing

Keyword how to make sweetened condensed milk, sweetened condensed milk, condensed milk

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 35

Servings cup

Calories 806kcal

Author Abbey Rodriguez

Ingredients

2 cups whole milk
⅔ cup granulated sugar

Instructions

Add the milk and sugar into a medium-sized pot over medium-low heat. Stir the milk until the sugar dissolves. Make sure that the milk is on a low enough heat that it does not simmer before the sugar dissolves (bringing the milk to a simmer too fast could cause the sugar to crystallize).
Once the sugar is dissolved, bring the milk to a low simmer and allow it to simmer, uncovered, for about 30-40 minutes. Do not stir the milk at all during this time.
Once the milk has reduced by half and appears to change to a cream color, your condensed milk is ready. Use a spoon to skim any foam or bubbles from the top layer of the condensed milk.
Pour your condensed milk through a fine-mesh strainer to catch any brown bits that might have formed.
Set the condensed milk aside for a few hours until it cools and thickens. You can then store it in the fridge for up to a week.

Notes

When using a spoon to skim the top of the milk, dip the spoon in a small bowl of water in between rounds to keep the residue from sticking to the spoon.
Tips for identifying if your sweetened condensed milk is ready: it is a cream color instead of white, it is a bit thicker than milk (but not too thick yet, it will thicken as it cools), and it has reduced in half.
If you see a lot of brown bits floating in your milk, your heat is too high. Try not to allow any brown bits to form (but if they start to, don’t worry too much, as you can just strain them out!).
You can also add a pinch of salt or ½ teaspoon of vanilla if you’d like.
This recipe calls for whole milk but you can use coconut milk, almond milk, oat milk, or whatever milk you prefer.

Nutrition