Dulce de Leche (Milk Caramel)
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Dulce de leche (milk caramel) is simple to make with 1 ingredient (sweetened condensed milk), use the stove, slow cooker or an instant pot!
This delicious and unbelievably simple milk caramel (also called dulce de leche) is amazing on its own, as a fruit dip, and also a fun ingredient to incorporate in all sorts of desserts (like our caramel stuffed brownies).
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Dulce de Leche
Dulce de Leche (Milk Caramel)
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Dulce de Leche Ingredients
- Sweetened condensed milk – Seriously, that’s it. Just one ingredient!
- Tools – This is super easy to make on the stove top with a large stock pot. Alternatively you can also use a slow cooker, or an instant pot.
How do you make dulce de leche with sweetened condensed milk? (step-by-step)
⭐ First, remove can labels and place cans in a stock pot. Cover completely with water and bring to a boil.
⭐ Then, reduce heat and allow to simmer for three hours. Make sure your cans are always covered with water, do not allow pot to boil dry!
⭐ Next, remove pot from heat and allow to cool. When temperature is cool enough, remove cans from pot and allow to cool completely.
⭐ Finally, enjoy as is or use in your favorite recipes.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
Preparation
How long does it take to make caramel from sweetened condensed milk?
On the stove top it takes 3 – 4 hours for the caramel to cook and then another couple hours for it to cool before you can eat it.
In the slow cooker you’ll want to cook it 6 – 8 hours on high or 8 – 10 hours on low. And in the instant pot it takes about 1 hour.
How can I cool the cans faster?
Submerge the cans in ice water for 10 – 15 minutes. If they are cooled enough to the touch to handle comfortably, you can open them. If not, repeat the process.
Storage and leftovers
How long does dulce de leche last?
Unopened cans of cooked milk caramel can be left unopened. I like to store mine in the refrigerator so I know what they are.
If you’ve opened the cans, leftovers should be transferred to an air tight storage container and kept in the refrigerator. They will keep for up to a week.
Can you freeze homemade milk caramel sauce?
Yes, allow it to cool completely then spoon into a freezer safe container, making sure to leave enough headroom for expansion.
It will keep for 6 months or longer in the freezer. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
When to use homemade caramel sauce (serving suggestions)
Use it as a fruit dip, on top of cheesecake, in stuffed caramel brownies, or as a sweetener in your coffee or yogurt bowls!
More delicious recipes with caramel
- Snickers salad with apples and caramel
- Caramel cheesecake
- Apple cider cupcakes with salted caramel frosting
- Salted caramel chocolate shortbread bars
- Salted caramel and strawberry parfaits
- Salted caramel s’mores cake
Tools we love
- 7 Quart Crock Pot Slow Cooker – I’ve had this slow cooker since my husband and I were married in 2003!
- Large stock pot – A good stock pot can be passed down for generations.
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How to Make Dulce de Leche
Single Ingredient Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- sweetened condensed milk canned
Instructions
STOVE TOP
- Remove can labels and place cans in a stock pot. Cover completely with water and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and allow to simmer for three hours. Make sure your cans are always covered with water, do not allow pot to boil dry!
- Remove pot from heat and allow to cool. When cans are cool enough to handle, remove them from pot and allow to cool completely.
SLOW COOKER
- Remove can labels and place cans on their side in your slow cooker. Cover completely with water and place lid on cooker.
- Set to high for 6 - 8 hours, or low for 8 - 10 hours.
- Turn slow cooker off and allow contents to cool. When cans are cool enough to handle, remove them from pot and allow to cool completely.
INSTANT POT
- Open cans and pour sweetened condensed milk into an oven safe bowl that will fit into the interior pot of your pressure cooker (I use a small stainless steel bowl).
- Pour 2 cups of water into the inner pot of the instant pot, then place bowl with sweetened condensed milk in too.
- Set to manual for 45 minutes, then allow a natural pressure release. Blend cooked caramel with an immersion blender (or in your upright blender) until smooth.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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More deliciously sweet toppings
- Chocolate Ganache Recipe
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup
- Strawberry Simple Syrup Recipe
Dulce de Leche (Milk Caramel)
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Came out perfect, thank you!
Everything I have tried off your blog has been sensational. Thank you so much for blogging about your cooking!
How do you store the dulce de leche once made?
@anon – if it's unopened, just keep it in the can until you're ready to use. if it's opened, then in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
My hubby would love it if i was a cook like you. I will have to use some of you recepies!
Very nice photo. Ummmmmmmmmmmm