Out of sweetened condensed milk? Don’t panic—there are plenty of easy substitutes you can use in baking or pie filling.
Whether you're dairy-free, short on time, or just grabbed evaporated milk by mistake (we’ve all done it), this post will help you find the best swap fast.
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Quick List of Condensed Milk Substitutes
Sweetened condensed milk is cow’s milk that’s been cooked down to remove water and sweetened with sugar. The result is a thick, creamy, sweet liquid used in all kinds of desserts—like magic cookie bars, lemon bars, key lime pie, and even icebox pies.
If you’ve ever grabbed a can of evaporated milk by mistake or realized too late that your pantry’s empty, don’t worry—there are plenty of great substitutes.
Sweetened Condensed Milk Is Essential In:
Quick Substitutes for Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Heavy cream + sugar
- Evaporated milk + sugar
- Coconut milk + sugar
- Almond milk + sugar
- Powdered milk + water + butter
Heavy Cream + Sugar
1 cup cream + ¼ cup sugar
Closest in texture and richness—perfect for baking and fudge.
Evaporated Milk + Sugar
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk + ¾ cup sugar, simmered until thick
Basically DIY condensed milk.
Coconut Milk + Sugar
1 can coconut milk + ¼ cup sugar, simmered 30 mins
Great dairy-free option with a light coconut flavor.
Almond Milk + Sugar
2 cups almond milk + ½ cup sugar, reduced by half
Thinner, but good in a pinch.
Powdered Milk + Water + Butter
â…“ cup powdered milk + â…“ cup hot water + 2 tablespoon butter
For emergency baking when fresh milk isn’t an option.
How Can I Make Condensed Milk?
The easiest solution is to make your own homemade sweetened condensed milk with either a can of evaporated milk and granulated sugar or a combination of whole milk or cream and granulated sugar.
So voila, evaporated milk + sugar, heated for at least 30 minutes will yield sweetened condensed milk for you.Â
Ingredients to Make Your Own Condensed Milk
Bonus, homemade condensed milk tastes better than store-bought.
But, what if you're also out of evaporated milk? There are still substitutes and some of them dairy-free alternatives to condensed milk.
Condensed Milk Substitutes
Heavy Whipping Cream
Heavy whipping cream has a similarly thick texture to sweetened condensed milk, making it a great option. However, since it is naturally unsweetened, you’ll need to add a bit of sugar for it to be an even match.Â
Mix together 1 cup of heavy cream with about ¼ cup of sugar for the perfect substitute. You can even add a bit less sugar if you’re looking for an option that’s less sweet.Â
Dry, Nonfat Milk Powder
Mix a â…“ of a cup of milk powder, a â…“ of a cup of hot water and two tablespoons of butter until well-blended. This won't be as rich and creamy but it will do in a pinch.
Canned Coconut Milk
Add one can of unsweetened coconut milk to a saucepan with ¼ cup of sugar and simmer on a low heat for about 30 minutes.Â
Gently stir until the mixture is thick enough and then let it cool. Coconut milk is a perfect substitution as far as texture, but it may slightly change the flavor of your recipe because it will have a faint coconut flavor.
Almond Milk
Another non-dairy option for condensed milk is almond milk and sugar.
Since almond milk is not as thick as sweetened condensed milk, you’ll need to reduce twice as much almond milk to produce the same result.
To replace one cup of sweetened condensed milk, add 2 cups of almond milk and ½ cup of sugar to a saucepan over a low heat.
You’ll need to heat the mixture for about 30 minutes or until the total liquid has reduced in half.
Almond milk won’t add any additional flavors like coconut milk, but the final texture may not be as creamy.Â
Storage
Store any unused condensed milk alternatives covered in a refrigerator for up to one week.
Freeze condensed milk for up to three months in a freezer-safe container.
What's the Difference Between Condensed Milk and Evaporated Milk?
Both canned milks are evaporated but condensed milk has added sugar, which results in its sweet, creamy, much thicker texture than evaporated.
Evaporated milk has no added sugar.
Can I Freeze Sweetened, Condensed Milk?
Yes, freeze any leftover condensed milk in a freezer safe container for up to three months.
However, because it has a high amount of sugar, it may not freeze solid.
To use after freezing, thaw overnight in your refrigerator and shake well before using.
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Recipe
Homemade Sweetened, Condensed Milk Recipe
Make your own condensed milk at home with this simple recipe that you likely already have in your pantry. No trip to store needed!
Ingredients
- 12-ounce can evaporated milk
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
Whisk milk and sugar together in small sauce pot. Heat over medium, stirring frequently until sugar has dissolved. Let cool.
Notes
Evaporated Milk version:
12-ounce can evaporated milk
¾ cup granulated sugar
Whisk together in sauce pot and heat over medium until sugar has dissolved. Let cool.
Whole Milk version:
2 cups of milk
1 cup of sugar
Whisk milk and sugar together in a sauce pan over medium heat, stirring frequently. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer until mixture has reduced and thickened.
Coconut Milk:
Can of coconut milk
¼ can of sugar
Heat until boiling then turn down heat and let simmer for 30 minutes, stirring frequently, or at least once every five minutes until mixture has thickened.
Powdered Dried Milk Substitute for Condensed milk:
Bing ¾ cup of white sugar, ½ cup of water, and 1 ⅛ cups of dry powdered milk to a boil Bnd cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 20 minutes.
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