Have you ever wondered how to make dulce de leche? It’s incredibly easy, and it might surprise you that this — like most — is a one ingredient dulce de leche recipe. 
One ingredient is all you need to make this dulce de leche. Sweetened Condensed Milk.
And yes, it takes a whopping six hours or so to turn it into “gold,” but you’ll only be involved for about five minutes. The rest of the time, it’ll just do “its thing” on the stove.
This is the sort of cooking I do when I have other things to do at home. While I made this the other day, I also spent time reading books with my kids, making dinner, and yes, watching a little TV.
What is Dulce de Leche?
- Here’s the deal. . . this one ingredient dulce de leche recipe is divine! It’s unbelievably rich, creamy and delicious.
- It can be added to a plethora of baked goods or covered with chocolate. It can be drizzled over ice-cream or eaten with a spoon!
- Dulce de leche is all about caramelizing, which is pretty much my favorite cooking technique. You can caramelize the natural sugars in most foods to bring out a deeper and more intense flavor. Whether I’ve roasted cauliflower at a high temperature to give it a beautiful golden-brown color, seared a steak to create a crisp, brown crust, or simply sautéed a piece of toast, I’m lovin’ it!
- Sweetened condensed milk is cow’s milk that has had the water removed and sugar added to it. The result is a very thick, super sweet milk. When this wonderful product is cooked very slowly, it turns into dulce de leche, which literally means “milk candy.” Yum!
How to Make Dulce de Leche
A can of the sweetened condensed milk is punctured twice at the top and has the label removed. The can is put into a pot on a cloth. Next, the pot is filled with water, and then it simmers for about six hours.
That’s pretty much it!
Delicious creations made with the one ingredient dulce de leche recipe:
- Dulce de Leche Chocolate Pretzel Cookies
- Salted Dulce de Leche Macaroons
- Salted Dulce de Leche Brownies from Confessions of a Chocoholic
I hope now that you know how to make dulce de leche, you’ll try it.
Enjoy!
It's easy to make dulce de leche, and you will find that you can use it in dozens of sweet recipes.
*Makes about 1 3/4 cup | serving size: about 1 tablespoon
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
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Remove the paper label and use a bottle opener to puncture the top of the can on two opposite sides. These holes are very important because they will keep the can from exploding during the cooking!
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Place a small cloth in the bottom of a sauce pot -- this will keep your can from making a racket! (Your pot should be about the height of the can, or higher.)
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Place the can directly on the cloth and then fill the pot with water to about 1/2-inch below the top rim of the can.
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Bring the water to a boil and immediately turn the flame to the lowest setting. The idea is to keep the water at a slight simmer. Let it simmer like this for 6 hours. Every 45 minutes or so, refill the water to 1/2-inch below the top rim of the can, as it will continue to evaporate. You will see a little bit of white milk ooze out of the top, and that's OK -- don't mess with it!
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Use a thick kitchen towel to remove the can from the water. Open the can with an opener, and pour the milk -- which will now be a rich caramel color -- into a small mixing bowl. Use a heat resistant, rubber spatula to get every bit out of the can (it will be firmer towards the bottom.) Use a metal whisk to blend until it's smooth. This should only take a few seconds.
Can you store the unused amounts? Like just refrigerate and warm it up later? Thanks for sharing this!
Yes! It will keep for at least a few weeks in the fridge — probably more! You can re-heat it in a pot on the stove or in the microwave (just for a few seconds). Enjoy! 🙂
Do you think this would work in a crock pot? If you poured boiling water in your crock pot and turned it on high? Also would this freeze?
Inquiring minds want to know… 🙂
Thanks for your sweet comments, Cathy! I don’t have any crock pot experience with making dulce de leche, but I’d think it would work well. I’ve also never frozen it — I think you could, though the texture might change slightly. I’d thaw it to room temp and then reheat it before using it. 🙂
Wow, never made one at home, but this looks so easy, although it takes around 6 hours to make, but the part of making is really a short task. 🙂 Loving how it can be stored for later as well!
Yes, hours, but easy hours. 😉 Enjoy!
Super interesting! I would have never thought to try this and it sounds so easy!
Even though there’s not much to it, it’s fun!
Mmmmm love Dulce de Leche! So easy to make, love that! I could put it on almost everything.
Me too! I even just eat is with a spoon. 😉
Oh yeah! Now I’ll have a constant supply of dulce de leche on hand!
I didn’t know it could be this easy.
You’re my hero!
Yes – nothing like having it at the ready! 🙂 Thanks.
Who knew dulche de leche was so easy? Thanks for sharing this great recipe and the inspiration 🙂
Thank you for checking it out. 🙂