Anyone with a sweet tooth knows the heavenly goodness of sweetened condensed milk. It's one of the best ingredients for making sweet and creamy goods!
However, just like with most of the good things in life, it comes with a price. The sugar content in this ingredient can be detrimental to your health.
Don't worry. I know of just the best sweetened condensed milk substitute. So, if you're looking for a healthier alternative or just happen to run out of this ingredient, this article is all you need.
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What's Sweetened Condensed Milk?
Sweetened condensed milk first came around in the early 1850s. Only a handful of households owned a refrigerator back then, so it was very difficult to keep milk fresh.
This heightened the necessity for a type of milk that has a longer shelf-life. Thus, we have condensed milk. But where does it come from?
How different is it from fresh milk? What are its most common applications? The section below should hopefully answer these questions.
Where Does Sweetened Condensed Milk Come From?
Fresh milk comes from cows, and so does condensed milk. The only difference is that "condensed" milk is fresh milk with most of the water content (around 60%) taken out of it.
However, you won't likely find brands that sell "condensed milk" alone. Various manufacturers add sugar and other sweeteners to the by-product before canning it.
That's how we get sweetened condensed milk. Because of how prominent this practice is, almost everyone uses the term "condensed milk" to refer to sweetened condensed milk.
What Recipes Use Sweetened Condensed Milk?
The most common applications of sweetened condensed milk are for baked goods and dessert recipes.
Nonetheless, it's not unusual to find it in drink blends like tea and coffee. Sweetened condensed milk is also a main ingredient in several sauces, especially caramel sauce.
So, what happens when you're trying to follow a recipe and find out you don't have any regular sweetened condensed milk left?
Or what if you want to switch to a healthier diet, and the high sugar content of sweetened condensed milk spells "nope"?
Don't fret. I have several substitutes for sweetened condensed milk. Some are sugar-free, while others are just convenient to have.
Dairy-Free Sweetened Condensed Milk Substitutes
Fortunately, milk products are very diverse and widely available. This makes finding a sweetened condensed milk substitute for your recipe is relatively easier.
I made a comprehensive list to prove that to you. Let's start with dairy-free alternatives.
1. Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk
Sweetened condensed coconut milk is one of the most popular alternatives to regular condensed milk.
As the name suggests, it comes from coconuts, which means it's a dairy-free alternative. This type of coconut milk is widely available in supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide.
However, keep in mind that this is not a sugar-free substitute. While it's best for severely lactose intolerant folks, it's not the best substitute for those trying to reduce sugar intake.
Nonetheless, the sweetener cloaks the undertones of coconut milk, so you get a flavor closer to sweetened condensed milk instead of coconut.
You can substitute this for condensed milk in a 1:1 ratio.
Best for any recipe that needs regular sweetened condensed milk.
Sweetened condensed coconut milk will work great on this Spanish Flan recipe.
2. Coconut Milk
You may also make your own homemade sweetened condensed milk at home using full-fat coconut milk. However, you will need to add sugar to get closer to the taste.
The good thing about this is that you can decide how much sugar you want in your condensed milk since you'd have to make it on your own.
To turn it into a sweetened condensed milk substitute, you need coconut, sugar, and maple syrup (optional). You can get your canned coconut milk from countless stores nationwide.
If you want, you may also abandon the white sugar altogether and just use coconut milk and honey.
Cook the full-fat coconut milk and your preferred sweetener over low heat until it becomes syrup. This will likely take around 30 to 45 minutes.
Remember that this will add a light coconut milk taste to your recipe, so it may not be the best substitute for making coffee drinks.
Best for puddings, sauces, and cakes.
Check out this Chocolate Coconut Cake recipe that uses coconut milk.
3. Coconut Cream
Coconut cream also comes from coconut milk, but it undergoes a few more extra processes to have a thick consistency.
Canned coconut milk is also widely available in grocery stores. Nonetheless, you can also make one at home.
Pour the coconut milk into a container and keep it in the refrigerator for several hours. After a while, a layer of cream will form at the top of the container.
Separate this from the liquid, and you get yourself coconut cream. Do remember that there's no sweetener on it yet.
Add ¼ cup of sugar or honey to the cream and mix thoroughly. This will make it a little sweeter, albeit the taste differs from sweetened condensed milk.
Nonetheless, coconut cream is a non-dairy and vegan substitute that would fit a lot of diet plans out there.
Best for vegan dishes and desserts.
This Baked Yeast Donuts recipe will surely benefit from coconut cream. Try it out!
4. Cream of Coconut
If you don't want to go through all the trouble of making a sweetened condensed milk substitute with coconut milk or cream, just use cream of coconut.
That's right. Coconut cream is different from cream of coconut. Coconut cream is unsweetened, while cream of coconut is a pre-mixed product that already includes sugar.
Don't worry. It's still a non-dairy alternative for all our lactose-intolerant friends.
Cream of coconut tends to be less dense than coconut cream, so you might have to process it a bit if texture and consistency are very important to the recipe.
You may use cream of coconut to replace sweetened condensed milk in a 1:1 ratio.
Best for cheesecake and other desserts.
Try using cream of coconut in this Coconut Cheesecake recipe.
5. Cashew Cream
If you have a lot of cashews at home, you may also create your own sweetened condensed milk substitute with them.
However, this takes a lot of time and preparation since you must soak the cashews in water for two to four hours (or leave them overnight).
Once they turn soft, transfer them to your blender and process for one minute or until the cashews turn into cream.
You may also add other ingredients like olive oil or sea salt to enhance its flavor. To use it as a substitute for sweetened condensed milk, you need 1 part sugar for every 1 part cashew cream.
Heat the mixture in a pan over low heat until the cream completely absorbs the sugar. Note that cashew is a type of nut, so you'd have nutty undertones in your recipe if you use this.
Best for ganache for desserts, overnight oats, and salad dressings.
6. Oat Milk
You may also replace canned sweetened condensed milk with oat milk for a dairy-free substitute. Several brands offer canned sweetened condensed oat milk.
On the other hand, you can also make it at home. This would probably take 15 minutes and require only a handful of ingredients.
First, combine cold water and oats in a blender and process them for 30 to 60 seconds, depending on the power of your blender.
Use a sieve or a milk bag to strain the processed mixture before transferring it to a saucepan. Place it under medium heat, add sugar, and let it cook.
Be sure to whisk it while cooking to avoid burning the oat milk. Cook over low heat until you get a similar consistency as condensed milk.
Aside from being a dairy-free alternative, oat milk is high in fiber and other vitamins, providing many amazing health benefits.
Best for iced coffee blends, milkshakes, and cupcakes.
Try it out with this Chocolate Milkshake Made with Ice Cream recipe.
7. Soy Milk
Soy milk is another excellent substitute for sweetened condensed milk because of its nutritional value. Plus, it's non-dairy, so it's perfect for vegans and lactose-intolerant folks.
One thing I like about soy milk is that it has a sweetened and unsweetened version. Ergo, you don't have to add sugar or other sweeteners when using it as a sweetened condensed milk substitute.
However, the unsweetened and sweetened versions are still very liquidy, so you'd have to process it and give it a thicker consistency.
If you're using sweetened soy milk, pour it into a pan over low heat and add cornstarch while stirring frequently. For the unsweetened version, you need to add sugar to the mix.
Best for brownies, ice cream, and pancake syrup.
8. Almond Milk
Almond milk is one of the best types of non-dairy milk. You can find countless almond milk brands in the supermarket, but you can also make one at home.
However, most almond milk brands are unsweetened. You need to process them and add sugar to use them as a sweetened condensed milk substitute.
Nonetheless, almond milk is rich in antioxidants and other nutrients that are good for the heart, making it a healthy alternative.
Raw almonds have a naturally sweet flavor, so you don't have to add as much sugar when making condensed almond milk at home.
Best for truffles, ganache, puddings, and iced coffee.
9. Rice Milk
Rice milk is perhaps the most accessible sweetened condensed milk substitute because almost every home has milled rice at home.
It's also a popular alternative because it's vegan, allergy-friendly, and easy on the stomach. Plus, it's rich in vitamin D and calcium to fortify your bones.
Most commercial rice milk products in the market come from brown sugar and brown sugar syrup, but you may also use white rice to make one.
Soak ¾ cup of rice in two cups of hot water. After two hours, use a sieve to drain the rice before transferring it to a blender.
Add 4 cups of water (or less if you want to make it creamier), and process it for 30 seconds or until you get rice milk.
Once you get rice milk, you may use the traditional process of making condensed milk with nut milk above. Add sugar to adjust the taste.
Best for puddings, truffles, and other desserts.
Try rice milk on this Bread and Butter Pudding recipe and see how good it is.
Other Sweetened Condensed Milk Alternatives
If you're not exactly looking for a dairy-free substitute, you may also use several other alternatives that come directly from milk.
Here are some options and how to make them.
1. Heavy Cream and Sugar
Heavy cream already has the thick consistency you want in sweetened condensed milk. The taste and flavor are what you should worry about.
To make this, pour heavy cream into a pan, add sugar, and cook it over low heat. Taste the mixture while processing it to know how much more sugar you need.
One of the best things about using this substitute is that it doesn't just meet the consistency requirements, but you also add a hint of richness to your recipe.
However, since heavy cream is still quite different from sweetened condensed milk, you shouldn't expect the finished product to have a similar mouthfeel and texture.
Best for iced coffee, ice cream, and desserts.
Check out this Coffee Cupcakes (Made with Espresso) recipe and try heavy cream and sugar on it.
2. Evaporated Milk
Evaporated milk shares a few similarities with condensed milk, especially in terms of water content. Both these types of milk have 60% less water than regular milk.
However, they undergo different processes. You get evaporated milk by simmering regular cow's milk to evaporate most of its water content.
As a result, evaporated milk tends to be creamier, thicker, and sweeter than other types of milk, although it's still not as sweet as sweetened condensed milk.
Ergo, you must still cook the milk over low heat while adding sugar. This will create a mixture closer to sweetened condensed milk in terms of taste and consistency.
Best for smoothies and iced coffee blends.
3. Powdered Milk
You're still in luck if you only have powdered milk at home. You can create a sweetened condensed milk substitute using this ingredient.
One major benefit of powdered milk is that it has a relatively longer shelf-life than most milk types.
Additionally, it's easy to gauge and adjust its consistency because you can gradually add small amounts of water to the powder until you get the desired thickness.
Be sure to use hot water because it's not always easy to dissolve powdered milk in cold or lukewarm water.
After getting the consistency you want, your "condensed" milk will still lack richness and sweetness.
So, feel free to add sugar and butter to the mix to get closer to sweetened condensed milk.
Best for any recipe that needs sweetened condensed milk.
Tips When Using Sweetened Condensed Milk Substitutes
If you run out of sweetened condensed milk, it's nice to know you have plenty of other options to save your recipe.
However, do remember that there's not one substitute that'll give you everything you want. Ergo, you have to consider a few factors when choosing a sweetened condensed milk substitute.
Here are some things you might have to consider.
Choose Between Dairy vs. Non-Dairy
Not everyone is replacing sweetened condensed milk in their recipe because they ran out of it. Some use substitutes because they're trying to avoid dairy products.
So, if you're lactose intolerant, you may still enjoy your favorite homemade desserts by substituting sweetened condensed milk with a non-dairy alternative.
These alternatives are almost always vegan, so they're perfect for those trying to stick to that diet.
However, if your main concern is the overall taste and flavor of the recipe, dairy products are the better alternative.
Sugar Levels
Finding a substitute for sweetened condensed milk without adding sugar is difficult. After all, that's where we get all the sweetness.
If you're trying to reduce your sugar consumption, consider making homemade sweetened condensed milk instead so you can adjust the sugar content of the milk.
Nonetheless, this doesn't mean you don't have sugar-free alternatives to condensed milk. For instance, several recipes for sugar-free, sweetened condensed coconut milk are available online.
Instead of using sugar, replace it with other sweeteners like honey or maple syrup. That is if you don't mind the slight change in taste.
Consider the Taste
You may also have to consider the flavor each substitute will add to the recipe. While they will enhance its sweetness, some will also introduce hints of nuts or coconuts.
Some recipes will do just fine with that, especially for desserts. However, some drinks, like iced coffee, have more delicate flavor profiles.
Ergo, it may not always be the best idea to use condensed milk substitutes that come from coconut milk.
Try DIY Sweetened Condensed Milk
Homemade sweetened condensed milk is perhaps the best alternative since it's relatively fresher than what you'd get from the market.
Moreover, you can adjust the proportions of each ingredient to better suit your recipe. You can even choose the type of milk you want.
Here's a sweetened condensed milk recipe if you plan to DIY.
Check the Ratio
Whether it's about the recipe of the final product or the recipe of your homemade sweetened condensed milk, ratio is everything.
It's not always one-part substitute for one-part sweetened condensed milk. It's best to assess the strength of the substitute before using it in your recipe.
The same goes when making your own condensed milk. Add too much water, you don't get the right consistency. Not enough sugar, you don't get the right sweetness.
Before making DIY sweetened condensed milk, search for specific recipes to follow the right proportions.
Experiment and Taste Test as You Go
The good news is you can always taste test as you go when making condensed milk at home; believe me, you should.
While you're at it, try throwing in a few ingredients, too, as long as you believe it'll help make your condensed milk taste better.
Aside from milk and sugar, butter, honey, and a lot of other syrups almost always blend with the usual ingredients needed to make condensed milk.
Adding a pinch of salt will also help balance the flavors, so be sure to try that out.
Shelf Life
One of the main issues with regular milk is that it's hard to keep it fresh. That's how we got condensed milk in the first place.
So, when choosing ingredients for homemade substitutes, consider their shelf lives as well. Powdered milk, rice, and nuts all have long shelf lives, and you can make condensed milk substitutes with any of them.
Ergo, keeping some of them in stock is always a great idea, especially if you regularly make recipes that include sweetened condensed milk.
Sweetened Condensed Milk Substitute FAQs
If it's just regular milk, then no, you can't. First, they have very different consistencies, so you won't get the texture you want from condensed milk.
Second of all, they have different tastes. Regular milk has a rich taste, but it's not sweet (or at least not always). On the other hand, condensed milk is rich and sweet.
Nonetheless, you can make a sweetened condensed milk alternative from regular milk. Just add sugar and cook over low heat.
It depends on what you mean by "same." Technically, sweetened condensed milk is the same as evaporated milk because they have similar water content.
However, condensed milk has a thicker consistency than evaporated milk because of the process they underwent to extract the water from the milk.
In terms of taste and consistency, however, any of the substitutes above resemble sweetened condensed milk in some way or another.
The healthiest alternative to condensed milk would probably be nut milk, cashews, and your choice of sweetener.
The flavor profile diverts a bit from sweetened condensed milk, but you'd still get delicious goods and drinks from them.
Nonetheless, I also encourage you to try full-fat coconut milk because aside from being a healthy alternative, its flavor profile often blends perfectly with many ingredients.
Honey will work as a substitute for condensed milk in certain recipes. Honey is naturally sweet and has a thick consistency, similar to condensed milk.
However, honey and condensed milk have different flavor profiles, so it's not always an excellent substitute.
Nonetheless, for recipes that call for sweetened condensed milk, you can always substitute it with regular fresh milk and use honey as a sweetener.
Brown sugar is sweet but doesn't have the richness of milk. You might be able to use it as an alternative in a few recipes, but you're probably better off just making a substitute.
Try boiling regular fresh milk over low heat and use brown sugar as a sweetener. You may also replace it with other sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar.
Choosing the Best Substitute for Sweetened Condensed Milk
Thankfully, a substitute for sweetened condensed milk is not hard to find. You even get to be quite picky when choosing a replacement.
If you're trying to follow a vegan diet or are lactose intolerant, go for non-dairy substitutes. If you want a flavor profile resembling sweetened condensed milk, go for cow's milk products and sugar.
Whichever you choose, I can guarantee that you'd have the best-tasting recipe at home. To learn more about kitchen tips and tricks, visit Also The Crumbs, Please.
I also have a Substitutes webpage dedicated to alternatives to various ingredients. See you there!
Recipe
How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk
Instructions
- In a medium-sized heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the sugar and milk and whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved. Be sure that your saucepan isn't too small. It should be a maximum of â…” full.
- Bring to a low simmer and cook for about 1 - 1 ½ hours and stir occasionally. For the first hour, it's fine to stir every 10-15 minutes. At the point where it already thickens a little, keep a closer eye on the milk and stir more frequently. Skimm off any foam skin that is building throughout cooking.
- You know when it's done when it has slightly thickened, is reduced by half, has a bright, creamy color, and coats the back of a spoon. It will be more liquid than store-bought condensed milk at this point, and this is absolutely fine. It will thicken a lot once it's cooled. Transfer to a heat-proof jar and let cool to room temperature. Store it sealed in the refrigerator for up to 3 months or freeze it for up to 6 months.
Notes
Video
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