What’s the secret to the richest, creamiest desserts ever? I’ll give you a hint: it’s thick, silky smooth, and has a deep caramel sweetness. Yes, we’re talking about condensed milk.
It’s basically just sweetened and concentrated milk, so when you heat it, the low water content makes it thicken up, which is perfect for creating luscious and fudgy treats.
You can make it yourself by gently heating milk and sugar until it’s syrupy, or even use coconut milk for vegan recipes!
You will be amazed at the difference this one simple ingredient makes. I think I will start with some brownies!
1. Condensed Milk Brownies
Okay, let’s talk brownies. Do you like them soft and cakey, or are you all about that fudgy, fall-apart life? In this situation, there is a correct answer.
If you prefer your brownies on the firm and cake-like side, this one isn’t for you. But if you want something insanely chewy and fudgy, you need to get to the kitchen immediately!
Because there are no eggs in the mix, making these vegan is a total breeze. Just keep in mind that white chocolate isn’t vegan, so you’ll want to grab some dark chocolate chunks instead.
2. Caramel Pie
Did you have any idea you could make unbelievably luxurious ice cream right at home with just a whisk and about 10 minutes? It’s true! You don’t need a fancy machine for this one.
Just grab a can of condensed milk, some real vanilla, and whipped cream. The best thing is that this creates a perfect base for adding other flavors.
Go ahead and swirl in some cookie dough, chocolate chips, caramel, or peanut butter. The possibilities are endless!
4. Vietnamese Coffee
Just like Thai coffee, Vietnamese coffee is wonderfully sweet and packed with incredible flavor. This is the kind of coffee where you can taste that rich deliciousness, not just a bunch of sugar and milk.
If you have an espresso machine or a cafetière, use it so the coffee drips perfectly. Then, just pour it over the condensed milk. Done!
But if you really want to wow your friends, get a few of these filter sets. You’ll end up with something authentic and totally Insta-worthy, and your guests will love the extra flair.
5. Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
What on earth could be better than a fresh batch of thick and chewy chocolate chip cookie bars? How about these ridiculously rich and gooey ones that have a heavenly filling of chocolate and sweetened condensed milk?
And if that wasn’t enough, this recipe also uses brown butter. If you’ve never baked with brown butter before, you are in for a major treat!
6. Magic Cookie Bars Recipe
Magic cookie bars are built with layers of yummy things that bake into one sweet and delicious treat. It all starts with a graham cracker crust, but you can use any cookie you like.
I’ve even used Oreos before to make them extra chocolatey. Over the crust, you’ll pour the condensed milk and then top it with chocolate chips, coconut, and chopped nuts.
As it all bakes, the milk gets thick enough to slice. So good!
7. Rava Ladoo With Condensed Milk
This classic Indian treat almost always starts with a base of flour, ghee, and sugar. You might have seen ladoo before, but this is a different version that uses rava flour.
Rava is a type of semolina, which is like flour but more coarse, giving this ladoo a slightly different texture. On top of that, this recipe brings in coconut and condensed milk for something creamy and so tasty.
8. Pumpkin Pie with Condensed Milk
This recipe is a lot like my go-to pumpkin pie recipe, and both of them are just fantastic. You’ll see this one doesn’t have any extra sugar added. That’s because the condensed milk is already plenty sweet.
Not only that, but I found this pie turned out much more dense and super rich. I love it that way, but you could easily lighten it up with a dollop of whipped cream on top.
9. Easy Moist Banana Bread
When you’re making banana bread, there are a few things to remember. First, you absolutely need super ripe bananas. We’re talking brown, almost black, and very soft. Next, be careful not to overmix the batter.
You want to keep it loose, maybe even a little lumpy, for a light and moist result. This recipe also uses condensed milk for even more moisture and a hit of creamy sweetness. Perfection!
10. Tres Leches Cake Recipe
Just as the name says, tres leches cake has three different kinds of milk. You’ll need condensed milk, heavy cream, and evaporated milk.
You mix all three together and pour it over the cake after it bakes, which makes the crumb unbelievably moist. People often get evaporated milk and condensed milk confused, but there’s a simple way to remember the difference: evaporated milk isn’t as sweet or as thick.
11. Old-Fashioned Macintosh Toffee
Macintosh’s toffee has been around since 1890! It’s not too hard, not too soft, and surprisingly simple to make yourself. A lot of English toffee recipes give you something really hard; some specialty shops even sell them with little hammers!
But this one uses corn syrup and condensed milk, so it stays nice and chewy while still having that intense toffee flavor.
12. Hot Chocolate with Condensed Milk
Hot chocolate is already a pretty decadent treat, but why not just go all in? Adding condensed milk will make your next mug of cocoa extra thick and creamy, and it gives it some extra sweetness, too. Because of that, this is best made with unsweetened cocoa powder. If you use an instant cocoa mix, it will probably be way too sweet.
13. 2-Ingredient Condensed Milk Chocolate Truffles
Amazingly, these little truffles are both vegan and don’t contain any chocolate. Instead of using a lot of pricey, high-quality chocolate, all you need is premium cocoa powder and coconut condensed milk.
Oh, and a little bit of work. You’ll make a simple, smooth dough with the condensed milk and cocoa. Just add the powder a bit at a time, then finish by kneading it on the counter.
14. Condensed Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies
Some recipes make life simple and use a whole can of condensed milk, but others only need half a can. You could always put the leftovers in your morning coffee, but be careful, it’s addictive!
Or, why not just whip up a batch of these tender, sweet, and dreamy cookies? Not only do they taste like yummy shortbread, but they’re so easy to make vegan since they don’t have any eggs.
Just use vegan butter instead of regular and swap in coconut condensed milk.
15. Traditional Brigadeiros (Brazilian Fudge Balls)
It’s impossible to say no to these Brazilian fudge balls. I love making them as gifts, and I always get great feedback as people start munching on them straight from the bag.
This recipe is a mix of sweet condensed milk, chocolate powder, and butter. Some really old recipes might use eggs, but you don’t see that very often anymore.
The trick to getting the right consistency is to use low heat and stir constantly. You’ll see it get thicker as it cooks, and then it has to cool down before you can roll it into balls.
16. Instant Malpua
Malpua are little pancakes made with thickened milk and flour, and after they’re fried, they get soaked in a sweet, saffron-infused syrup.
Using condensed milk is a great shortcut and adds extra sweetness to the batter. Add crushed fennel seeds, cardamom powder, salt, and semolina to your flour, then slowly whisk in the condensed milk until it’s smooth with no lumps.
The batter needs to be pretty thick, and it has to rest for a bit. You can make the syrup while you wait so it’s warm when you add the cooked pancakes.
17. Chocolate Bourbon or Rum Balls Recipe
These might seem like Brigadeiros, but they are actually sinfully fudgy brownie truffles. You’ll begin by making a boxed cake mix.
Chocolate will give you the richest flavor, but believe it or not, you shouldn’t use a brownie mix for this.
Brownies are already so fudgy, and adding condensed milk and rum will make them way too wet. So, start with cake, and once you crumble it up, gently stir in the rum or bourbon and condensed milk.
18. Fruit Salad With Condensed Milk
Fruit custard is a classic Indian dessert made with a variety of yummy fruits and custard powder. It’s a bit like crème anglaise, but it sets up thicker.
Here in the states, we would usually use instant pudding instead. But this recipe is a little easier since it uses condensed milk for that thick and creamy texture.
It won’t set up the same way, but it’s still so luscious and full of fresh fruit. Trust me, you’ll never eat plain fruit salad again after trying this.
19. Semiya Payasam | Semi-Homemade Vermicelli Kheer with Evaporated and Condensed Milk
Vermicelli is a type of pasta that’s like thin spaghetti. Kheer is a kind of sweet pudding that is usually made with rice. In this version, you’ll use vermicelli, which gives it a fun texture since rice can sometimes get a little mushy.
This is a lot like sweet lokshen kugel, which also has pasta and a sweet custard to help it set. If you’re not big on cardamom, you can use vanilla and cinnamon instead. I also like to add some golden raisins.
20. Slice of Life
The first time I had a ‘slice of life’ was at a little cafe in Melbourne ages ago. It was soft, crumbly, sweet, and totally not what I was expecting in the best way!
This one also had a marshmallow layer, which made it more like an iced Vovo. The base is a mix of no-bake cookies and condensed milk. But it’s not just any cookie base. It has to include malted milk biscuits and powder for that signature flavor.
Unfortunately, I’ve never found malted milk cookies here in the states, so I just make my own! You can grab some malted milk powder online, and you’ll be all set.
21. Eggless Chocolate Cake
How many times have you run to the kitchen to bake a cake, only to find you’re all out of eggs? It’s the worst, right? That’s why every serious baker needs an egg-free recipe ready to go, and this one is a total winner!
It’s light, fluffy, super flavorful, and so easy to make. You only need one big bowl and a simple ganache for the topping. How easy is that?
22. Rice Pudding (Arroz Con Leche)
When I was a kid, I used to watch my grandma make rice pudding every single Sunday. First, she’d butter a glass dish and sprinkle the rice over it. Then, she’d add plenty of sugar and finish with lots of evaporated milk.
Now that I’m an adult, I like to skip that sugar step. I know rice pudding isn’t exactly a health food, but if I don’t see the sugar going in, I can have a second helping, right? Plus, using condensed milk makes it insanely indulgent and creamy.
You can serve it hot or cold, with cinnamon, chocolate, or even mango if you want. You really can’t go wrong.
23. Macaroons
Macaroons are a crazy-easy little treat that happens to be naturally gluten-free and nut-free. The hardest part is whipping up some egg whites and then mixing everything together.
Since the mix is super sticky, I like to use baking wafers. Just pop them on the tray and scoop the macaroon mix right on top.
And for a finishing touch, these are super yummy with a drizzle of dark chocolate!
24. Sweet Cream Cold Brew Fudgesicles
You need to know that if you make these cold brew fudgesicles, you will not want to share them. You’ll want to eat the entire batch in one go, and I wouldn’t blame you at all.
Fudgesicles are already tasty, but when you add cold brew coffee and indulgent sweet cream to the equation, they become out-of-this-world amazing.
I definitely recommend making this in two parts to get that incredible contrast. But if you’re short on time, you can just mix it all together for a lighter fudgesicle.
25. Sweetened Condensed Milk Frosting
I was a little skeptical when I first saw this recipe. Frosting without powdered sugar or complicated sugar syrups? Could that be real? Yes! It’s not only super easy; it only uses three ingredients.
You start by whisking butter until it’s nice and airy, then slowly mix in the condensed milk and vanilla. Let it set in the fridge, ideally overnight.
26. Easy No-Bake Cheesecake
I have to be honest, I usually pass on no-bake cheesecakes. They’re just so light and taste more like whipped cream to me. But this one? It’s a game-changer.
Believe it or not, it doesn’t even call for heavy cream. You just beat cream cheese with the condensed milk, then mix in some lemon or lime juice.
There’s some food science magic happening, but basically, the citrus makes the super thick condensed milk even thicker. That’s the secret to how this thing sets up and stays so dense and delicious.
27. Milk Cream Using Condensed Milk
Milk cream is a kind of milky fudge that’s made and served during the Christmas holidays in east India. This recipe uses condensed milk, which makes it a little creamier and gives it a more golden color.
You’ll also add cashew powder for a nice nutty flavor. If you prefer, you can substitute it with almond flour.
