Carnation’s Newest Product? Spicy Evaporated Milk

2024 continues to deliver in the field of “products debuting flavors no one asked for.” And, not to be outdone by pizza-flavored beer, the nice people at Carnation decided to pull a Professor Utonium and drop something dangerous into a nice, wholesome recipe. It’s spicy milk. 

To be more specific, this summer, dry milk consumers will get to enjoy Carnation Kickin’ Jalapeño Flavored Evaporated Milk in their macaroni and cheese. (Evaporated milk is not to be confused with its sweetened alternative known as condensed milk, which would probably taste even stranger if someone made it spicy.)

I’ll admit it, I was completely unaware that macaroni and cheese is the “number one usage occasion“ for evaporated milk (according to Carnation, anyway). Prior to writing this article, my evaporated milk knowledge boiled down (heh) to just the basics: It’s shelf-stable and it’s a potential substitute for baby formula. After asking around, I found out I was clearly missing out on something special; the Southerners in my life all lit up when I asked if Carnation really belonged in macaroni and cheese. Of course, those same folks were less excited when I told them why I was asking. Not many people really got behind the concept of “spicy dairy” and I can’t blame them. To quote a relative of mine, “that ain’t right.”

Where can I get this oxymoron-in-a-can?

Carnation Kickin’ Jalapeño Flavored Evaporated Milk is only available inside Carnation’s “Mac It Better” kits, made in partnership with TikToker Tineke Younger (aka @Tini) whose mac and cheese recipe (made with evaporated milk and “corkscrew” pasta) went viral last year. They’re giving these kids out through a dedicated website in timed drops. Unfortunately, the first drop date has already passed us by, but you’ll have your chance again soon; Drops #2 and #3 are taking place on July 9th and 14th. You’ll have to be quick though; Carnation is offering just 175 “Mac It Better” kits across the entire promotion.

Each kit comes with Tini’s recipe, a can of regular Carnation Evaporated Milk, a can of this new spicy evaporated milk, and a $25 gift card for all the other ingredients. 

Is this really going to make macaroni and cheese better?

Listen, I’m a macaroni and cheese purist. I’ve had plenty of “innovations” and I’m still not convinced we need to invite any new textures and flavors to this party. I’ll flip a picnic table if someone brings a batch topped with bread crumbs to my god-fearing American cookout. My only concession is that a good “piggy mac” is absolutely divine. That said, I’ve primarily had that combination in the form of macaroni and cheese being the topping to a good pulled pork, so maybe that’s the important distinction. Speaking of using macaroni and cheese as a topping, weren’t we promised Mac on Tap by Stouffer’s a few years ago? Are they still patenting the macaroni kegs? Where is my on-demand pasta sludge!?


About the Author

Griffin Parker

Griffin Parker is a writer, award-winning charity auctioneer, and "influencer in the beverage space" according to a few PR agencies. Please do not ask him about the cotton candy business he started right out of high school. When he's not contributing to Sporked or running the @SodaSeekers news pages, you can find Griffin espousing the virtues of Dayton-style pizza, Cincinnati-style chili, and Dolly Parton's Fabulously Fudgy Brownie Mix.

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