If you have spent some time baking desserts, you’re already well aware that condensed milk is a key ingredient in many different recipes. But what exactly is in that mysterious little can, and more importantly, what can you replace it with? As it turns out, condensed milk actually isn’t all that complicated after all, therefore there are a number of common ingredients you can combine to forge an excellent dairy-free substitute.
The best news is, many of the following vegan condensed milk options use pantry staples that you are already likely to have on hand if you follow a vegan diet! It may take a little bit of work to whip up just the right concoction, but stick with us and we’ll show you everything you need to know about substituting condensed milk in your favorite vegan recipes.
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What is Condensed Milk?
Condensed milk, also known as sweetened condensed milk (yes, the two are one and the same!) is simply cow’s milk that has been concentrated and sweetened. Due to the fact that regular condensed milk is made using cow’s milk (as well as refined sugar, more on that later!), it is most certainly not a vegan product.
First the milk is heated so as to remove excess water--about 60% of it to be exact--which results in milk with a thicker consistency and slightly caramelized taste. At this point, the product may be treated and fortified to be sold as evaporated milk, but it is not condensed milk just yet. In order to take it across the finish line, sugar is mixed into the concentrated milk. This serves to thicken and sweeten the product even further, giving it a final consistency of a thick syrup.
What is Condensed Milk Used For?
Condensed milk does have a shiny, sauce-like consistency which might leave you to wonder if it can be used to make delicious savory gravies or sauces, but there’s no debating it: this product screams dessert! It is typically used in baking and pastry recipes where sweetness is the goal. Regular condensed milk creates a creamy, cohesive texture in desserts like pumpkin pie, cheesecake, and fudge and helps to give other baked goods that irresistible chewy texture.
Top 7 Vegan Substitutes for Condensed Milk
Due to the uniquely thick, creamy texture of condensed milk, finding a suitable replacement for it is not so straightforward as choosing another liquid ingredient. In order to achieve a similar effect in your baked goods and dessert recipes, it’s important to consider the texture as well as the level of sweetness of your chosen substitute, therefore it is key that your vegan condensed milk substitute is viscous as well as sweet.
Here are our 7 favorite options for replacing regular condensed milk in a recipe:
1. Coconut Milk
2. Almond Milk
3. Cashew Cream
4. Plant Based Milk Powder
5. Homemade Vegan Sweetened Condensed Milk
6. Homemade Vegan Evaporated Milk
7. Store-Bought Vegan Condensed Milk Products
Note About Sweeteners: Keep in mind that all of these options will be pretty high in sugar, as this is one of the most important characteristics of condensed milk. You may already be aware that white granulated sugar is typically not considered vegan, therefore each of the following substitutes can be made using any sweetener of your choice. We’ll have a bit more information on the different sweetener options a little later in the article!
Note About Allergies: Always double check for other allergies, some of the following vegan substitutes for condensed milk will not be suitable for folks with coconut allergies, nut allergies, or soy allergies. Rest assured though, we have an option for everyone!
1. Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is one of the best condensed milk substitutes due to the fact that it has a rich texture that is compositionally similar to that of actual cow’s milk. You want to be sure to use full fat coconut milk here, as a lower fat content will yield a different result in your baking and cooking recipes. If you’d like an even thicker consistency, go ahead and use coconut cream! Just be sure not to accidentally grab a can of cream of coconut, or “crema de coco”. This product actually is a wonderful substitute for condensed milk, but it is often made with white granulated sugar and therefore not always vegan friendly.
The flavor of the coconut will definitely come through your dish when using either coconut milk or coconut cream, but in most cases, we expect it will be a complementary addition! Canned coconut milk works perfectly for this, but you could also use coconut milk or cream which is in shelf-stable cartons or the refrigerator section. Just check the ingredients label to ensure it is full-fat and also that there are no other sweeteners before you go adding more.
How to Substitute:
You’ll need:
- Full fat coconut milk or cream of coconut
- Sweetener of your choice
Simmer 1 whole 13.5-ounce can of coconut milk (if using coconut milk from a carton, measure out 1 ⅔ cups of it) with ¼ cup sweetener of your choice over low heat for 30 to 40 minutes. Stir the mixture frequently to prevent sticking and you will notice the mixture gets thick and lightly caramelized in color.
Once the mixture is thickened, allow it to cool, and then use it as a 1:1 replacement for sweetened condensed milk in any of your recipes.
2. Almond Milk
In similar fashion to coconut milk, almond milk can also be used to make an excellent vegan substitute for sweetened condensed milk as well! The result will be noticeably different than using condensed milk, as almond milk has a much lower fat content than regular cow’s milk as well as a thinner texture.
Nevertheless, with a bit of cooking time, the sweet, mild tasting nut milk can be used to produce a thick and creamy vegan condensed milk. You’re less likely to notice the subtle flavor difference in your recipe, meaning this is a great option for situations where you don’t necessarily want the flavor of the nut milk to be the first thing you notice about a dish. Think frostings, mildly flavored creamy desserts, or iced coffee drinks.
How to Substitute:
You’ll need:
- Plain almond milk
- Sweetener of your choice
For any amount of condensed milk your recipe calls for, you’re going to need twice as much almond milk to start with. For example, if your recipe requires 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk, place 2 cups of almond milk in a saucepan over high heat. Add ½ cup of your favorite sweetener, bring it to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium low, stirring often until the mixture is reduced by about half.
Once the mixture is concentrated and cooled, you can use it as a 1:1 replacement in any of your favorite vegan recipes.
3. Cashew Cream
The secret is out that cashews make an excellent replacement for traditional dairy products. Not only can they be used to make irresistibly rich ice creams and even Cashew Coffee Creamer, but they produce a wonderful vegan alternative to condensed milk as well! If you are cooking for a coconut allergy or simply don’t want your recipes to feature a strong, coconutty flavor, we think this option will probably be your next best bet.
Cashews owe their dairy-impersonating success to their naturally high fat content, which, when blended, gives them a similar viscosity and mouthfeel to actual dairy products. You’ll get the best, creamiest results if you soak your cashews overnight, so we definitely recommend taking the extra step to do so.
How to Substitute:
You’ll need:
- Raw cashews (unroasted and unsalted), soaked for 8 hours
- Non-dairy milk of your choice
- Sweetener of your choice
Combine 1 cup of soaked cashews, ½ cup non-dairy milk, and ½ cup sweetener in a blender and blend until uniform and smooth. Transfer the mixture to a small pot and cook over medium high heat for 3-5 minutes until a thick and syrupy consistency is achieved.
Cool the mixture and use it as a 1:1 replacement for regular sweetened condensed milk in any recipes.
4. Plant Based Milk Powder
Plant based milk powders are a great option when it comes to replacing all types of dairy ingredients for the fact that you can reconstitute them to a consistency that suits your needs, adding less water when you need a thicker product or more water when you require something thinner.
You can give any of your favorite non-dairy milk powders a shot, but we especially recommend soy milk powder or rice milk powder. If you can’t find such products in your regular grocery store, most health food stores will carry a variety to choose from.
There are a few more ingredients in this vegan condensed milk substitute, but due to the nature of powdered milk, there is no need to cook this one! This makes it a perfect option for when you are short on time.
How to Substitute:
You’ll Need:
- Non-dairy milk powder
- Hot water
- Sweetener of your choice
- Coconut oil (or vegan butter)
Whisk 1 cup soy powder, or any other non-dairy milk powder, with ½ cup of hot water. Whisk in ½ cup of sweetener and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or vegan butter. If the mixture has trouble coming together, you can heat it gently and briefly on the stovetop if needed, just until all of the ingredients combine.
Allow the mixture to cool and use it as a 1:1 replacement where sweetened condensed milk is called for.
5. Homemade Vegan Sweetened Condensed Milk
Got a bit more time on your hands but don’t feel like babysitting the stovetop? We have our own vegan condensed milk recipe that makes use of everyone’s favorite no-fuss cooking appliance: the slow cooker! It does take about two hours to cook, so we highly recommend making a big batch of this stuff, that way you can store it and have it at the ready whenever a need for condensed milk arises.
Our vegan condensed milk recipe makes about 14 ounces of the stuff. You can use any type of dairy free milk you like, from oat milk to almond milk. Just be sure to cook it with the lid off, as a successfully thick condensed milk depends on the evaporation of excess water!
How to Substitute:
You’ll need:
- Dairy free milk
- Coconut sugar (or other sweetener of your choice)
- Dairy free butter
- Vanilla extract
Follow our recipe for Dairy Free Slow Cooker Sweetened Condensed Milk, then allow your vegan condensed milk to cool before using it as a 1:1 replacement for condensed milk in baking and cooking recipes.
6. Homemade Vegan Evaporated Milk
With a bit of tweaking, evaporated milk actually makes a good substitute for sweetened condensed milk, but first you need a vegan version of it to start with! Luckily, we have a crockpot recipe for this baking staple as well. It is more basic than vegan condensed milk recipes, meaning it is a blank canvas--something that you can season to taste each time you go to use it in a recipe.
Whether you have some vegan evaporated milk already on hand or you are cooking it fresh, all you need to do to turn it into a substitute for condensed milk is sweeten it up after the cooking time is complete. Once again, be sure to cook this recipe with the slow cooker lid off so that the water can evaporate, thereby thickening up the milk mixture.
How to Substitute:
You’ll need:
- Water
- Dairy-free powdered milk
- Sweetener of your choice
Follow our recipe for Slow Cooker Vegan Evaporated Milk, then stir in 1 cup of sweetener (we know that sounds like a lot, but remember, regular condensed milk is super sweet stuff!) and allow it to cool before using it as a 1:1 replacement for condensed milk in baking and cooking recipes.
7. Store-Bought Dairy Free Condensed Milk Products
If you prefer the convenience of simply popping open a can or cracking the lid on a jar--and let’s be honest, who doesn’t?--you’ll be pleased to hear that there are actually a number of excellent store-bought dairy free sweetened condensed milk options you can pick up at your local market!
These products are made by reducing dairy free milk to a thicker consistency and sweetening it according to a procedure which is quite similar to that of regular condensed milk. There are options made from all different types of non-dairy milk such as sweetened condensed coconut milk, sweetened condensed almond milk, and even sweetened condensed oat milk! These products tend to be more expensive than the homemade options, but in some cases, saving a bit of time is well worth it!
How to Substitute:
Check the package of any particular dairy free condensed milk product for specific instructions, but in most cases, you can use them as a 1:1 ratio of replacement.
What are the Vegan Sweetener Options?
As mentioned above, your standard granulated white sugar is not considered to be a vegan product. This is due to the fact that a product called “bone char” is used to purify and whiten the sugar. So what are the best vegan sweeteners you can use instead of regular granulated sugar?
First off, any type of sugar which is organic will fit the bill as these products are not made with the use of bone char. Raw sugar, coconut sugar, stevia, and monk fruit sugars are also great options. You can even substitute maple syrup or agave nectar!
Best Vegan Substitute for Condensed Milk: The Takeaway
When it comes to baking up a storm of your favorite vegan recipes, or adapting some regular recipes to suit a vegan eating plan, there are a ton of options you can use to replace regular condensed milk! Try a few different replacements until you find the one that you prefer in terms of taste and convenience.
Whether you keep things simple and opt for plain coconut or almond milk simmered with a bit of sweetener, or you opt to make either of our full recipes for vegan condensed milk or vegan evaporated milk, there is a range of options. At least one of these choices is sure to suit your pantry contents as well as how much time you have to spare!
If you find yourself baking a lot, you may opt to spring for store bought vegan sweetened condensed milk options, or make a big batch of our Slow Cooker Vegan Condensed Milk Recipe. Psst, you can freeze the leftovers too!
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