Vegan Evaporated Milk Recipe (2024)

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5 from 6 votes

41 minutes minutes

by Marly

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Make this simple vegan evaporated milk recipe to use in your favorite vegan dishes! Many recipes call for evaporated milk, and now you’ll have this quick and easy vegan version to make at home. You can add this dairy-free evaporated milk to your coffee, in puddings, sauces, and more.

Vegan Evaporated Milk Recipe (1)

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Evaporated milk has interesting origins. It’s similar to the wacky cake and has its roots in American history; this time, it was the civil war. It turns out the original condensed and/or evaporated milk was created for food safety reasons — so it could be canned and stored for long periods.

Evaporated milk and condensed milk share a similar production process where milk is simmered over heat to cause evaporation of up to 60% of the water.

The original purpose may have been to distribute milk safely, but eventually, home cooks discovered that the thick, creamy texture was perfect for recipes.

But what are you supposed to do when you’re vegan? Can you make evaporated milk vegan? I’m glad to report that not only is it possible, but it’s also easy too!

I think you’ll love this vegan substitute for evaporated milk!

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Key Ingredients

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:

  • Plant-based milk — Making non-dairy evaporated milk doesn’t require a lot of ingredients. In fact, there’s really only one: plant-based milk. I use soy milk, but I have used other kinds of milk. I have yet to try my pecan milk, but I imagine it would make a tasty evaporated milk too.

How to Make Vegan Evaporated Milk

When you have your plant-based milk ready, here are the steps for making a vegan evaporated milk substitute:

  1. Add milk to a saucepan over medium heat and bring it to a simmer (low boil).
  2. Simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure it’s not browning on the bottom.
  3. Strain it by pouring it into a fine-mesh strainer to remove any milk skin that might have formed while cooking
  4. Transfer it to a lidded glass jar and refrigerate.

Step-by-Step Instructions

You will also need a saucepan and a little bit of time. Most of the time involved in this recipe is indirect, allowing the milk to simmer in the pan, but you will want to stir it occasionally.

Here’s a visual guide to making it:

Step One: Add Milk to a Saucepan

Pour the milk into a saucepan and cook over medium heat until it simmers (low boil).

Turn the heat down to medium-low and allow it to gently simmer.

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Step Two: Simmer

I like to stir the milk occasionally to make sure it doesn’t burn on the bottom of the pan. If it seems like it’s getting brown on the bottom, be sure to turn the heat down a little more.

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Keep it at a gentle simmer for 30–40 minutes. Keep a pyrex measuring cup nearby and pour it into it when you think the milk is ready. It should measure out around 1½ cups when finished.

Step Three: Strain

Remove the pan from the heat source and allow it to cool slightly before passing it through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any milk skin that might have formed while cooking.If you don’t have milk skin, you can skip the strainer and pour it directly into the jar.

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Transfer the milk to a lidded container (I like to use mason jars) and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Evaporated Almond Milk

Wondering how to make vegan evaporated almond milk? It’s good to know you have options for a vegan alternative to evaporated milk!

Follow the same steps as above and use your favorite almond milk.

I find vanilla-flavored works best when I’m making things like vegan chia pudding, vegan chocolate ice cream, or vegan banana cream pudding.

Unsweetened plain almond milk works best when used in savory sauces, like the one found in this vegan pot pie.

Reader Reviews

★★★★★
I use this in the Libby’s pumpkin pie recipe. Swap out the milk and use Just egg and it is perfect!

Melody

★★★★★
I made this for the first time and it was great. I used it to make a pudding and it was creamy!

Dottie

Frequently-Asked Questions

What is a vegan substitute for evaporated milk?

Evaporated milk is simply milk that has been cooked to evaporate up to 60% of the water content. This means you can make a vegan substitute using plant-based milk and a saucepan!

What kind of milk can I use?

I prefer to use soy milk, but there are a number of different plant-based kinds of milk you can use, such as almond milk, cashew milk, and more. To make evaporated coconut milk, simply use coconut milk. Whichever type of plant-based milk you’re using, follow the steps in the recipe to create an extra creamy condensed milk.

Vegan Evaporated Milk Recipe (5)

New to Vegan Baking?

The idea of making cookies, cakes, or muffins without eggs or dairy can seem like a hill too tall to climb. But with the simple tips in my Guide to Vegan Baking, you’ll be baking like a vegan pro in no time!

Vegan Evaporated Milk Recipes

Cook with confidence using these delectable vegan evaporated milk recipes. Nothing is sacrificed in flavor, with all the guilt being taken away. Get started making amazing vegan dishes today and enjoy the guilt-free culinary experience!

Now that you’ve made your evaporated almond milk (or whatever milk you’ve used), what do you do with it? I love using dairy-free evaporated milk in my pudding recipes. Here are some of my favorites:

Blueberry Overnight Oats

125 mins total

Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

10 mins total

Chocolate Chia Pudding

50 mins total

Vegan Cherry Vanilla Parfaits

25 mins total

Vegan Chocolate Pie with No-Bake Crust

15 mins total

Hot Chocolate Tea

10 mins total

Enjoy creamy vegan evaporated milk with no dairy needed! In just minutes. You can make this creamy and delicious dairy alternative with your favorite plant-based milk! That makes this vegan evaporated milk the perfect addition to your plant-based recipes.

Vegan Evaporated Milk Recipe (13)

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Vegan Evaporated Milk Recipe (14)

Vegan Evaporated Milk Recipe (15)

Plant-Based Evaporated Milk

You can use vegan evaporated milk in your favorite recipes that call for evaporated milk. This quick and easy dairy-free evaporated milk can also be added to your coffee, in puddings, sauces, and more!

5 from 6 votes

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Course: Sauce

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 1 minute minute

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Resting Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 41 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 cup

Calories: 212kcal

Author: Marly McMillen

Ingredients

  • 3 cups plant-based milk

Instructions

  • Pour the milk into a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until it simmers (low boil).

  • Turn the heat down to medium-low and allow it to gently simmer. Stir the milk occasionally to make sure it's not scorching (burning) at the bottom of the pan. If it is beginning to burn, turn the heat down a little more.

  • Keep it at a gentle simmer for 30 to 40 minutes. The milk should measure out around 1 ½ cups when finished.

  • Remove from heat and allow it to cool slightly before passing it through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any milk skin that might have formed while cooking.

  • Transfer the milk to a lidded container (I like to use mason jars) and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Recommended Equipment

Medium Saucepan

(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)

Notes

The nutritional information will vary based on the type of plant-based milk you use. If you use non-sweetened milk, it will have fewer carbs and calories.

Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 236mg | Potassium: 666mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1855IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 661mg | Iron: 2mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a rating below then tag @namelymarly on Instagram and hashtag it #namelymarly. I love seeing your creations!

Vegan Evaporated Milk Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is there a vegan version of evaporated milk? ›

Almond, oat, soy, cashew, and any other alternative milk base you can think of, can all be reduced on the stovetop to make a plant-based equivalent of evaporated milk.

How do you make evaporated milk from non dairy milk? ›

How to Substitute: Just as you do with regular fresh milk, cook the dairy-free milk on the stovetop until it has reduced by about 60%. To make the equivalent of a 12 ounce can of evaporated milk, simmer a quart of non-dairy milk or 32 ounces, until it reduces to about 12..

How to make evaporated milk? ›

The evaporated milk you buy from the store is simply milk that has had 60% of its water evaporated. You can make your own by simmering it on the stove until reduced by 60%, or a bit more than half. It takes a bit of time and diligence, half hour or so of simmering, and remembering it's there so it doesn't boil dry.

How much almond milk do I substitute for evaporated milk? ›

You'll want to use about 3/4ths the amount of almond or soy milk as evaporated milk. Also, keep in mind that soy milk separates into liquids and solids under heat, so if you're using it in a sauce, try to add it after you're done heating!

Is there a plant-based evaporated milk? ›

Store Bought Vegan Evaporated Milk Products

We've encountered versions that are made from all different varieties of plant milks including evaporated coconut milk, evaporated oat milk, and evaporated almond milk.

What can I use for vegan evaporated milk? ›

But you can definitely try soy milk, oat milk, rice milk, cashew milk, almond milk, coconut milk, etc.! Keep in mind that if you are using this evaporated milk in a savory recipe, such as a creamy soup, casserole, or sauce, it is important to use plain, unsweetened milk!

What is a plant-based substitute for evaporated milk? ›

Oat milk can be used in most recipes that use evaporated milk. You may need to thicken or sweeten it to achieve the same consistency and flavor as evaporated milk. Summary Oat milk is made from blended water and oats. It is one of the few substitutes for evaporated milk that contains fiber.

Is there a substitute for evaporated milk? ›

Half-and-Half. If you're in a pinch, the second best alternative is using half-and-half. Use it as is in a one-to-one ratio, so one cup of half and half would sub for one cup of evaporated milk. While you will miss out on the slightly caramelized flavor a bit, the creaminess is an excellent match.

What can I use in place of regular evaporated milk? ›

Evaporated milk is made by slowly heating milk to remove about half of its water—a process that develops a light golden color and mildly sweet flavor. Nestlé states that Carnation evaporated milk can be substituted in a 1:1 ratio for regular whole milk.

Is there a dairy free substitute for evaporated milk? ›

Substitute Non-Dairy Milk for Evaporated Milk

In fact, some manufacturers make evaporated almond and coconut milk that you can buy from the store. Keep in mind that each type of non-dairy milk has a very different flavor and varies significantly in protein, carbohydrate, and fat content.

How is evaporated milk made step by step? ›

This is not so much a recipe but a method, and it really could not be more straightforward. To make evaporated milk you simply simmer milk for around 25 minutes. You do this slowly over medium-low heat to really allow the excess water in the milk to evaporate.

What are the ingredients in evaporated milk? ›

MILK, DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, CARRAGEENAN, DEXTROSE, VITAMIN D3.

Can you turn almond milk into evaporated milk? ›

Can almond milk be cooked down as a substitute for evaporated milk?? You can simmer almond milk to reduce and concentrate the flavor and texture: when reduced by half, it is approximately the thickness of heavy cream.

What can be the substitute for 1 cup of whole evaporated milk? ›

With its very similar consistency, 1 cup of heavy cream can replace 1 cup of evaporated milk in sweet and savory dishes. While the flavor will be blander than evaporated milk's unique caramelized tones, the texture will be noticeably richer.

Can coconut milk substitute for evaporated milk? ›

Another alternative for evaporated milk is to substitute coconut milk 1:1 in the recipe. This will impart a coconut flavor to the recipe, so it works in some recipes but not all.

What is a good dairy-free substitute for evaporated milk? ›

Dairy alternatives to evaporated milk include whole milk, cream, and half-and-half, while nondairy options include soy milk, nut milk, and quinoa milk. When choosing an alternative to evaporated milk, a person may wish to consider the taste and consistency of the product.

What is a vegan substitute for carnation milk? ›

Canned coconut milk is a perfect vegan evaporated milk substitute. The simplest way to make vegan evaporated milk is to just use canned coconut milk. It doesn't require any preparation and can be substituted at a ratio of 1:1.

Is there vegan carnation milk? ›

According to Carnation, one tin of its regular condensed milk contains around 2.5 grams of saturates, while the vegan version contains 0.4 grams.

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