When there’s no sweetened condensed milk in your pantry, here's How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk, an easy recipe made with just 3 ingredients.

This homemade recipe, with its creamy texture, will save you a run to the grocery store and is so easy to make in a pinch! And no cooking is required!
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Homemade sweetened condensed milk
My family loves when I make my no churn ice cream but sometimes I run out of sweetened condensed milk and have disappointed little ones.
Enter my easy sweetened condensed milk recipe to the rescue!
With just three ingredients, including water, I am always sure to keep sugar and dry milk on hand.
Simply whisk the ingredients together until smooth and let it come to room temperature or refrigerate until cooled.
Then it’s time to make the ice cream!
You can also use this homemade sweetened milk in dessert recipes, baking recipes or any recipe, even savory dishes, that calls for the canned version.
Having these simple ingredients on hand ensures that we will always have homemade ice cream for dessert!
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How to make a homemade version of sweetened condensed milk
Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below
- Step 1: In a mixing bowl, whisk the sugar and dry milk together until blended.
- Step 3: Add the hot water until the dry milk and sugar dissolve and the mixture becomes smooth and combined.
- Step 3: Transfer to a mason jar or airtight container and refrigerate until cooled before using.
Hint: Be sure to use very hot water so that the sugar and dry milk dissolve easily for you!
Expert recipe tips
- This recipe thickens as it cools
- Make sure your water is very hot so that both the dry milk and sugar dissolve. You don’t want to end up with clumps!
- This recipe makes the perfect amount for replacing one can (4 ounces) of sweetened condensed milk in a recipe
- You can easily double this recipe
- This homemade sweetened condensed milk needs to be stored in the refrigerator.
- Add a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract!
Substitutions
I do not recommend substituting any of the ingredients in this recipe
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- measuring cups
- glass measuring cup
- whisk
- mason jar
Storage
- Store homemade sweetened condensed milk in a mason jar or an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- I also like to store my homemade condensed milk in a glass measuring up covered with plastic wrap
- Sweetened condensed milk will stay fresh in the refrigerator for about 5 days.
- As always, I find it helpful to visit the FDA website for food storage guidelines
Ingredients
Ingredients for homemade condensed milk:
- white sugar
- dry milk
- hot water
Recipes using sweetened condensed milk
Use your homemade condensed milk in these recipes:
Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk
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Ingredients
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 cup dry milk
- ½ cup hot water
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Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk the sugar and dry milk together until blended.
- Whisk in the hot water until smooth and combined.
- Cover and refrigerate until cooled before using.
- Store in a mason jar or an airtight container in the refrigerator until needed or for up to 5 days.
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