Sweetened condensed milk is a canned vitamin D whole milk concentrated by heating, with sugar added. It differs from regular milk in consistency and texture, being much thicker. Without heating, you may further thicken this canned milk by combining it with acidic fruit juice like lemon. Or you may heat it to make caramel without having to add any other ingredients. Its two ingredients may be found unhealthy, making healthful alternatives handy to have.
Dairy Free
Dairy contributes fat and cholesterol to your diet, has been linked to some cancers and diabetes and may be poorly tolerated, causing digestive issues for many people, according to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine at NutritionMD.com. To create a dairy-free and sugar-free alternative to 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk, place 3/4 cup of tofu and 3/4 cup of honey in a blender; blend until smooth and store in the refrigerator.
Vegan
Vegan is defined as not eating any animal or dairy products. Because honey is derived from an animal, or insect, some consider it to not be a vegan product. Make a vegan alternative to sweetened condensed milk by adding 3 cups of soy or rice milk to a sauce pan with 1/2 cup of white sugar and heating medium-low while stirring constantly until reduced to about 1 cup. Add a few drops of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Store in the refrigerator.
Sugar-Free
Sugar damages blood vessels similarly to how smoke harms your lungs, according to naturopathic doctor and author Scott Olson. Olson claims you need to abstain from sugar in order to be healthy and avoid disease. For a sugar-free version of sweetened condensed milk, dissolve 1/2 cup of water into 1 1/3 cups of powdered milk, then microwave one minute, or until it steams. Stir in 3/4 cup sucralose sugar substitute and 1 tsp. of vanilla. Cover and chill in the fridge.
Homemade
To control the quality of your ingredients, you may choose to make your own homemade version. Mix 1 1/2 cups of whole milk and 1/2 to 1/3 cups of unrefined or organic sugar in a heavy pan over medium-low heat. Organic sugar is about half as processed as traditional white sugar, according to "Vegetarian Organic Life." Lower heat as much as you can when steam starts to rise and allow about two hours, stirring occasionally, for the liquid to reduce to about half. Whisk in 3 tbsp. butter and and 1 tsp. of vanilla. This recipe equals about half of a store-bought can of sweetened condensed milk. Allow it to cool before using.