My homemade dulce de leche recipe couldn’t be easier to make! I use just 1 ingredient to make this delicious thickened and caramelized milk. All you need is a can of sweetened condensed milk and some patience. I love to pour dulce de leche over ice cream!
This dulce de leche recipe might just be the easiest recipe on my whole site. What makes it so easy is that there’s just 1 ingredient, so little prep, and the results are so good! I boil a can of sweetened condensed milk to create this luscious dulce de leche, and it never fails. Keeping the milk in the can protects it from burning, creating perfectly caramelized milk every time.
What’s in This Dulce de Leche Recipe?
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: Yep, that’s it! I recommend full-fat, but low-fat will also work just fine for this recipe.
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!
How to Store
An unopened can of dulce de leche will last for 3 months at room temperature. Store leftover opened dulce de leche in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Do not store it in the original can once opened! Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.
Tips for Success
- If you don’t get the glue off the can, it will be hard to get it off the pot.
- I find that the best way to remove the label and glue from a can of sweetened condensed milk is to use a product like Goo Gone to dissolve the glue. I have found that the glue on generic cans tends to be more difficult to get off than on name brands.
- Avoid cans with tab openers, as they are more likely to burst than those that require a can opener.
- Ensure the can is always completely submerged in the water to prevent the can from breaking and exploding. I set a timer for every 30 minutes to add more water.
- Allow the can to completely cool, or the pressure in the can will send hot dulce de leche spraying everywhere.
- You may need to whisk the dulce de leche before using it to get rid of any lumps.
- Once opened, do not store it in the can! Instead, store it in a food-safe airtight container.
- To bake dulce de leche, preheat your oven to 425°F and pour the sweetened condensed milk into a pie dish. Cover the dish tightly with foil, then place it into a deep roasting pan or baking dish filled with hot water (a water bath, similar to how you would bake a cheesecake!). Bake for 90-105 minutes, adding more water to the water bath as needed. Let cool to room temperature before using.
Dulce de Leche Recipe
Ingredients
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk 396 grams (1 can)
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Instructions
- Remove the label and its glue from the can.14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- Leaving the can closed, place it in a medium pot. Fill the pot with water, so that there are at least 2 inches of water above the can.
- Bring the water to a simmer over high heat. Reduce the heat and allow the water to simmer for 3 hours, adding in more water if needed to keep the can completely submerged throughout the cooking.
- Carefully remove the can from the water and allow the can to cool completely before opening.
Notes
How to Make Dulce de Leche Step-by-Step
Submerge the Can: Remove the label and its glue from a 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk. Leaving the can closed, place it in a medium pot. Fill the pot with water, so that there are at least 2 inches of water above the can.
Simmer the Can: Bring the water to a simmer over high heat. Reduce the heat and allow the water to simmer for 3 hours, adding in more water if needed to keep the can completely submerged throughout the cooking.
Cool and Open: Carefully remove the can from the water and allow the can to cool completely before opening.
Leave a Review