What can i replace sweetened condensed milk with

Combine evaporated milk, sugar, and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium-low heat and whisk together. Heat to a simmer and cook until thick, 15 to 20 minutes.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)

275Calories4gFat57gCarbs4gProtein

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Nutrition FactsServings Per Recipe 6Calories 275% Daily Value *Total Fat 4g6%Saturated Fat 3g13%Cholesterol 16mg5%Sodium 65mg3%Total Carbohydrate 57g21%Total Sugars 57gProtein 4gVitamin C 1mg6%Calcium 164mg13%Iron 0mg1%Potassium 197mg4%

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

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

Sweetened condensed milk is a staple of so many traditional baking recipes. This can be a bit of a problem if you’re following a vegan or plant-based lifestyle.

But before you throw out your grandma’s pumpkin pie recipe, know that there is hope.

While commercial vegan condensed milk alternatives are hard to find, it’s easy enough to make a vegan substitute for sweetened condensed milk right at home.

We tested a number of recommended substitutes and found three that worked amazingly well in a wide variety of recipes. We even created our own unique recipe that we think is worth a try, as well.

Table of Contents show

Is Condensed Milk Vegan?

The Best Vegan Sweetened Condensed Milk Substitutions

1. Full Fat Coconut Milk

2. Soy Milk Powder

3. Nut Milk and Cashews

Condensed Milk vs Evaporated Milk

Vegan Condensed Milk Substitute

About the Author

Is Condensed Milk Vegan?

No, condensed milk is not vegan. Condensed milk is made by taking whole milk and exposing it to heat in order to remove 60% of the water. Sugar is then added to the thickened product to make sweetened condensed milk.

So aside from the sugar, this product comes entirely from cows. Luckily, for those of us following a vegan diet, there are some easy-to-make vegan alternatives to this classic baking ingredient.

The Best Vegan Sweetened Condensed Milk Substitutions

Whether you are in a hurry or short on ingredients, these sweetened condensed milk vegan alternatives are here to save the day.

1. Full Fat Coconut Milk

The best substitute for sweetened condensed milk is full fat coconut milk with a sweetener. With only two ingredients, it’s one of the simplest recipes we tried and makes a very convincing condensed milk alternative. This recipe has a bit of a coconutty flavor, but this is not overly noticeable when used in most baked good recipes.

When used in more straightforward applications, such as for frostings or as a coffee additive, the taste is much more apparent, but not at all off-putting.

For this recipe, all you’ll need is:

  • 1 can of full-fat coconut milk
  • ⅓ c maple syrup, sugar, or coconut sugar

How to make full-fat coconut milk vegan sweetened condensed milk:

  1. Add the coconut milk and maple syrup (or sugar) to a small pot.

What can i replace sweetened condensed milk with
Photo: Kirsten Nunez

2. Bring to boil then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for about 45 minutes, whisking every 5 minutes. The liquid should reduce by about half and turn from white to beige-ish (it will be darker if you use coconut sugar or maple syrup).

What can i replace sweetened condensed milk with
Photo: Kirsten Nunez

It’s important to whisk the liquid frequently, about every five minutes. This will prevent the mixture from bubbling over.

3. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

What can i replace sweetened condensed milk with
Photo: Kirsten Nunez

Once set, this sweetened condensed milk will keep in the fridge for about 10 days.

This recipe yields about ¾ cup of product. View the printable recipe card for this version below.

2. Soy Milk Powder

This version of vegan sweetened condensed milk requires a few more ingredients but takes a fraction of the time to prepare.

It also has more of a traditional condensed milk taste to it. But it does require soy milk powder, which can be a bit tough to find and is not suitable for those with soy allergies. (If this is the case, you can replace the soy powder with rice milk powder and get similar results.)

For this recipe you’ll need:

  • 1 ¼ c soy milk powder
  • ¾ c white sugar
  • ½ c hot water
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • ¼ tsp salt

How to make soy milk powder vegan sweetened condensed milk:

  1. In a blender, mix the soy powder and sugar.
  2. In a bowl, mix the hot water, coconut oil, and salt.
  3. Add the liquid mix into the blender.
  4. Blend for about 1 minute until well combined.
  5. Pour into a container immediately and allow to cool.

Once cooled, this mixture will thicken to the perfect consistency to use in any recipe you would use dairy-based sweetened condensed milk.

This recipe yields about 1 ½ cups.

3. Nut Milk and Cashews

If you are looking for a healthier take on sweetened condensed milk, you’ll love this vegan alternative. Not only is it made using better-for-you ingredients, but it utilizes natural sweeteners rather than processed sugar.

The taste of this recipe is similar to the real thing but with earthier undertones. But if you are used to naturally sweetened baked goods, you probably won’t even notice.

For those with coconut allergies, this recipe is perfect. It does not utilize coconut milk or oil.

For this recipe you’ll need:

  • 1 cup cashews
  • About ½ cup almond or other nut milk
  • ½ c maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ⅛ c sea salt

How to make nut milk and cashew vegan sweetened condensed milk:

  1. Add all ingredients to a blender. (NOTE: If not using a high-speed blender, then you should soak the cashews overnight first.)
  2. Blend until smooth, about 2 minutes.
  3. Transfer to a pot and simmer over medium-low for about 5 minutes, whisking constantly.
  4. Adjust the thickness by adding more milk or syrup as needed.
  5. Allow to cool.

This recipe makes about 1 ½ cups. It can be stored in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for months.

Condensed Milk vs Evaporated Milk

If you do a lot of baking, you’ve probably noticed that some recipes call for sweetened condensed milk while others call for evaporated milk. It’s important to note that these are similar but entirely different ingredients.

Both are created by exposing whole milk to heat to reduce it to a thick liquid. This is technically evaporated milk. Once sugar is added to the mixture, it becomes sweetened condensed milk.

If your recipe calls for the latter, the options above and below are perfect for creating a vegan substitute. But if the recipe calls for the former, you’ll want to reference our article on vegan substitutes for evaporated milk.

What can i replace sweetened condensed milk with

Vegan Condensed Milk Substitute

Learn how to make dairy-free vegan condensed milk with just two simple ingredients. Add it to coffee or tea, drizzle it over fresh fruit, or use it as an ingredient in your plant-based recipes for baked goods, pies, fudge, pudding, and more.

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Course: Condiments & Sauces

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegan

Keyword: condensed milk substitute, dairy free condensed milk, substitute for condensed milk, vegan condensed milk

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 130kcal

Author: Kirsten Nunez, MS

Ingredients

  • 1 can full-fat coconut milk about 13.5 ounces
  • cup maple syrup or granulated sugar

Instructions

  • To a small pot, add the coconut milk and maple syrup or sugar.

  • Bring to boil then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for about 45 minutes, whisking every five minutes. The liquid will reduce by about half and develop a beige color.

  • Remove from the heat and let cool. Store leftover condensed milk in an air-tight jar in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Notes

It’s important to whisk the liquid frequently, about every five minutes. This will prevent the mixture from bubbling over.

Stock Pot

Glass jars with lids

Nutrition

Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 135mg | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 2mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @CleanGreenSimple or tag #CleanGreenSimple!

What can i replace sweetened condensed milk with

About the Author

Sara Seitz is a freelance writer living with type 1 diabetes. Her search for better health and better control of her blood sugars led her to a plant-based diet. When she isn’t experimenting with new vegan recipes, she’s helping spread the word about how plant-based is better for people and the planet. More articles by Sara.

What can I use in place of sweetened condensed milk?

Heavy Cream + Sugar Heavy cream (or heavy whipping cream) already has a thick consistency like sweetened condensed milk. What is this? Simply mix 1 cup of heavy cream with ¼ cup of sugar to get a creamy rich alternative. You can use this as a 1:1 exchange for sweetened condensed milk in any recipe.

Can I use regular milk instead of sweetened condensed milk?

While you could use ordinary milk wherever evaporated is called for, in sauces or in coffee, it would taste thinner. CONDENSED milk is both evaporated and preserved with a great deal of sugar. It is almost a liquid candy straight out of the can. To substitute you would need to add more sugar to your recipe.