Easy Vegan Condensed Milk

Name: Easy Vegan Condensed Milk
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 2 cups (16.9 ounces) full-fat coconut milk; ⅜ cup granulated sugar

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Vegan condensed milk is a simple recipe that makes dairy-free baking a breeze! All you need is 2 ingredients and a pot. Use it in your favorite recipes like fudge, coffee, or any other recipe that calls for condensed milk.

Table of Contents

💙 Why you’ll love this recipe

Two ingredients: The only ingredients required for dairy-free condensed milk are coconut milk and sugar.
Cheaper: Compared to store-bought vegan condensed milk, this homemade version saves you big time in the wallet department.
Easy: Just mix the ingredients, watch as they reduce, and let the mixture cool. The steps couldn’t be easier!
Flavorful: You’ll be surprised at how rich and intense the individual ingredients become once they’re reduced. You may even eat it straight out of the jar like us!

If you’re in need of more staples like vegan condensed milk, check out our vegan whipped cream, vegan custard, vegan heavy cream, dairy-free sour cream, and vegan buttermilk.

🥛 What is condensed milk?

Condensed milk is a popular ingredient used to make pies, puddings, and other traditional baking recipes.

It’s made by reducing whole cow’s milk until more than 60% of the water content is removed. Next, it’s sweetened, canned, and finally sold in stores.

🤔 Condensed milk vs evaporated milk

Both of these ingredients are commonly found in recipes. They are often confused with one another, but here are the main differences between the two:

Sugar content: Condensed milk is sweetened while evaporated milk is unsweetened.
Consistency: Condensed milk is thick, and evaporated milk is more easily poured.
Uses: Condensed milk is generally used in baking, drinks, and desserts whereas evaporated milk doesn’t impart much sweetness. This means it can be used for richness or as a milk substitute in savory recipes.

🌱 Is condensed milk vegan?

Since condensed milk is made from cow’s milk, it’s not a vegan-friendly ingredient. However, you can easily make plant-based condensed milk with pantry staples (coconut milk and sugar).

All you have to do is add them to a pot, then reduce the water content by 60% just like a traditional recipe. Easy, right?

Sugar and coconut milk in bowls. — All you need is 2 simple ingredients

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

Coconut milk: It’s important to use full-fat coconut milk from a can for vegan condensed milk, not coconut milk in a carton. Look for cans in the international aisle of your local grocery store. We typically opt for Thai brands since they contain a high percentage of fat and are generally made up of just coconut extract and water. For reference, we use the brand Aroy D.
Granulated sugar: We use organic granulated sugar to keep things vegan-friendly, but you can also use organic cane sugar instead. Either way, just keep in mind that the overall color will be slightly off-white (the flavor isn’t affected though).

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make vegan condensed milk

Step 1: Combine the ingredients

To a medium saucepan, add the coconut milk and sugar. Give it a good stir.

Coconut milk and sugar in a saucepan. — Start with room-temperature ingredients

Step 2: Bring it to a boil

Bring the mixture to a low boil, then turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer for 45-50 minutes, or until the volume has reduced by just over half. Give the mixture a whisk every few minutes, and scrape down the sides.

Reduced coconut milk. — Simmer it low and slow!

Step 3: Let it thicken

Once the liquid has reduced, remove the saucepan from the heat and let it cool down to room temperature. Transfer the mixture to a mason jar for storage. Happy eating!

If you have questions about making dairy-free condensed milk, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🧁 How to use vegan condensed milk

Once your vegan condensed milk has thickened up, it’s time to add it to your favorite recipes! Try out some of these ideas:

To sweeten coffee and tea drinks (like Vietnamese coffee or Thai tea).
In any flavor vegan fudge
As a dip for vegan churros
In the caramel layer of vegan millionaire’s bars
Drizzled over fresh fruits for a creamy-yet-juicy dessert.
One-for-one in any other recipe that calls for condensed milk!

🌡️ Storage & reheating

If you end up having leftover vegan condensed milk, follow these storage tips:

Fridge: Keep dairy-free condensed milk in a mason jar or airtight container in the fridge. Due to the sugar content, it should keep for up to 2-3 weeks.
Freezer: For anything longer than a few weeks, it’s best to store it in the freezer. Leave some room at the top of a freezer-safe container for expansion, and it will last for up to 3 months.
Thaw: If frozen, let your vegan condensed milk thaw overnight in the fridge. Give it a thorough stirring or a blitz in the blender before using it again!

♻️ Variations

Liquid sweeteners: Replace the granulated sugar with maple syrup, agave, brown rice syrup, or coconut nectar. Note: you will need to simmer the mixture for longer.
Dark sugar: For a rich, complex flavor, try coconut sugar or organic brown sugar.
Extra creamy: If you have some available, try coconut cream (like Aroy D coconut cream) for an even higher percentage of fat than full-fat canned coconut milk.
Flavored: Depending on the recipes you’ll be adding your vegan condensed milk to, you can try flavoring it with flavor extracts like vanilla, almond, or cinnamon.

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

Room temperature ingredients: Make sure the coconut milk is at room temperature before adding it to the saucepan. This will ensure the sugar and milk properly combine.
Be patient: The mixture needs quite a bit of time to reduce and thicken. It’s not an exact measurement, but you’re going for a 60% reduction in water content.
Stir frequently: To prevent the mixture from sticking and gelling on the sides of your saucepan, stir it every few minutes.
Keep the heat low: You don’t want to burn the milk or sugar or your vegan condensed milk will have an off-putting flavor. Simmer it low and slow.

💬 FAQ

What is vegan condensed milk made from?

Typically, dairy-free condensed milk is made from coconut milk and sugar. All you have to do is add them to a pot and reduce the mixture by about 60%.

What is the difference between condensed milk and sweetened condensed milk?

Condensed milk and sweetened condensed milk refer to the same thing. There is no such thing as unsweetened condensed milk.

Can I make vegan condensed milk without coconut milk?

Yes, you can also use other plant milk to make vegan condensed milk, but we find coconut milk is the best replacement. If you decide to make it with another variety, try adding 1-2 teaspoons of cornstarch to help thicken it.

🍴 More vegan basics

If you found this vegan condensed milk recipe helpful, try testing out some more vegan staples like these:

Vegan cream cheese: Proving you don’t need dairy for a little piece of heaven.
Coconut yogurt: Made with just 2 ingredients.
Coconut butter: Sweet, creamy, and velvety smooth coconut manna.
Vegan chicken: High in protein, flavor, and nutrients.
Vegan pizza dough: For all your pizza needs!