What Is Milk, sweetened condensed and How Can I Use It?

Here's everything worth knowing about milk, sweetened condensed and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 408 recipes to cook tonight.

Key Points

Milk reduced with so much sugar that it pours like syrup and tastes intensely sweet.
Not interchangeable with evaporated milk, which is unsweetened despite the similar can.
Its sugar both sweetens and sets desserts: key lime pie, no-bake cheesecake, fudge.
Simmered down it becomes dulce de leche; it is also the base of Vietnamese coffee.
All that sugar scorches fast, so cook it low and stir constantly.

What is milk, sweetened condensed?

Sweetened condensed milk is cow's milk reduced down with a heavy load of sugar, canned into a thick, glossy, intensely sweet liquid. Around 45% of it is sugar, which is what makes it pour like syrup and keep for years on the shelf unopened.

That sugar is the whole identity. It sweetens, it thickens, and in many recipes it sets a dessert with no other binder.

The one thing to burn into memory: this is not evaporated milk. Both come in similar cans in the same aisle, but evaporated milk is unsweetened, and the two are never interchangeable.

What It Does in Desserts

Condensed milk is the engine behind a whole class of easy sweets. Whisked with acid it firms on its own, and cooked low and slow it caramelizes into something new.

In key lime pie, the acid from the lime juice reacts with the proteins and thickens the filling to a sliceable set with no baking required, as in this key lime pie with pecan crust. The same trick gives a no-bake cheesecake its body straight from the fridge.

Heated, it carries fudge and bar cookies. It binds the layers of a tray of seven layer bars and melts into the base of quick fudge and almond joy cookies.

Simmered long enough on its own, the can turns into dulce de leche, a deep caramel spread. It is also the sweet, creamy backbone of Vietnamese iced coffee.

Cooking and Common Mistakes

The biggest error is reaching for the wrong can. Swap evaporated milk into a fudge or a key lime pie and the dessert never thickens, because you have pulled out both the sugar and the structure the recipe was counting on.

Going the other way, condensed milk in a savory sauce turns it cloyingly sweet.

When you cook it, keep the heat low and stir. All that sugar scorches fast, and once it catches on the pan the burnt taste runs through the whole batch.

Substitutes

There is no clean one-can swap, because nothing else carries this much sugar and body together. In a pinch you can make your own: simmer about 2¼ cups whole milk with ¾ cup sugar, stirring, until it cooks down to roughly a cup of thick, sweet milk.

Evaporated milk plus sugar gets you partway but stays thinner. For the set in a no-bake filling, you genuinely need the real thing or the homemade version above, since a thinner stand-in will not firm up the same way.

Do not substitute plain milk or cream. Without the concentrated sugar the dessert will be neither sweet enough nor thick enough.

Buying and Storing

Find it with the canned baking goods, not in the dairy case, and read the label twice so you do not grab evaporated milk by mistake. Skip any can that is bulging or dented along a seam.

Unopened, it keeps a year or more at room temperature. Once you open the can, scrape the leftover into a sealed container in the fridge and use it within about a week, since at that point it spoils like any dairy.

It does not freeze well as-is for spooning, turning grainy on the thaw. Leftover condensed milk freezes fine for cooked uses, where that texture disappears into the batter.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 cup (306g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 982Calories from Fat 239

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 26.6g 41%

Saturated Fat 16.8g 84%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 104mg 35%

Sodium 388mg 16%

Total Carbohydrate 166.5g 55%

Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

Sugars 166.5

Protein 24.2g

Vitamin A 16% Vitamin C 13%

Calcium 87% • Iron 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find milk, sweetened condensed: Milk, sweetened condensed is usually found in the baking supplies section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Milk, sweetened condensed is a member of the Dairy and Egg Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese: 牛奶，甜炼乳
British (UK) term: Milk, sweetened condensed
en français: lait concentré sucré
en español: leche condensada azucarada

How much does milk, sweetened condensed weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 cup	306 grams
1 fl oz	38 grams

Dairy and Egg Products

Butter 14585 Ghee (clarified butter) 240 Blue cheese 95 Havarti cheese 6 Cheddar cheese 1679 Cheese 557 Cheddar cheese, very old, sharp 334 Cheddar cheese, medium 23 Cheddar cheese, mild 32 Colby cheese 26

Recipes using milk, sweetened condensed

There are 408 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Adam's Chai Latte Ice Cream

My brother Adam loves this ice cream so much that I asked him for the recipe. It's a Chai Latte with chunks of gingerbread cookies hidden within.

Favourite Pineapple Cake

Eggless pineapple cake made with sweetened condensed milk for a soft, moist crumb, flavored with pineapple essence and crushed pineapple, then finished with pineapple icing. A bakery-style cake with no eggs.

Tradional Pumpkin Pie

Traditional pumpkin pie made with sweetened condensed milk, two eggs, pumpkin puree, and warming cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. The Eagle Brand classic that ends up on Thanksgiving tables for a reason.

Cardamom-Spiced Coffee

Cardamom-spiced coffee sweetened with condensed milk, in the Middle Eastern and South Asian style. A 4-ingredient brew that turns regular coffee into something exotic.

Simply Refreshing Summer Lime Tart

You can decorate this easy tart to look so elegant, your guests will be impressed.

Jean's Bourbon Ice Cream

Bourbon ice cream with sweetened condensed milk and half-and-half churns into a rich Southern-style dessert with warm whiskey notes. A grown-up frozen treat that pours straight from the freezer into the bowl.

Chocolate Cream (false nutella)

"This can be served with the chocolate cookies, cakes, pancakes and chocolate desserts, I recommend."

Super Fudgy Pecan Pie

Fudgy chocolate pecan pie built on sweetened condensed milk and melted sweet chocolate instead of the usual corn syrup. The pecans stir into a rich chocolate custard for a brownie-meets-pecan-pie holiday dessert.

Strawberry Ice Cream

Homemade strawberry ice cream blends sweetened condensed milk, half-and-half, and strawberry soda with thawed berries for a creamy summer churn. A vintage two-step churned recipe.

Holiday Truffles

Holiday chocolate truffles made with semi-sweet chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and a splash of amaretto or Grand Marnier. Two flavors from one batch, no thermometer required.

All purpose Ice-cream

A basic ice-cream recipe that is so delicious on its own, but can be modified to make literally all kinds of flavors and ice-cream ideas!

Banana Curry Muffins

Unusual banana curry muffins flavored with curry powder, treacle, and sweetened condensed milk, plus mashed bananas and bran. A high-fibre breakfast muffin with a savory-spice twist.

Coconut Sorbet

A Desert which is simple to prepare and good to eat in summer!!!

Blueberry Cheese Cake

Very amazing easy recipe for cheese cake with fabulous taste.

Coffee Brickle Ice Cream *

Coffee brickle ice cream churns sweetened condensed milk and half-and-half with strong instant coffee, toasted almonds, and almond brickle chips. No-cook custard for the home ice cream maker.

Fudge-Topped Brownies

Cocoa brownies crowned with a glossy fudge ganache made from chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Two-layer chocolate dessert that yields 40 squares for crowds and bake sales.

Prize Pumpkin Pie

Prize pumpkin pie made with sweetened condensed milk for an extra-silky custard. Brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg pack the spice. The classic Thanksgiving slice, made richer.

Key Lime Pie with Tropical Fruits

A light and delicious key lime pie is topped with fresh strawberries and star fruit, and drizzled with key lime syrup. It' not only an eye-pleaser, but also a belly pleaser.

Coffee Fudge Popsicles

Made these coffee fudge popsicles a few days ago... Boy, oh boy, they were the best and easiest popsicles I had ever made. Coffee, chocolate, and fudge were all in one bite, it was just melting in my mouth. They are perfect on a hot summer day or whenever you feel like craving something that combines these three things...

Rocky Road Fudge

No-fail rocky road fudge made by melting chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk, then folding in peanuts and mini marshmallows. No candy thermometer needed, just melt, mix, chill, and cut.

Cherry & White Chocolate Chunk Chocolate Ice Cream

These is nothing better than a cold and creamy ice cream in summer, this ice cream is lower in fat and calories, and very delicious!

Cherry Cheesecake Ice Cream *

Cherry cheesecake ice cream blends cream cheese with sweetened condensed milk and chopped dark cherries for a no-cook custard base with bright fruit ribbons. Tastes like frozen cheesecake.

Blackberry Lemon Ice Cream

Blackberry lemon ice cream made with sweetened condensed milk, half-and-half, and fresh lemon juice. No-cook five-ingredient ice cream maker recipe. Bright, tart, and creamy in equal measure.

Neapolitan Gooey Cake Bars

These colorful, rich and gooey bars could not be simpler to prepare.

Fresh Fruit Ice Cream

No-churn fresh fruit ice cream blends pureed fruit with sweetened condensed milk and whipped cream for a creamy summer dessert. No ice cream maker needed, freezes in a loaf pan.

Strawberry-Cream Crepes

Strawberry cream crepes with sweetened condensed milk thickened by lemon juice, folded with fresh berries and whipped cream. No-cook dessert assembled in 15 minutes.

Brownie Oreo Cheesecake Bars

Brownie and cheesecake can be enjoyed at the same time. Cocoa powder, cream cheese, nuts and condensed milk make these absolutely decadent brownie cheesecake bars.

Maja Blanca

This sweet coconut pudding is a wonderful treat. The recipe gets its roots in the Philippines and is traditionally served on the holidays and special occasions. Coconut milk provides you with a healthy amount of Vitamins C, E, and B. It has minerals that will promote healthy teeth and the creation of red blood cells. Don’t be concerned about the condensed milk. As long as it is enjoyed in moderation you should be ok and unsweetened versions are available. Condensed milk does offer some health benefits like calcium, potassium, and Vitamin A. So go ahead and enjoy this recipe at your next special occasion.

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