The canned sweetened condensed milk on the grocery store shelf can contain corn syrup, mono- and diglycerides, sodium hexametaphosphate, carrageenan, and artificial flavor (1). Yikes!
Why not make your own?
Homemade sweetened condensed milk is whole milk and maple syrup, reduced slowly until the water cooks off and the sugar caramelizes into cream.
Prep Time: 5 minutes · Cook Time: 30 to 45 minutes · Total Time: 35 to 50 minutes · Yield: about 1.5 cups
Table of Contents
What Is Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk?
Sweetened condensed milk is milk with the water removed and sugar added, traditionally made by slowly reducing whole milk until it thickens into a sweet, pourable cream.
The homemade version uses the same two core ingredients, whole milk and a real sweetener, without anything added to extend shelf life. Because you’re using it within days, not years, it doesn’t need to be.
How Does Maple Syrup Compare to Corn Syrup?
| Nutrient / Property | Pure Maple Syrup | Corn Syrup |
| Primary Sugar Type | Sucrose, ranging 51.7% to 99% of total sugars, which breaks down to glucose and fructose | Nearly 100% glucose from hydrolyzed corn starch; high-fructose corn syrup adds fructose |
| Processing Level | Minimal: sap is boiled down to 66% to 67% sugar content, nothing else added | Highly processed: corn starch is chemically and enzymatically broken down into syrup |
| Glycemic Index | 54, per USDA data | Up to 90, among the highest of any common sweetener |
| Manganese | About 100% of the Daily Value per 1/4 cup (60 mL) serving | Not a meaningful source |
| Riboflavin (B2) | About 34% of the Daily Value per 1/4 cup serving | Not a meaningful source |
| Zinc | About 11% of the Daily Value per 1/4 cup serving | Trace amounts or none |
| Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium | About 6% Daily Value calcium per 1/4 cup serving, plus measurable potassium and magnesium | Trace amounts or none |
| Antioxidant Compounds | Multiple phenolic antioxidants identified, including gallic acid, catechin, and quercetin glycosides | Virtually none |
How Do You Make Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk?
You need one saucepan, a whisk, and about 45 minutes of mostly hands-off simmering.
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 3/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 tablespoons butter (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the milk, maple syrup, butter, and salt in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan. Turn the heat to medium-high.
- Whisk until the maple syrup dissolves fully and the mixture comes to a very gentle simmer.
- Stop whisking once it simmers. Lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer; further whisking encourages sugar crystals to form on the sides of the pan.
- Watch the heat closely. Do not let the mixture go past a simmer. If it starts foaming up, lower the heat immediately to prevent burning or a boil-over.
- Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally to scrape the bottom of the pan, until the volume reduces by half. This takes 30 to 45 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Let it cool before transferring to a jar; it will thicken further as it cools.
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FAQ
Can you use a different milk? Whole milk gives you the fat content that helps this reduce into a properly thick, creamy result. Lower-fat milk will still work, but the final texture will be thinner and less rich.
Why does the recipe say not to whisk after it starts simmering? Whisking after the sugar has dissolved introduces air and agitation that encourages sugar crystals to form on the pan’s sides. Stir gently instead of whisking from this point on.
How long does homemade condensed milk keep? Store it in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It will thicken further as it chills, so let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before using if it’s too firm to pour.
Is the butter necessary? No. The butter adds extra richness and a rounder mouthfeel, but the recipe reduces and thickens without it. Leave it out for a lighter, dairy-forward version.
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Bottom Line
Homemade sweetened condensed milk trades a two-year shelf date for a genuinely simple ingredient list: whole milk, maple syrup, salt, vanilla, and butter if you want it.
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