What Can I Use Instead of Condensed Milk: 4 Substitutions

If you’re in need of condensed milk but don’t have any in the kitchen, help is at hand. I have a list of resolutions for this problem, and I’m going to share them all with you today. Here, you’ll find the best answers to the question: What can I use instead of condensed milk?

What Can I Use Instead of Condensed Milk?

There are several reasons why you might need to consider a substitute for condensed milk in your dessert or beverage recipe. Dietary restrictions and lactose intolerance necessitates a non-dairy alternative, and the health-conscious amongst us might also prefer a low calorie or low sugar version. (Not me: I want all the sugar, thanks.)

Thankfully there are plenty of subtitutions you could use instead. Here in the UK, here are the four best condensed milk alternatives…

4 Condensed Milk Substitutions

Substituting condensed milk with something else helps you to customise the flavour a little more, not just in terms of dairy, fat, or sugar content but also in terms of taste. Let’s take a look at the best alternatives.

Regular Milk + Added Sugar

You can make your own condensed milk with ‘regular’ milk (such as cow’s or not milk) and granulated sugar. Simmering the two together over a low heat will do half the job, but if you need a thicker consistency, leave your homemade condensed milk to cool in the fridge. (After it has cooled enough to be transferred into an airtight container, of course.)

Evaporated Milk

One of the easiest and best substitutes of condensed milk, is evaporated milk. They’re not the same product, but they are similar, and they can be substituted in most recipes. (But not all.)

If the recipe calls for 200ml of condensed milk, you can simply use 200ml of evaporated milk instead. It’s an easy switch, and the most convenient for most people.

Almond Milk + Added Sugar

Almond works as a great, lower calorie substitute for condensed milk, but it’s not the kind of milk that’ll let you do a one-for-one swap. To get it ready for use in place of condensed milk, you’ll need to use double the amount of almond milk as the nut-based substitute, and then add sugar.

Once double the amount has been reduced to half the amount after a long simmer, you’ll then need to add the sugar and stir well until it has dissolved.

470ml of almond milk reduces down to 235ml, but the addition of 135g of sugar will help to bulk it up a little.

Powdered Milk + Sugar + Butter

I’m not personally the biggest fan of powdered milk, but it sure does come in handy sometimes. If you have some in the back of the cupboard, you can make a slightly less flavoursome version of the recipe that calls for condensed milk. Use an equal amount of hot water and powdered milk, then add sugar to taste. For around 100ml of thick liquid powdered milk, you’ll likely need between 1 and 3 tablespoons of sugar.

You can add a tablespoon or two of margarine or butter (preferably the latter), to give it the flavour boost and fat-factor it needs to stand in for condensed milk.

Conclusion

So, there you have them: four different condensed milk substitutions to use in desserts and beverages. Just remember, not all alternatives will work in all recipes, so it’s always worth testing beforehand.

If all else fails, there’s always online delivery services to get your much-needed condensed milk. (Just don’t tell my mum or grandma that I said that, please. Thanks!)

While we’re on the subject of condensed milk, here are a few more posts you might find helpful:

• 210 Desserts with Condensed Milk UK
• 95 Air Fryer Desserts
• 130 Desserts with Mascarpone