How To Make Evaporated Milk

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Hi Bold Bakers!

One of my favorite parts of Bold Baking Basics is giving you all the recipes for how to make your own ingredients at home. From improving upon what you can buy at the store, like my Homemade Butter recipe and Homemade Cream Cheese, to showing you how to make things that can be hard to find like buttermilk and mascarpone (soon!), these basics are the building blocks for baking confidently.

My method for How to Make Evaporated Milk is so easy. I get so many requests for what to replace this ingredient with, or where to find it, and now you never have to worry about that — because evaporated milk can be made so easily at home in just 25 minutes!

What’s the Difference Between Evaporated Milk and Condensed Milk?

While both are sweet dairy products, they have totally different flavors, textures, and uses.

Condensed milk has a thick syrup-like consistency and is made by reducing milk and sugar. I like to use this to make all of my 2 ingredient ice creams, so I keep this around all the time. Evaporated milk is simply just milk reduced down to super creamy liquid. By cooking off most of the water content of the milk, you get a naturally sweet milk substitute that has no added sugar content.

What Do You Use Evaporated Milk For?

Evaporated milk was initially made with the intention of being rehydrated, meaning it was milk that was reduced down for storage and shelf-life. In the process, cooks discovered its lovely flavor and thin-yet-creamy texture is great for adding to all kinds of things. I love to add this to soups, chowders, drinks, oatmeal, fudge, and more.

[ You can also use it in my super easy Tres Leches Cake recipe! ]

How to Make Evaporated Milk

This is not so much a recipe but a method, and it really could not be more straight forward. To make evaporated milk you simply simmer milk for around 25 minutes.

You do this slowly over medium-low heat as to really allow the excess water in the milk to evaporate. Be sure to never boil the milk, though, as the only thing you ever let come to a boil in my house is water! After just a short time simmering, what you’re left with is the exact same thing you get in a can you buy at the store — it’s creamy in color and texture, and naturally sweet from the sugars in the milk.

How to Substitute Evaporated Milk

If you are unable to find evaporated milk and don’t have the time to make it, it can be substituted with a combination of milk and cream. Simply combine 1/4 cup cream with 3/4 cup milk for an alternative. This will not have the same sweetness and body as evaporated milk but it will add the same richness.

Learn More Baking Basics!

• Condensed Milk Recipe
• Dairy-Free Condensed Milk Recipe
• Buttermilk Substitute Recipe

Don’t forget to follow Bigger Bolder Baking on Pinterest!

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