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    Home » Recipes » Frosting & Filling

    How to Make Dulce De Leche

    Published: Apr 3, 2019 · Modified: Nov 22, 2024 by Abeer Rizvi · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    Quick and easy Dulce De Leche recipe, homemade with 1 simple ingredient. Smooth, rich, thick, creamy, caramel flavor, made from sweetened condensed milk can. Can be made on stovetop, slow cooker or oven.

    Can of Homemade Dulce De Leche With Condensed Milk on White Marble Background.

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    This sweetened condensed milk caramel is so much easier than making it from scratch, which can easily burn and requires a close eye. You can also try my Crockpot Apple Butter, Homemade Lemon Curd, Hot Fudge Sauce (Chocolate Fudge Sauce). They are all easy ways to make the store-bought stuff at home.

    Jump to:
    • Key ingredients
    • Variations/Uses
    • How to make easy homemade dulce de leche recipe with condensed milk can?
    • Tips and Techniques
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Storage
    • More frostings and fillings
    • Recipe

    Key ingredients

    • Sweetened condensed milk- Not be confused for evaporated milk and you need 3 entire cans.
    • Water- This is only used to submerge the cans.

    Variations/Uses

    • Filling- In cakes and cupcakes. Checkout how to do this in the How to Make Filled Cupcakes tutorial.
    • Drizzle- Over cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, ice cream.
    • Sweetener- Add it in coffee, milk, tea or even milkshakes.
    • Spread- Over toasts, bagels, muffins, or biscuits instead of jam.
    • Topping- Over pancakes, waffles, crepes instead of maple syrup.
    • Dip- Serve it at parties with biscuits, graham crackers and even these Churro Cookies (With Pie Crust).
    • Homemade gift- For family and friends during Christmas holidays.
    • Cake- Make my family's Best Vanilla Cake Recipe (From Scratch) or this Moist Triple Chocolate Cake (From Scratch) and drizzle this, prior to serving.
    • Cheesecake- Make a New York Cheesecake Recipe (No Water Bath) and drizzle this, prior to serving.
    • Ice cream- Make your favorite homemade vanilla ice cream and stir this in but don't mix it fully so that you end up with caramel swirls.
    Spoon Full of Caramelized Dulce De Leche- Closeup Shot.

    How to make easy homemade dulce de leche recipe with condensed milk can?

    There are a few different methods and they all work well. I prefer the stovetop method but a few of my friends love the crockpot method.

    • Stovetop Method- Add cans of condensed milk (14 oz each) in a large pot. Cover cans with water until they are fully submerged. Bring to a boil. The, reduce the heat to Low and cook for 3 hours. Remove cans from water and let them cool down completely and then, enjoy!
    • Oven Method- Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Pour 1 can of condensed milk (14 oz can) in a 9 inch oven-safe deep dish and cover it with aluminum foil paper. Set this dish in a roasting pan and add enough hot water in the pan to reach halfway up the dish. Bake for 45 minutes. At this point, check water level and add additional water, if necessary. Then continue baking for another 45 minutes- 1 hour until condensed milk becomes thick and brown. Remove dish from the oven and let it cool down completely and then, enjoy.
    • Crockpot/ Slow Cooker Method- Place cans of condensed milk (14 oz each) in slow cooker. Cover cans with hot water until they are fully submerged. Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours. If you want it to be dark in color are more thicker, cook for an additional 2 hours. Remove cans from crockpot and let them cool down completely and then, enjoy!

    Tips and Techniques

    • Keep a close eye on the amount of water-The cans need to be submerged in water. If the water evaporates during boiling, they can burst open and make a sticky mess.
    • Use tongs- The cans are hot. Remove them with tongs and don't burn yourself.
    • Don't open hot cans- They must fully cool down before you open them or they can burst because of the pressure that's built up in there.
    • Remove labels from cans- This is not required but I like to do it because it tends to fall off during boiling and then, floats around which can be annoying.
    • Consistency- It thickens, as it cools. If it becomes too thick after cooling, heat it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to make it a pourable consistency. You can also add a splash of heavy cream, if you like. If it's too thin, chill in the fridge for a few hours, which will thicken it up.
    • Don't use evaporated milk- Because that's entirely different and doesn't work in this recipe.
    • Don't over-crowd the pot with cans- Because over-crowding prevents even cooking.
    Can of Caramelized Sweetened Condensed Milk on Marble Background.

    Recipe FAQs

    What is dulce de leche? What does it mean?

    When it's translated, it is supposed to mean "candy of milk" or "candy made of milk" or "milk candy." It's a traditional Argentinian dessert made by caramelizing sugar in milk. It's pretty much slow cooked condensed milk (or milk and sugar).

    What is the difference between this recipe and caramel?

    Caramel is a reduced mixture of water, sugar, heavy cream and butter. However, the latter is typically made with condensed milk and simmered for hours and only composed of sugar and milk. Both have a rich, creamy, sticky consistency and are brown in color.

    How long does it take to cook?

    That's a personal preference. I like mine thick and tan/brown color, just like caramel, so I cook it for 3 hours. Some people prefer it lighter in color and golden brown and cook it for 2 hours and 15 minutes.

    Storage

    • Room temperature- This is not recommended, because it will crystalize and go bad.
    • Refrigerate- Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week. 
    • Freeze- Once it cools down completely, freeze it in an air-tight, sealed container for up to 1 month.
    • Make ahead- You can make this up to 1 week in advance

    More frostings and fillings

    • Homemade Whipped Cream (Stabilized)
    • Sugar Free Frosting
    • Homemade Caramel Sauce
    • Easy Chocolate Fondue (3 Ingredients)
    • Nutella Syrup (2 Ingredients)

    Recipe

    Can of Homemade Dulce De Leche With Condensed Milk on White Marble Background.

    Homemade Dulce De Leche Recipe

    Abeer Rizvi
    Quick and easy Dulce De Leche recipe, homemade with 1 simple ingredient. Smooth, rich, thick, creamy, caramel flavor, made from sweetened condensed milk. 
    5 from 1 rating
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 3 hours hrs
    Total Time 3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 3 cups
    Calories 1271 kcal

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    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cans Sweetened condensed milk 14 oz. each
    • Water Enough to submerge the cans

    Instructions
     

    • Remove labels from cans.
    • Place them in a big pot right-side up or on or their sides. 
    • Cover cans with water so they are completely submerged.
    • Bring water to a boil over medium high heat.
    • Reduce the heat to Low and cook for 3 hours (if you want it to be thick and a dark caramel color) or cook for 2 hours and 15 minutes (if you want a lighter color).
      Note: Keep a close eye on the amount of water. The cans need to be completely submerged. Add more water, as it evaporates during cooking. 
    • Then, carefully remove cans from water, using a pair of tongs and allow them to cool down completely. 
    • Open cans and enjoy!

    Notes

    • Read all my tips above.
    • Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1271kcalCarbohydrates: 215gProtein: 31gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 134mgSodium: 502mgPotassium: 1469mgSugar: 215gVitamin A: 1055IUVitamin C: 10.3mgCalcium: 1125mgIron: 0.8mg

    An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.

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    Hello, I'm Abeer Rizvi, the author and founder of CakeWhiz.com—a cherished dessert blog dedicated to baking, cake decorating, doctored cake mix recipes, and all things sweet. As a skilled food writer, baker, recipe developer, and cake decorator, I take pride in wearing multiple hats.

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