Name: 5 Minute Homemade Condensed Milk
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 300
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 1 cup milk powder; 2/3 cup white 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 made my own.

It’s so simple, it’s almost too simple. It also tastes so much better than store-bought stuff…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 ice cream, fudge, caramel, biscuits 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

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 sweetened condensed milk. Due to the sugar content, I wouldn’t recommend substituting condensed milk for evaporated milk, but you can use evaporated milk in place 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?

You can store this in a glass container or jar for 6 months in the fridge. 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 which require stovetops

Condensed Milk Ingredients

White Sugar – what makes the condensed milk sweet.
Butter – adding butter to the sugar syrup will give the condensed milk a creamier texture.
Milk Powder – cheaper than buying litres of milk. Milk powder is the secret ingredient to making the condensed milk quickly, without a stovetop.
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

Tips for Success

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.
Milk powder is important. Don’t swap this out for fresh milk because it won’t work without heat, you will need to use another recipe like this. The milk powder has already had the liquid taken out and will thicken into condensed milk when added to the sugar syrup.
Use a whisk or hand beater if you don’t own a food processor. Recommended food processor if you want to purchase one, they are super handy for making dough and cutting vegetables too!

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 is liquid. This should look like a clear sugar syrup.
Add in the milk powder and whisk until combined, thickened, and creamy like condensed milk from a can.
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.

Looking For More Dessert Recipes? Try These

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Yield: 300ml