The One Ingredient That Makes Desserts Taste Better

There are certain foods we love so much that we unashamedly eat them straight from the container with a spoon. Sweetened condensed milk is one of those foods.

We know what you're thinking -- it's sugar overload, it's thick and sticky, it's syrupy and it is definitely not to be consumed on its own by the spoonful. We're not advocating that you eat a whole can or even more than one teaspoon; we're merely confessing our guilty pleasure to explain how strongly we feel about sweetened condensed milk. A little goes a long way with this super sweet substance, and it's all you need to understand how dreamy it is. Whether it's on its own, in a coffee or in a pie, sweetened condensed milk can completely transform a dish, and might even transform you.

Sweetened condensed milk is milk from which the water has been removed and to which sugar has been added. Some people find it off-putting, but those people probably haven't tried it the right way. People all over the world eat it. It's common in coffee in parts of Asia, in pies like Key Lime in the United States, and in cakes and pudding in Latin America. Whether you make your own, or buy it in a can, you should give sweetened condensed milk a try if you aren't a fan already. It's definitely decadent, but there's always a time and place for that. Whether you choose to indulge every day or less frequently is up to you -- but whenever you're ready, sweetened condensed milk will be there for you.

Here are 31 recipes that will convince you sweetened condensed milk is some of the best stuff on earth. It might be the unsung hero of the dessert world. We're here to sing its praises.

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