Healthy Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk
I think we should lightly skim through the period in my life where I went crazy for condensed milk. Like, to the point where I would use it as a dip for my morning toast. It was like frosting to me (hey, I was young and it was pure sugar, of course I liked it)! Thank goodness I grew out of the habit (I discovered peanut butter‘s superiority when it came to toast). Today, I couldn’t care less for condensed milk for a very different reason: I have resolved to eat healthier and cut out the added sugars in my diet. Though, just because I tossed sugar to the curb doesn’t mean I had to wave goodbye to my sweet tooth. Edit: MAJOR SWEET TOOTH. I still like the flavor of condensed milk, so I made my own. Say “goodbye” to the sugary storebought cans and “hello” to this Healthy Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk!
When I got over my condensed milk craze as a kid, I never really missed it all that much. There were so many things that tasted just as good or better. Vanilla Bean Icing? Yes. Peanut Butter Cake? Of course. Banana Bread? Um, DUH.
There was never a “void” in my daily life, but as I started college and began baking ‘n’ blogging, there was a void of condensed milk in my baking life. So many dessert recipes call for sweetened condensed milk as its main ingredient — Key Lime Pie, Tres Leches Cake, Fudge, Magic Bars, etc. I could never make those recipes the “authentic” way because there wasn’t a healthy substitute for condensed milk… until NOW!
And ohhhh my gosh guys. This Healthy Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk is SO. SO. GOOD.
It took me way back. Back to my childhood. It’s so thick and rich and sweet, it’s like an icing that you’ll want to dive into head-first. I took down a spoonful as fast as Mary Poppins would take down a spoonful of medicine, only my spoonful was wayyyy more enjoyable.
Healthy Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk
Ingredients
- one 12oz can Evaporated Fat Free Milk
- 1 tsp Liquid Stevia Extract
- 120g (1 cup) Dried Nonfat Milk
- 70g (½ cup) Powdered Erythritol
- ½ tsp Xanthan Gum
Instructions
- In a high speed blender, add the evaporated milk and stevia extract.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the dried milk powder, erythritol, and xanthan gum.
- While blending, add in the dry ingredients. Blend until completely smooth. Serve immediately or store in the fridge in a tightly sealed jar or container.
Recipe Notes
WOW. Can you believe it?? Just 40 calories and 5g of (naturally occurring) sugar while the storebought variety has 130 calories and 22g of sugar per 2 tablespoons! That’s crrrrrazy. I’ll take my version ANY DAY over the storebought kind.
With this Healthy Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk, not only will you save your body from all the white sugar stuffed in those storebought condensed milk cans, but you will save yourself a TON of calories too. Not to mention, a sugar rush and sugar crash!
Hope you enjoy!
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– Jess
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Indulge − no strings attached!
Hi jessica! This is another cool post you have. You never fail to amaze me with your ideas…Thanks for sharing!
Nice recipe! I was wondering if this would work with Xyla (Xylitol) or any other sweetener (like Stevia)?
Thanks!
The erythritol I used measures like sugar, cup for cup, so if Xyla measures like sugar you can use the same amount. Just to be sure, adjust to taste. A spoonful or two during taste-testing doesn’t hurt 😉
Hey, I just found your site and all the amazing recipes. I will be buying your cookbook soon, and this recipe is awesome because I wanted a low carb version of evaporated milk to make a healthier version of Sinh tố bơ (Vietnamese Avocado Shake). However, I just wanted to mention that Xylitol naturally is just as sweet as sugar, whereas Erythritol by itself isn’t as sweet. Swerve is Erythritol + Fructo-ogliosaccharides, so the blend makes it just as sweet, but Erythritol alone would need to add more to be as sweet as sugar (I do like Swerve though). Thank you!
This is the best tasting sugar-free condensed milk I’ve tried and believe me, I’ve tried a lot of internet recipes ever since I started doing sugar-free and low-carb. Like you, I grew up eating almost everything with condensed milk – bread, rice, cereal, cheese, pudding, pancakes… I even eat it straight from the can :p This absolutely taste like condensed milk. Thank you for sharing, this is the best!
Hey Girl!! I’ve never tried erythritol, but it sounds interesting!! Thank you for the new thing for me to google 😉
xxoo
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Do you think this could be used to make dulce de leche, or do you need real sugar to make it thicken?
This could probably be turned into dulce de leche because of the natural sugars in the milk. Erythritol works very similar to sugar, it can caramelize and thicken (I used erythritol to make caramel sauce). If you give it a try let me know if it works out for you!
-Jess 🙂
I can’t tolerate any form of casin/dairy. Do you know if I could substitute a non-dairy milk product for the evaporated milk in this recipe?
(allergic to soy and gluten also)
Thank you.
Hi! I ask in part because I don’t really “get” evaporated milk. Would it make a big difference to use regular milk instead of the canned evaporated milk? Or is there something key about the evaporated stuff to this recipe?
I’m sure regular milk would work just fine! I just don’t drink milk often so I don’t want to buy a gallon, use a cup of it, and let the rest sit in the fridge until it goes bad. Evaporated milk is just handy at all times 🙂
I have tried a similar recipe but I didn’t care for the taste of the dry milk powder. Can you tell us what brand of dry milk you used?
Hi Lin, I used NOW Foods Organic Dried NonFat Milk 🙂
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I accidentally bought the Swerve granular instead of the powder form. Do you think this would make any difference in the recipe?
Hmmm I think you should be good! It’s all being blended anyways… maybe just blend it for longer. If it does happen to be gritty at all, you can try heating it gently over a stove or make Key Lime Pie or Bananas Foster Ice Cream with it 😉
What brand of evaporated milk do you use?
I don’t remember what brand I used, but basically all evaporated milk is the same. Any brand should work fine here 🙂
There are organic varieties available at Whole Foods and regular grocery stores, if that’s what you’re asking about?
I just came across this recipe.
Would just using all stevia work?
I haven’t tried that, but I suppose it would — you’d need about 1½ tsp of stevia total to replace the erythritol. If you’re sensitive to stevia you might get a stevia aftertaste though.
This recipe may work, haven’t tried. But my immediate attempt of ordering specified ingredients in my Google Express told me all will cost $50+. A can of condensed milk is just $2. Hmm… I will rather just enjoy the ORIGINAL recipe, and jog for 30m.
I really have no idea where Google Express is looking but this recipe DOES NOT cost $50! LOL. Just go to your local store or Amazon.com or ThriveMarket.com and you can get these ingredients right there, for way cheaper than $50.
I just made this and it’s wonderful!! I definitely will be making it again, maybe with stevia next time. Thanks so much for the recipe!
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Great recipe! I was wondering if you had ever used this homemade condensed milk in a flan recipe? Thanks.
I’ve never made flan before so I’m not sure if this will work or not… but I’d say it’s worth a shot!! Crossing my fingers it works for ya 🙂
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Hi Jessica,
I see comments on the use of gelatin, want to confirm I am not misreading the ingredients. I am looking for the traditional pie which yours is the closest I have seen! Also is there any issue with substituting Splenda for the sweetners you have listed? Thank you – Rita
Hi Rita! I revamped the recipe (and photography) as this is one of the earlier posts on my blog from 2012 (!!!) 🙂
So good! I made this recipe for my hubby’s birthday and he loved it. I used monkfruit sweetener instead and made the crust out of macadamias, cashews and dates to turn it into a macadamia key lime pie and with some almond whipped cream. Can wait to use these left over ingredients in some of your recipes!
Omg that just made my entire week!!! So glad he liked it 🙂
What about substituting Splenda? Don’t like Stevia and won’t use Erythritol because it is very poisonous to pets.
I didn’t make this recipe for pets, and I prefer natural sweeteners. But feel free to try out Splenda!! 🙂
It’s xylitol that poison to pets in even small amounts…too much Erythritol can give them an upset tummy with vomiting & diarrhea, you wouldn’t use it o. treats for them either
can i use full fat milk on both
Absolutely! Evaporated whole milk will work just fine 🙂
Not a fan of the liquid stevia. What can I use instead that would calorie free?
Good Evening,
Just wanted to know how long this will keep once made? Using it for coffee so it would be great if it kept the whole week! Thanks so much!
It will definitely last up to a week in a tightly sealed jar in the fridge! 🙂
Is there a substitute for erythritol that you recommend?
You can use any natural sugar substitute 🙂
Made it, loved it. Thanks! Delicious!
Thank you for posting. I just made this and am amazed at the taste, it really does taste just like the sugary, calorie dense store bought version.
As someone who is trying to kick their coffee addiction, being able to sip on my hot tea with a bit of sweetened condensed milk with something I was really missing, I can’t wait to try it this evening.
How long does it last in the fridge? It tastes delicious btw! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!! It’s been a lifesaver when looking for a healthy creamer option!
I would say about a week or so! 🙂
Hi! Do you think I could use maple syrup instead of liquid stevia? I read that it would be about 1/3 cup of maple syrup for every 1 tsp of stevia