Sweetened Condensed Milk Is The Ingredient Your Cookies Deserve (2024)

riya anne polcastro

·3 min read

Plain white sugar is great for baked goods — it's sweet, affordable, and easy to measure — but sometimes you want to take a traditional chocolate chip cookie and give it a little boost. To add sophistication and depth of flavor to almost any cookie that contains milk and sugar, look no further than the can of sweetened condensed milk in your pantry. Not only is sweetened condensed milk creamier than regular milk, but its condensed sweetness comes with notes of caramel and toffee that will be brought out even more in the oven. As an added bonus, cookies made with sweetened condensed milk will have a more luxuriant texture than those made with milk and sugar. Instead of being crunchy, they will be soft and malleable.

In addition to chocolate chip cookies, sweetened condensed milk can enrich several kinds of cookies, including coconut macaroons, snowballs, and even sugar cookies (however, sugar cookies will still require some white sugar). And sweetened condensed milk is also perfect for so-called "preacher cookies," such as coconut praline no-bake cookies, which aren't baked at all.

Read more: Cake Hacks Every Baker Will Wish They Knew Sooner

What Is Sweetened Condensed Milk?

Sweetened Condensed Milk Is The Ingredient Your Cookies Deserve (2)

Sweetened condensed milk — which is sometimes referred to simply as condensed milk — isn't as complicated as it might sound. Or tastes. With its rich and multi-dimensional flavor profile, it is easy to think that sweetened condensed milk has many more ingredients than it does. But the thick, gooey concoction is actually pretty basic: Sweetened condensed milk is made from milk that has been sweetened with a lot of sugar and condensed down to a luxurious syrup. As much as 60% of the water in milk is evaporated through heating, and the final product is up to 45% sugar, which is why sweetened condensed milk is so thick.

If you're wondering if sweetened condensed milk can be made at home, the answer is yes, and it only takes four or five ingredients: milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Making your own also gives you the option of switching out dairy milk for plant-based milk, or sugar for other sweeteners such as syrup or honey. You can also add cinnamon, butter, or other flavors you might like to try.

Homemade sweetened condensed milk can be stored in the refrigerator for approximately one month; and for three months in the freezer. Be advised that because of its high sugar content, it won't freeze solid. Cookies made with sweetened condensed milk can be kept on the counter; they will stay fresh for about a week — if they last that long.

Will Evaporated Milk Work The Same?

Sweetened Condensed Milk Is The Ingredient Your Cookies Deserve (3)

Sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk are not the same thing, but they do have things in common. Both are made by removing more than half of the water content through evaporation. But although sweetened condensed milk is chock-full of sugar, evaporated milk doesn't have any additional sweeteners in it.

You can't use sweetened condensed milk as a replacement for evaporated milk because of the added sugar. But evaporated milk can be used if you don't have the sugar-sweetened version on hand. You just have to convert regular evaporated milk into sweetened by adding sugar and heating the mixture heating sugar until all of the sugar dissolves. Recommendations vary on the sugar-milk ratios, but many recipes suggest using 1 ½ cups of sugar per 12-ounce can of evaporated milk.Whether homemade or store-bought, sweetened condensed milk is a baking staple. It's used in everything from fudge to cheesecake to pies and cakes and so much more. Condensed milk makes excellent ice cream and is an integral part of tres leches cake. And if you've never used sweetened condensed milk in your coffee then it's about time you gave it a try. But first, give it a whirl with your next batch of cookies.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.

Sweetened Condensed Milk Is The Ingredient Your Cookies Deserve (2024)

FAQs

What does sweetened condensed milk do in baking? ›

It Stars in the Most Irresistible Baked Goods

The thick syrup contributes both the sweetness of sugar and the benefits of milk without adding too much liquid since condensing milk removes moisture and concentrates the natural sugars. These sugars then take on toasty notes as they warm up and bake in the dessert.

What is a substitute for condensed milk in cookies? ›

If dairy isn't an issue, heavy cream can substitute for condensed milk. But if you're avoiding dairy, the only thing that can sometimes substitute for condensed milk “as is” is full-fat coconut milk. However, full-fat coconut milk may not have the condensed milk consistency you're going for.

What if I don't have enough sweetened condensed milk? ›

You can make a sweetened condensed milk substitute on the stovetop as well. In a saucepan, whisk together 2 cups milk and 1 cup sugar. Heat the mixture on medium to allow the sugar to dissolve. Reduce the temperature just before the milk begins to boil, and then leave it to simmer on low.

What is an interesting fact about sweetened condensed milk? ›

Sweetened condensed milk has roughly five times the amount sugar of evaporated milk, as sugar is added as a preservative. It also has some protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. Sweetened condensed milk is made by removing most of the water from cow's milk.

Can you substitute condensed milk for regular milk in baking? ›

Condensed milk can be substituted for whole milk in some recipes. Since condensed milk contains a lot of added sugar it may not always be the best choice. Evaporated milk and water are another option. This is a guide about substituting condensed milk for whole milk.

What happens when you use evaporated milk instead of condensed? ›

For the most part, if you find yourself without condensed milk on hand, you can substitute an equal amount of evaporated milk. The consistency will be the same, but since evaporated milk is unsweetened, you'll need to add sweetener to match the recipe's intended flavor profile or to suit your personal preference.

How unhealthy is condensed milk? ›

Condensed milk might share some of milk's health benefits, but it shouldn't be used as a substitute. Condensed milk might not be the ideal option if we're trying to lose weight because it's high in calories and includes added sugar. A better option if we want to cut calories is evaporated milk.

What is a substitute for 1 can of condensed milk? ›

Condensed Milk Substitutes

If you don't have sweetened condensed milk, you can make your own using evaporated milk and sugar, or you can bring 3/4 cup of white sugar, 1/2 cup of water, and 1 1/8 cups of dry powdered milk to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 20 minutes.

Can I use honey instead of condensed milk? ›

It was pointed out that honey could be considered as a replacement for sweetened condensed milk as a reinforcer, since honey is a similarly manipulable reinforcer and has the additional advantage that it does not spoil as easily as sweetened condensed milk.

Is it safe to eat sweetened condensed milk by itself? ›

Can I drink sweetened condensed milk? It is a ready-to-use product so it may be consumed without any other preparation. You can add it to everyday items like in your coffee, on toast with cinnamon, on fruit or yogurt, and in any way you see fit.

Why is condensed milk so expensive? ›

The limited availability of raw ingredients and processing facilities has resulted in a shortage of sweetened condensed milk in the region. Additionally, the increased demand for the product has driven up its price, as manufacturers are unable to keep up with the demand.

Is it okay to eat a whole can of condensed milk? ›

But the presence of useful properties of condensed milk does not mean at all that it should be eaten by cans, since excessive consumption of condensed milk can harm the human body.

What happens if you add sweetened condensed milk to a cake mix? ›

The cake will absorb the thick sweet milk and make for an extra rich treat. Lastly, feel free to try condensed milk as a convenient no-fuss glaze or frosting.

What is the point of condensed milk? ›

It provides a concentrated creaminess and sweet, milky flavor to whatever you put it in, without all the excess moisture that you get from regular old milk. That makes it perfect for creamy things that you want to set to a near-solid, like key lime pie, fudge, frozen margarita pie, or caramel.

What is the primary use for sweetened condensed milk? ›

Sweetened-condensed milk is the perfect addition to all kinds of treats and recipes, from pies to fudge to tres leches cake. But in Vietnamese coffee culture, it has a much more important purpose – it's mixed into strong coffee to make delicious, traditional Vietnamese brew.

What are the benefits of sweetened condensed milk? ›

Benefits of Condensed Milk for Health

Condensed milk is a good source of these nutrients in addition to calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin A, riboflavin, phosphorus, and protein. These nutrients are necessary for healthy teeth and bones, a robust immune system, and a cardiovascular system.

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