Sweetened Condensed Milk Substitutes
Making key lime pie or fudge but out of sweetened condensed milk? Learn how to make it yourself using regular milk and sugar, or evaporated milk.
Best substitutes
| Replace with | Ratio | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Evaporated Milk + Sugar | 1 C Evap Milk + 1.25 C Sugar | key lime pie, fudge, tres leches |
| DIY Stovetop Milk | 2 C Milk + 2/3 C Sugar (reduced) | any recipe |
| Condensed Coconut Milk | 1:1 | vegan desserts |
What is Sweetened Condensed Milk?
Sweetened condensed milk is cow’s milk from which the water has been evaporated, and to which a massive amount of sugar has been added (usually about 40-45% sugar by volume). The high sugar content acts as a preservative and creates a thick, syrupy, incredibly sticky texture. It is the backbone of Key Lime Pie, Tres Leches cake, and traditional fudge. Because of its unique thick, syrupy nature, you cannot simply substitute regular milk.
The Best Substitute: Evaporated Milk + Sugar
If you have a can of Evaporated Milk (which is the exact same thing, just without the sugar), you can easily convert it.
To make 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk, pour 1 cup of evaporated milk into a saucepan and add 1 1/4 cups of granulated sugar. Heat gently over medium-low, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is hot (do not boil). Let it cool completely. It will thicken as it cools.
DIY Stovetop Method (from Regular Milk)
If you only have regular whole milk and sugar, you can make it from scratch. It takes time, but the results are spectacular.
Combine 2 cups of whole milk and 2/3 cup of white sugar in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Do not stir it once it starts simmering, or it will crystallize! Let it gently simmer for 35-45 minutes until it reduces by half and turns a creamy ivory color. Remove from heat, stir in a tiny pinch of salt and a splash of vanilla, and let cool. This yields about 1 cup.
Vegan/Dairy-Free: Coconut Condensed Milk
You can buy sweetened condensed coconut milk in cans, which is a perfect 1:1 substitute. Alternatively, simmer 1 can (13.5 oz) of full-fat coconut milk with 1/2 cup of sugar for 30 minutes until thick and syrupy.