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Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk

  • gluten-free Gluten-Free
  • dairy-free Dairy-Free
  • paleo Paleo
  • low-carb Low Carb
  • keto Keto
  • vegetarian-vegan Vegetarian or Vegan
  • pescatarian Pescatarian

This sweetened condensed coconut milk is so easy to make at home and only has 2 ingredients! This recipe is vegan, dairy free, paleo, gluten free, and can easily be made low carb! Use in all of your baking projects this holiday season!

Sweetened condensed coconut milk in jar on wooden table with spoon showing consistency

What is Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk?

To make traditional sweetened condensed milk, you gently heat up cow’s milk and sugar until you’ve evaporated about half of the water, making it thick and creamy. That’s it!

To make a dairy free version with coconut milk, you simply do the same thing but with full-fat coconut milk instead of dairy milk.

You can sometimes find cans of coconut milk sweetened and condensed in the speciality section of the grocery store, but it’s so easy to make at home you might as well do it yourself.

Another benefit to homemade sweetened condensed coconut milk is you can add a natural sweetener like coconut sugar or maple sugar like I do I this recipe!

Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk is perfect for all of your baking and even in your coffee!

Sweetened condensed milk is essential for many traditional baking recipes, so having a healthier swap is great for the holidays!

Condensed coconut milk is richer, creamier, sweetened, and has a longer shelf than regular coconut milk, as long as you store it in an airtight container.

It’s great for baking in many of your favorite dessert recipes, but also perfect for your morning coffee or iced coffee. You can even use it to make ice cream!

Some fun baking ideas include dulce de leche cake, magic cookie bars, and my personal favorite, peppermint mocha fudge. I love this fudge! It’s the perfect treat for the holiday season!

My Inspiration for this Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk

There have been so many times over the past few years where I’ve wanted to make a recipe that calls for regular sweetened condensed milk like fudge or key lime pie, but haven’t had a good dairy free and refined sugar free substitute.

Regular coconut cream or even organic coconut milk just doesn’t work the same way and I couldn’t think of any other options. I knew I needed to just make my own, especially since sweetened condensed milk is perfect for making fudge during the Christmas season!

Ingredients to make this recipe

How to make sweetened condensed coconut milk

Printable recipe card below!

  1. In a medium-sized saucepan, bring coconut milk to a simmer.
  2. Add coconut sugar.
  3. Simmer for about 1.5 hours or until the liquid has reduced by about half. Make sure to stir and scrape the bottom and sides of the pan every few minutes to prevent it from burning.
  4. Pour into a glass jar.
  5. Allow to cool completely.
  6. Store under refrigeration for up to 5 days.

What does this sweetened condensed coconut milk taste like?

It is SO good!! It has a nice and creamy base with a thick, smooth texture. The taste is rich and sweet, but not overly sweet. I used light colored coconut sugar but you could also substitute maple sugar or a keto option (see alternatives below!).

Maple sugar is a great option if you can’t find light colored coconut sugar and will be using it in light colored desserts. You can find my favorite brand here!

A healthy alternative to store-bought sweetened condensed milk! Easy to make at home, paleo, dairy free, vegan, and can be made keto and low carb!

This dairy free sweetened condensed milk recipe is so simple!

This recipe does take quite a bit of time to make, but really it’s just letting the liquid simmer and reduce for about an hour and a half. Pretty simple and requires only a little patience. You just need to stir it every few minutes to prevent burning. I like to do other things around the kitchen while I’m making it.

You can easily make it low carb and keto!

If you would like a low carb and ketogenic version of this for your daily diet, you’re in luck! You can also make this recipe with monk fruit sweetener!

I like the monk fruit sugar substitute by Lakanto. You can try it with their regular sweetener or the golden sweetener for a richer taste. They are a good option for those looking to reduce their carb intake.

Some alternative ingredients to try

Since this is such a simple recipe, you can try experimenting with other sweeteners as well. I haven’t tested all of these, so I’m not guaranteeing they will work, but please let us all know in the comments section if you try one!

Some ideas include:

  • Organic cane sugar or cane juice
  • Maple syrup if you want to add a warm, maple-y taste!
  • Agave nectar which has a lower glycemic index
  • Honey which lends a nice, smooth flavor
  • Stevia for another low carb/keto option
  • Swerve for another low carb/keto option
  • If you want or need your sweetened condensed milk to be thicker, guar gum is an additive that doesn’t add any carbs or sugars!
A healthy alternative to store-bought sweetened condensed milk! Easy to make at home, paleo, dairy free, vegan, and can be made keto and low carb!

Love baking? Check out these healthier dessert recipes!

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    Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk

    • gluten-free Gluten-Free
    • dairy-free Dairy-Free
    • paleo Paleo
    • low-carb Low Carb
    • keto Keto
    • vegetarian-vegan Vegetarian or Vegan
    • pescatarian Pescatarian
    4.64 from 11 votes
    Sweetened condensed milk made healthy! Perfect for all of your holiday baking! 
    Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
    Servings: 2 cups (16 oz)

    Ingredients 

    Instructions

    • In a medium-sized saucepan, bring coconut milk to a simmer.
    • Add coconut sugar.
    • Simmer for about 1.5 hours or until the liquid has reduced by about half. Make sure to stir and scrape the bottom and sides of the pan every few minutes to prevent it from burning.
    • Pour into a glass jar.
    • Allow to cool completely.
    • Store under refrigeration for up to 5 days.

    Did you love the recipe? I would love it if you left me a 5-star review below!

    Notes

    *Maple sugar will give a lighter color and a slight maple taste. I would recommend using coconut sugar unless the recipe you are using this for requires a lighter color or you just want a maple flavor 😊
    **For low carb and ketogenic, substitute with monk fruit sweetener.
    Author: Kit

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @itskitskitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #kitskitchen

    Nutritional information

    57 grams of fat content per 1 cup serving

    240 grams of sugar per 1 cup serving (varies depending on type of sugar)

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is sweetened condensed coconut milk?

    Sweetened condensed coconut milk is coconut milk that has been boiled down to about half its normal water content and sweetened for a richer, more decadent taste and longer shelf life.

    How to make sweetened condensed milk

    In a medium saucepan, bring coconut milk to simmer and add sugar of choice. Simmer for 1.5 hours or until liquid is reduced by half. Stir occasionally. Pour into glass jar. Store in refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    Where can I buy sweetened condensed coconut milk?

    You can often find a can of full fat coconut milk that’s been sweetened and condensed at your speciality health food store. Try Whole Foods, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, or Earth Fare, depending on what’s available in your region!

    What to do with sweetened condensed coconut milk?

    Use it as a coffee creamer, make Thai iced tea, or substitute it in all your favorite recipes that call for regular condensed milk!

    What is your favorite way to use sweetened condensed milk? Let me know in the comments section below! And if you loved this recipe, don’t forget to leave a star rating!

    xx Kit

    A healthy alternative to store-bought sweetened condensed milk! Easy to make at home, paleo, dairy free, vegan, and can be made keto and low carb!

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    A healthy alternative to store-bought sweetened condensed milk! Easy to make at home, paleo, dairy free, vegan, and can be made keto and low carb! Perfect for all of your healthy holiday baking. #christmascookies #christmasbaking #holidaybaking #coconut #coconutmilk #coconutsugar #maple #monkfruit #ketobaking #ketochristmas #lowcarbbaking #lowcarbholiday #paleo #keto #lowcarb #vegan #veganbaking #veganchristmas #paleobaking

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