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How to Make Evaporated and Sweetened, Condensed Milk

How to Make Evaporated or Sweetened Condensed Milk Milk
Make Your own Evaporated Milk for Your Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pies!

If you do a lot of holiday baking, like I do, then you have probably made dozens of recipes with evaporated or sweetened, condensed milk. My favorite recipes usually call for one or the other (my husband’s grandmother has an amazing pumpkin pie recipe that uses sweetened, condensed milk), and I never gave a thought to the contents of the cans in the past.

However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I don’t like the idea of canned milk. Who knows what preservatives are in there, and the cans leech metal into the milk. Yuck. So this year, I decided to try my hand at making my own versions.

It turns out, the recipes are incredibly simple. All you need is milk, sugar and a stove.

Homemade Evaporated Milk Recipe

Evaporated milk is the easiest thing to make in the world. You don’t even have to have a sweetener on hand.

INGREDIENTS
  1. 4 cups of milk (will make 2 cups of evaporated milk- slightly more than the standard can size of 14 or 15 ounces)
  2. Small pot
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Pour the milk into the pot on the stove. Turn the stove to “low.”
  2. Keep the milk hot, but not boiling, until the milk has evaporated to half its size (it took me about 2 1/2 hours). Stir the milk every 10 minutes or so. You can remove the skin from the top of the milk, if you like.
  3. Allow the milk to cool to room temperature before using in a recipe.
NOTES
  1. Store the milk in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Sweetened, Condensed Milk Recipe

What is the difference between evaporated milk and condensed milk? Sugar!

INGREDIENTS
  1. 4 cups of milk (for 16 ounces of sweetened, condensed milk)
  2. Small pot
  3. 1 ½ cups of sugar, honey, or sweetener of your choice (I used raw sugar)
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Mix the sugar into the milk, then place on the stove under “low” heat.
  2. Wait about 2 hours, stirring about every 15 minutes. After 2 hours, the milk should be about half the size it was before.
  3. When it is reduced by half, remove it from the stove and allow to cool before using in a recipe.
  4. Store the milk in the refrigerator for up to a week or can it for later use.
NOTES
  1. Note: With both milks, overcooking can happen quickly. I overcooked my milk twice trying to make it for this recipe. What happens is you think, “Oh, this is looking pretty good, but I think it can cook down a little more.” If you allow the milk to start boiling (particularly with the sweetened milk), it will turn into milk candy. Then it will burn. Very quickly. So watch out. 2 to 2 ½ hours is about all the heat it can take.

Did You Know?
If you can condensed milk, it can last for several months without refrigeration. This is a perfect way to ensure the canned milk in your stockpile is healthy and chemical-free.

Have you made your own condensed milk? What tricks or sweeteners do you like to use?

Comments

  1. Patrick @ Survival at Home says

    Very nice! I’ll bet it’s cheaper this way, too, right? :) Kudos!

    Reply
  2. Gregg Carter (The Rural Economist) says

    This is awesome! Okay now my question is do you think you can make a large batch and can this?

    Reply
    • Brenda Priddy says

      I don’t see why you couldn’t. I’ve never tried to can milk products, but from what I’ve read online, it’s perfectly safe if you use a pressure canner. If you try it, let us know how it turns out!

      Reply
      • Sheila says

        I have an elderly aunt that has been teaching me “old ways”- she said she cans milk rather than let it go bad and throw it away. Told me the length of time to pressure. She said it would be like evaporated milk.

        Reply
      • Lynda says

        I can whole milk for 20 mins at q3# pressure. It comes out like evaporated milk.

        Reply
  3. Stephanie says

    Do you just can it like everything else in a glass jar? Thanks for the recipes! I am lactose intolerant so this is great!

    Reply
    • Katydid says

      If you are lactose intolerant, it wouldn’t make any difference if the milk is heated and reduced in volume, would it?

      Reply
      • Jen says

        No, but she could make the recipe with Lactaid milk.

        Reply
      • Beverly says

        Is there any difference between evaporated and condensed milk.? If not why are recipes calling for one or the other?

        Reply
        • Martha says

          I believe that there is a difference between evaporated milk and condensed milk. The difference would be that they leave out an important word when comparing the two. Condensed milk is usually sweetened condensed milk. If you are making your own, you need a recipe that calls for sweetener of some sort along with the dairy product.

          Reply
          • Kay says

            NEVER artificial sweeteners. They are toxic, poison!

    • Stacy says

      How would it work in crock pot?-Stacy

      Reply
      • Sherlene says

        Thats what id like to know as well, you’d think in a crock pot on low 8 hours would work, Think i will try this method.

        Reply
        • Sarah says

          Have you tried it yet in a crockpot?

          Reply
  4. Rebecka says

    Can u made a large batch n can it in jars to have on hand?

    Reply
  5. Christine says

    Can you use non-dairy milks for this?

    Reply
    • Mom Prepares says

      I don’t see why not. Feel free to try a small batch and let us know how it turns out.

      Reply
  6. Cindy says

    Could u use a crockpot on low?

    Reply
    • Mom Prepares says

      Hmm. That’s a tricky one. To be honest, I haven’t tried that myself. If you do try it out let us know! Love the idea!

      Reply
    • Sarah says

      Wow! I was just gonna ask the same thing. I wonder if cooking on low with lid slightly ajar would be easier to prevent burning, although would take longer.

      Reply
  7. Kathleen says

    Im going to be making fudge this weekend. I have condensed milk on my shopping list, instead im going to try the first batch with this recipe.

    Reply
    • Mom Prepares says

      Very cool! If you take a picture, I’d love to see it :)

      Reply
  8. Jay says

    Canned milk came about so that people wouldn’t drink spoiled milk and die. Generally on ships making long voyages. “Yuck” indeed.

    Reply
  9. Gina says

    Just made the condensed milk – so easy and extremely nice. Wont buy a tin of it ever again :)

    Reply
  10. Maria says

    Wow, that is so awesome. How did you cook it. On the stove? I want to try this to. I will never try or evening think about buying ever again. Knowing whatever the stuff the company who makes them that put whatever they want in their that’s is bad for our bodies. This recipe is very healthy and good for our families. And not to worry about all the junk they put in the cans. I am going to do this. I love this recipe site. God bless.

    Reply
  11. Madalyn says

    If we want to can it what pressure for how long?

    Reply
    • Tammy says

      Home scanners don’t reach high enough temperatures to safely can milk.

      Reply
      • Christina Covert says

        Yes hon, but we have been doing it for years with no problems. I have about 50 quarts of milk (canned) on hand right now for my family. I keep about that much on hand at all times.
        It’s great in coffee, teas, cereal, and baking.

        Reply
  12. Elaine says

    Can I use 1% milk instead of whole?

    Reply
  13. Barbara says

    Could you use honey instead of sugar? or even chocolate

    Reply
  14. Karin C says

    You can’t safely “Can” milk products, tons of info on this .

    Reply
    • Cindy says

      Yes, you can! I have a cow that I milk, but I stop milking her in the winter for a few months. I can 14 quarts of fresh milk to get me thru those 3 months. it works fine. Just because the government says it doesn’t work, doesn’t mean it doesn’t!

      Reply
      • Julie says

        I assume your pressure-can into jars. How many pounds of pressure and for how long?
        I could have used this years ago when I milked goats and a Jersey cow!
        Thanks for your reply.
        Julie

        Reply
        • Donna Wilson says

          I bring my pressure to 10 lbs and remove from heat immediately. Let cool naturally and done. Never had a problem.

          Reply
  15. Christine says

    I use sweetened condensed milk to dolce de Leche ( caramel) can that still be done here?

    Reply
  16. Pat says

    Learned a lot. Glad I found you. Many thanks!

    Reply
  17. Trish says

    I have made sweetened condensed milk from concentrated milk powder.Just use a lot less water for reconstituting and it will thicken and tastes just like canned condensed milk really simple and easy.

    Reply
  18. Carrie says

    You list milk as an ingredient but you don’t say what kind (ie. whole,low-fat,non-fat,skim)

    Reply
    • Antoinette E. Stokes says

      Thank you! You have answered all of my questions. I will definitely be making both of these milks. Besides I need them for my Ice coffee’s.
      Once, again thank you.

      -Toni

      Reply
  19. Tonie Asher says

    I’m going to try this recipe,I use both of these milks on the Holidays,So Thank You ? So much for Your Recipes,Just found your blog by looking on Facebook.

    Reply
  20. Ophelia says

    Thank you so much for the recipes for the milks can’t wate to make both of them

    Reply
  21. Tammy says

    I don’t have 2-21/2 hours. What can I do?

    Reply
  22. Marie says

    Sorry self correction changed my question

    Can you substitute munkfruit for sugar in the condensed milk recipe?

    Reply
  23. June Patterson says

    Thanks for the recipes. I am definitely going to try it. I was wondering if you think this would work in a double boiler.

    Reply
  24. Cherie says

    Ive been making my own sweetened condensed milk for a couple years now, and its a different recipe than yours. Don’t even remember where I got it. Its 1/3 cup boiling water, 4Tbsp butter, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 cup powdered milk. And I suggest you sift it to avoid any lumps that might remain. Combine everything except the milk in a bowl and gradually add the powdered milk and whisk until it thickens. This too stores well in fridge.

    Reply
    • Joyce says

      This is the recipe that I have always used it. Except instead of risking mine I put it in the blender. It’s very good. But I am anxious to try this recipe to

      Reply
    • Sandra says

      To Cherir / Joyce,
      ,Do you cook the milk on low heat after you mix in blender?

      Reply
  25. Ginger Steed says

    Cindy, You said you can milk every winter. But you didn’t say what temperature you need to reach or for how long. I tried canning cheese sause once but it didn’t come out right at all! Please elaborate the directions. Thanks. Ginger

    Reply
  26. Deborah says

    I need to make the sweetened condensed milk sugar free for my diabetic husband. Can this be done?

    Reply
    • Linda says

      Can you use almond milk to make evaporated or condensed milk?

      Reply
  27. Lynn taylor says

    When canning this milk how long and at what pressure do you can it?

    Reply
  28. Linda Wagner says

    I didn’t read anything on whether this could be frozen or
    with it thaw and separate? Linda W.

    Reply
  29. Molly says

    At our house this is called Iggle Brand milk.?

    Reply
  30. Linda says

    I too would like to know if keto sugar substitutes can be used?

    Reply
  31. tracey says

    we can only get UHT milk can i use that or do you need to use fresh milk?

    Reply
    • Susan duke says

      I use powered milk hot water, sugar, margarine. It works great with my handmixer.

      Reply

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Lauren
Lauren

Hi! I’m Lauren. I am a mom, writer, and creator of Mom Prepares. I am passionate about building community among women who support each other in parenthood, health, business & life in general.

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