Dulce de Leche

Dulce de leche is a delicious caramel-like candy made from milk and sugar that's popular in many South American countries. It's called confiture de lait in French, and doce de leite in Portuguese, No matter what your language, this is a tasty treat to spread on toast, layer into pies and ice cream, or eat straight, one spoonful at at time.

Flavor heaven is as easy as cooking a can! The following instructions will teach you how to make your own.

Please note that there's a small possibility of explosion when you cook a can. This risk can be greatly reduced by making sure that the can is covered with water at all times.

Step 1: Ingredients

You'll need:

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

That's it. Don't use evaporated milk, it's totally different. Has to be sweetened & condensed.

Comments

[contessa10]

I've made dulce de leche dozens of times using this same method, with one small difference. I usually start this process about 3 hours before bedtime. Then I shut the heat off as I go to bed. By the time I get up in the morning, the pan, water and can are all completely cooled. And I have dulce de leche all ready and waiting to spread on my toast!

[men lahak]

so great and easy to make, i am from mexico and this "dulce de leche" we call it "cajeta" and is Goat Milk prepared in cupper frying pan, if you prefer you can try with a mexican product "La Lechera"

[ClayOgre]

I usually lay the can on its side. You can also save a buncha time making it in a pressure cooker (and no, it won't explode), plus you don't have to monitor the water level like you do just boiling it. I did some for 45 minutes in a pressure cooker and it came out pretty thick. Next time, I think I will go for perhaps 35 or 40 minutes and see what happens.

[tudgeanator]

My parents taught me to do this to use it in banoffee pie - it's delicious! Never thought about putting it on toast or anything else though... Cheers

[rataman77]

invented on argentina ARGENTINA RULES! :P

[JediKhalel]

so say we all. :-P

[notingkool]

Yes, a invent from argentina. Other way to prepare it is with a can of condensed milk, boiling arround 2hs. in a pot with water (baño maria). Im from argentina too, this is a quick method but the method of rimar2000 is better. All the people of Argentina plese raise their hands!!

[JediKhalel]

(raising hands here) ;-)

[guiks]

Actually, it´s origin is unclear. There is a legend that it´s from argentina, but it´s no more than a legend.

[notingkool]

no, no is a legend. im from argentina. was invented in argentina, we are the first in produce it. its a part of our history.

[emkayach]

Has anyone tried to start the boil on a stove top then transfer the can of milk to an already hot slow cooking crock?

[BobMarleyFan]

my grandmother used to make this for me and my sister and we would put it on toast, I loved it!

[deqwer]

cool,it's simple to make and very tasty

[iminthebathroom]

bizaRRe, gonna try it

[tool box]

I live in Argentina if you go, there are a lot of dulce de leche in the shops

[suayres]

Nestle DOES make a canned dulce de Leche--is this as good as home-made, or is your recipe superior?

[felixcanis11]

You left out something that's incredibly important. If the can has any dents at all, it can explode in the water (because the pressure isn't evenly distributed). So it's really important to check your can for dents--both when you buy it and before you boil it.

[cooking_gurl96]

that dosent seem like a good way 2 mak carmel. y not just mix butter and brown sugar like some people? and what if i dont like "condensed milk?" its a great recipe but ill stik 2 butter and brown sugar.

[calgrl113]

Well this isn't caramel. It's dulce de leche, which, if you don't know what it is, is similar to caramel, but very, very different. So, no, if you want to make caramel, then obviously this is the wrong recipe.

[Mr. Brownie]

Its not Carmel. Its Carmel like.

[Tomas]

also is called MANJAR... in europe they doesn't know of its exsitence... very nice sweet by the way

[pyogazel]

Well, considering France is in Eyrope, and considering we've known about "confiture de lait" for quite a while now, I have to disagree with you...

[nutsandbolts_64]

now why did he show me this? oh right, I WANT SOME!!!! but I don't have condensed milk :( when I get some I'll make this straight away and play a game while I'm waiting for my recipe of utter indulgence for it lol.

[GeekyGirl1103]

Ooh, very delicious! It was definitely worth the wait. It was also very good with fruit, such as strawberries and bananas. YUM! <3

[cas6767]

Wow tasty and explosive, nice. I was expecting a cake but then I realized that's tres leches which is also delicious. You should put dulce de leche on tres leches and invent the quad leches.

[Mirth Krafter]

I just got a sugar rush at the idea of your quad leches.

[chomerics]

Oh my girlfriend is going to hate you!!!!  She LOVES Dulce de leche!!  It will go great for valentines day!  I'll cover some strawberries in it for her!

[quakecountry]

I was taught how to make Dulce de Leche in Spain this very same way over 36 years ago. Thank you for taking the time to post the instructions for everyone.

[Biglion]

Making "dulce de leche" the way you show in this instructable will give us a can with a nice dulce de leche but NOT the one that is usually bought in Argentina, Uruguay and other countries. The recipe is more complex and requires a lot of time so when you want some candy and you have a can of sweetened condensed milk... well...  go for this! 

The darkest variations of dulce de leche are so good! Homemade dulce de leche is the way to try it.

[_mattb]

this came out really great, thanks so much!

[TheMonkeysamurai]

The fact that you can cook it in the can is amazing! this looks so cool!

[bonniejean]

MY MOTHER USED TO MAKE A PIE THE SAME WAY, WITH THE SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK, AND AFTER 3 HOURS, SHE WOULD PUT IT IN A PIE SHELL AND ADD CHOPPED PECANS ON TOP AND SERVE IT WITH WHIPPED CREAM, SHE CALLED IT CARAMEL PIE. WE ARE FRENCH CANADIAN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE GOT THE RECIPE, BUT I NEVER KNEW UNTIL NOW, READING THIS SITE, THAT IT IS POPULAR IN SOUTH AMERICA, I'VE HEARD OF DULCE DE LECHE, BUT NEVER KNEW IT WAS THE SAME THAT MY MOTHER MADE.

[Marche]

Try pressing the caps lock key ;)

[cooking_gurl96]

maybe she wanted 2 do that ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

[chad oliver]

Pie . . . that sound nice. (but please, don't yell)

[Kathlove007]

OMG yum. I'm making some tonight. Haven't made it since college! Delicious on fruit or bread too.

[AstralQueen]

I just made some, am having it with toast. Gosh, this is SWEET! Evil treat, good stuff. It's also meant to be shared with friends; a whole can is simply too much for just a couple of people!

[AstralQueen]

I forsee alot of excersise in my future after this.... to burn off the ebil treat!

[pauladc]

I'd add vanilla extract to the one made out of condensed milk just to kill the milk flavour a little and just be patient and don't even think about opening the can until is really cool. Imagine thick hot lava all over your face..... Rimar2000's recipe is great (I'd also go with vanilla beans here) but the perfect consistency point takes some practice.

[moisture]

I just opened mine up, and wow is it good! Thanks!