Dairy, cream and fats · Checked against 3 sources · Updated November 4, 2026
Quick answer
Heat one-third cup of evaporated milk, three-quarters cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons of butter until the sugar dissolves. That makes about 1 cup. A powdered-milk version needs 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of dry milk, half a cup of warm water and three-quarters cup of sugar. Both set thinner than canned.
How much do you need?
Fractions work: 1 1/2, ¾, 0.5. The amounts below update as you type.
Type a number, like 1 or 1 1/2.
What to use
No option here matches every box you ticked. Untick one to see more.
Evaporated milk, sugar and butter
Gluten-free
Nut-free
Egg-free
⅓ cup79 mlevaporated milk
¾ cup150 ggranulated sugar
2 tbsp28 gbutter
How
Heat gently, stirring, until the sugar and butter dissolve. Cool before using.
Best for
Fudge, bars, pies, no-bake desserts.
What changes
Thinner at first. It thickens as it cools.
Dry milk, warm water and sugar
Gluten-free
Nut-free
Egg-free
1 ⅛ cups265 mldry milk powder
½ cup120 gwarm water
¾ cup150 ggranulated sugar
How
Mix the powder into the water, add the sugar and stir until smooth. Warm the bowl over hot water if the sugar is slow to dissolve.
Best for
Fudge and bars.
What changes
Slightly less creamy than canned.
Diet labels describe the ingredients as normally made. Check packages for gluten and allergens. Some refined sugar is filtered with bone char, which matters if you eat vegan.
Which swap for which job
Use
Pick
Why
Fudge, bars, pies
Either homemade version
Both give the sugar and milk solids the recipe needs.
Do not substitute here
Recipes that cook a can in the pot (dulce de leche). Homemade versions. The method relies on the canned product.
Questions
Can I use evaporated milk plus sugar?
Yes. Heat it with sugar and butter first, or the sugar stays gritty.
Ratios come from these sources, in our words. Where they disagree, we say so or pick the amount that matches tested results. Ratios are a starting point. Taste and adjust.