This recipe for sweetened condensed milk works with whole milk, evaporated milk, and full-fat canned coconut milk, and is easy to make at home. It is used in many recipes from matcha fudge to coconut macaroons, and is a great sweetener to add to your matcha lattes and bubble teas.
Both condensed milk and evaporated milk are made by reducing the water in the milk, but they cannot be used interchangeably unless a recipe states they can. The difference is that sweetened condensed milk has far more sugar added which allows it to reach a caramel-like consistency, while evaporated milk is thinner.
🌟Why you’ll love this recipe
🧾Ingredients in this recipe
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Buy it online
You can find sweetened condensed coconut milk online. This is the brand of sweetened condensed coconut milk that I like the best.
👩🍳How to Make This Recipe
This recipe is super simple with only two steps! First, add the granulated sugar and coconut milk to a saucepan over medium heat. Stir to fully dissolve the sugar.
Coconut Milk Tip
If your coconut milk is a little chunky out of the can, use a whisk to break up the chunks and create a smooth liquid.
Once the mixture comes to a very light simmer, cook the mixture gradually over medium-low heat, stirring frequently.
As the water content is removed, the mixture will reduce down until it is about half the volume of liquid. This should take about 35-45 minutes.
As it cooks, the coconut milk will darken slightly in color and this is normal. Let the mixture cool before storing in an airtight jar or container.
Pro Tip
The condensed milk will thicken as it cools. The best way to check if you have reduced it by half is to let it cool in a liquid measuring cup. If it isn’t half of your original volume, add it back to the saucepan and continue to reduce it.
When you continue to heat the milk, it actually continues to thicken and deepen in color until it becomes dulce de leche, or ‘cooked condensed milk.’ However, this is reliant on you cooking the milk slowly over medium heat. Turning your heat up too high too quickly will burn the mixture, or otherwise tamper with it and stop it from condensing properly.
This will stay fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about a week. Unlike canned versions, homemade sweetened condensed milk does not have added shelf stabilizers that give it such a long shelf-life.
🥥 Related Recipes
Curious about making more homemade dairy-free milk and recipes that use this sweetened condensed coconut milk? Try these great ideas.
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Sweetened Condensed Milk (Whole and Coconut)
Print Recipe SaveIngredients
- 2 cups full-fat coconut milk or dairy whole milk
- ⅔ cups sugar granulated
Instructions
- Add the sugar and milk to a saucepan over medium heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar.
- Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until reduced by half, 35-45 minutes.