This recipe provides instructions for making sweetened condensed milk at home, a delicious and versatile ingredient for many desserts.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 2 cups (480ml) whole milk (not ultra-pasteurized if possible)
- 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 1/4 teaspoon (optional) salt
Instructions:
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the sugar, milk, butter, and salt (if using).
- Heat and Dissolve: Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved and the butter is melted. This will take a few minutes.
- Simmer and Thicken: Once the sugar is dissolved, reduce the heat to low. You want a gentle simmer, not a rolling boil. Continue to simmer, stirring frequently, for about 20-30 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened to the consistency of heavy cream. The longer you simmer, the thicker it will become. Be careful not to let it scorch.
- Cool: Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the sweetened condensed milk cool completely in the pan. It will thicken further as it cools.
- Store: Once cooled, transfer the sweetened condensed milk to an airtight container or jar. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. It may thicken slightly upon refrigeration.
Notes:
- Using whole milk is essential for a rich and creamy texture. Lower fat milks will not produce the same results.
- Stirring frequently is important to prevent the milk from scorching or sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- The color of the sweetened condensed milk will deepen slightly as it cooks.
- If you find that your sweetened condensed milk is too thin after cooling, you can simmer it for a bit longer next time.
- Homemade sweetened condensed milk may not be quite as thick as the store-bought version, but it will still be delicious and work well in most recipes.