Substitutions

What can I use instead of sweetened condensed milk?

Q: Can I use reduced milk and sugar instead of sweetened condensed milk?

1 can (14 oz / 397 g) sweetened condensed milk = 2 cups whole milk + 2/3 cup granulated sugar, simmered down to about 1 1/4 cups. This is how the canned product is made — evaporating most of the water concentrates the milk solids and dissolves the sugar into a syrup of the same density. Comes out slightly thinner and less caramelised than the can unless you push the reduction. Reducing too far turns it grainy.

Q: Can I use evaporated milk + sugar instead of sweetened condensed milk?

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk = 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk + 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, heated until dissolved. Evaporated milk has already had its water driven off, so you only need to dissolve in the sugar that separates the two products. Very close in sweetness and set. Slightly looser and paler than the canned original.

Q: Can I use milk powder blender method instead of sweetened condensed milk?

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk = 1 cup dry milk powder + 2/3 cup granulated sugar + 1/3 cup boiling water + 3 tbsp melted butter. Milk powder supplies the concentrated solids directly, so no reduction is needed and the sugar-to-solids ratio can be hit exactly. Faster than reducing, but the flavour is flatter and slightly powdery, without the gentle caramelisation of a long simmer.

Cow's milk with about 60% of its water removed and a large quantity of sugar dissolved in. Thick, pale gold and shelf-stable unopened.

What it does in a recipe: Sugar, dairy solids and fat in one pourable form — it sweetens, thickens and sets without needing eggs or a starch. Pick the swap that covers that job — the ratios below are written so you can act on them without doing any arithmetic.

Also called: Condensed milk

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Sweetenerscategory

Quick answer

Reduced milk and sugar

1 can (14 oz / 397 g) sweetened condensed milk = 2 cups whole milk + 2/3 cup granulated sugar, simmered down to about 1 1/4 cups

All substitutes, best first

4 ways to replace sweetened condensed milk

Reduced milk and sugar

Closest match

1 can (14 oz / 397 g) sweetened condensed milk = 2 cups whole milk + 2/3 cup granulated sugar, simmered down to about 1 1/4 cups

This is how the canned product is made — evaporating most of the water concentrates the milk solids and dissolves the sugar into a syrup of the same density.

MethodSimmer gently for 25-40 minutes, stirring often and scraping the corners of the pan so nothing catches. Take it off when it coats a spoon thickly; it thickens a good deal more as it cools.

Trade-offComes out slightly thinner and less caramelised than the can unless you push the reduction. Reducing too far turns it grainy.

BakingSaucesDrinksVegetarianGluten-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-freeAlcohol-free

Evaporated milk + sugar

Reliable

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk = 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk + 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, heated until dissolved

Evaporated milk has already had its water driven off, so you only need to dissolve in the sugar that separates the two products.

MethodWarm over low heat, stirring until no grain remains between your fingers, then simmer 5 minutes and cool. It yields a little more than a can, so measure out what the recipe calls for.

Trade-offVery close in sweetness and set. Slightly looser and paler than the canned original.

BakingSaucesDrinksVegetarianGluten-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-freeAlcohol-free

Milk powder blender method

Reliable

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk = 1 cup dry milk powder + 2/3 cup granulated sugar + 1/3 cup boiling water + 3 tbsp melted butter

Milk powder supplies the concentrated solids directly, so no reduction is needed and the sugar-to-solids ratio can be hit exactly.

MethodBlend for a full minute until completely smooth, then refrigerate at least an hour to thicken. It will look thin straight out of the blender.

Trade-offFaster than reducing, but the flavour is flatter and slightly powdery, without the gentle caramelisation of a long simmer.

BakingSaucesVegetarianGluten-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-freeAlcohol-free

Sweetened condensed coconut milk

Reliable

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk = 1 can (11-14 oz) sweetened condensed coconut milk

It is built to the same sugar and solids concentration, so it sets and sweetens comparably in fudge, tarts and iced coffee.

Trade-offClearly coconut-flavoured and a shade looser, so no-bake fillings may need an extra hour to firm. Fine in a lime tart, obvious in a plain fudge.

BakingSaucesDrinksVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeSoy-freeAlcohol-free

Allergen checkThis is the standard swap for a dairy-free or vegan cook, but coconut is classified as a tree nut under US labelling rules and cans are often filled on shared lines. Read the label, and for a diagnosed dairy or tree-nut allergy confirm the product with the manufacturer rather than relying on the category.

Worth knowing

Sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk are not interchangeable straight from the can — evaporated milk contains no added sugar at all, and swapping one for the other will wreck the sweetness and the set.

At a glance

Sweetened condensed milk in summary

Category	Sweeteners
Job in a recipe	Sugar, dairy solids and fat in one pourable form — it sweetens, thickens and sets without needing eggs or a starch
Suits	Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Egg-free, Nut-free, Soy-free, Alcohol-free
Swaps available for	Alcohol-free Dairy-free Egg-free Gluten-free Nut-free Soy-free Vegan Vegetarian
Number of substitutes	4

More sweeteners

Agave nectar4 substitutes Barley malt syrup4 substitutes Caster sugar4 substitutes Coconut sugar4 substitutes Dark brown sugar4 substitutes Date syrup4 substitutes

Cooking around an allergy? Diet tags here describe the ingredient itself, not any particular brand. Processed products change formulation without notice and shared production lines are common, so read the label on everything you use. A severe allergy is a medical matter — confirm with the manufacturer or your clinician rather than relying on a substitution chart.