Name: 5 Minute Homemade Condensed Milk
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup whole milk powder or dry milk (keep powdered, not made into milk!); 2/3 cup white granulated sugar; 1/3 cup hot water; 3 tablespoons butter

The best homemade condensed milk, creamy and sweet, with only 4 ingredients, and it takes less than 5 minutes to make.

Creamy condensed milk being poured out of a small crystal jug.

Growing up, my mom would use condensed milk to make fudge or something delicious in the kitchen. With tablespoons, we’d scrape the tin clean of thick, sweet milk. It’s so nostalgic!

I’ve been making homemade vanilla ice cream that uses condensed milk, but I was going through tins of the stuff, so I started making my own.

It’s so simple, it’s almost too simple. It also tastes so much better than store-bought…but doesn’t everything homemade taste better? And it’s a lot cheaper to make yourself.

This recipe is quick to make, only requiring 5 minutes or so to blend the ingredients into creamy condensed milk. No stovetop or hours are needed to make this!

Condensed milk is great for no-churn ice creams, fudge, caramel, condensed milk cookies and even bread!

When you make your own condensed milk, you get that satisfying feeling of being able to make food from scratch.

Creamy condensed milk in a small crystal milk jug on a granite benchtop. There is a fresh white flower and pink linen napkin in the background

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What Is Condensed Milk?

Condensed milk or sweetened condensed milk is cow’s milk that’s been concentrated by removing the water. Sugar is added to create delightfully thick, sweet, and creamy condensed milk.

Is Condensed Milk and Evaporated Milk the Same Thing?

They’re different because condensed milk has sugar, but evaporated milk doesn’t. Hence, the common name is sweetened condensed milk. Due to the sugar content, I wouldn’t recommend substituting condensed milk for evaporated milk, but you can use evaporated milk instead of fresh milk with some water.

Birdseye view of condensed milk in a small crystal jug. There is a pretty pink napkin and white flower in the background.

How To Thicken Homemade Condensed Milk?

With heat or hot water, milk and sugar start to thicken into condensed milk. This recipe is the best because it doesn’t require hours over the stovetop. Instead, you use hot water in a food processor, and it’s done in a matter of minutes.

Can I Freeze Condensed Milk?

Yes, you can freeze it in an airtight container. Due to the sugar content, the mixture won’t freeze solid. Put it in the fridge overnight and whisk gently if it’s separated.

How Long Does Homemade Condensed Milk Last?

In the fridge, you can store this in a glass container or jar for 6 months. Super handy for spontaneous late-night baking.

Crystal jug filled with homemade condensed milk. Sitting next to a fresh white flower and pink napkin.

Why You Will Love Making Your Own Condensed Milk

It’s cheaper than a can from the store
No skills needed – easy to make
Tastes great and can be used in lots of recipes
Quicker than other recipes that require stovetops

Condensed Milk Ingredients

White Granulated Sugar – what makes the condensed milk sweet.
Butter – adding butter to the sugar syrup will give the condensed milk a creamier texture.
Milk Powder or Dry Milk – milk powder is the secret ingredient to making condensed milk quickly, without a stovetop. This product has a few names, but it’s just the powdered form of milk that is shelf-stable. For this recipe, keep it as a powder, this means you need to measure of 1 cup of powdered milk.
Hot Water – is used to melt the butter and dissolve the sugar into a sweet syrup.

Creamy condensed milk in a small crystal milk jug on a granite benchtop. There is a fresh white flower in the background

Hand drawn illustration of a baking scale and rolling pin

Makyla’s Baking Tips

1. Make sure the water is hot enough to dissolve the sugar. Don’t rush this step because the finished texture will be grainy with sugar. If you find the hot water hasn’t worked pour the liquid into a small saucepan and heat it up to dissolve the sugar.
2. Milk powder is important. Don’t swap this out for fresh milk because it won’t work without heat. The milk powder has already had the liquid taken out and will thicken into condensed milk when added to the sugar syrup.
3. If you don’t own a food processor, use a whisk or hand beater.

How To Make Homemade Condensed Milk

Add the sugar, butter, and hot water into a food processor and whisk together until the sugar has dissolved and the butter has turned to liquid. This should look like a clear sugar syrup.
Add the milk powder and pulse until combined, thickened, and creamy like condensed milk from a can. This can take a few minutes.
Store in a jar or use it to make insanely good condensed milk ice cream.

Whisking sugar, butter and hot water in a food processor.

Close up of combined sugar, butter and hot water making a sugar syrup.

No-Churn Ice Cream Recipes that Use Condensed Milk

No churn Dulce de Leche ice cream scooped into a waffle cone

Dulce de Leche Ice Cream {No-Churn}

Cookies and Cream Ice Cream {Oreo Ice Cream}

No-Churn Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

If you made and enjoyed this condensed milk recipe, I would appreciate it if you gave it 5 stars! Don’t forget to save this recipe to Pinterest for later!