Homemade Dulce de Leche: Easy Stove Top and Oven Method Recipe
Dulce de leche is a creamy, rich caramel sauce made by slowly heating sweetened condensed milk until it caramelizes and thickens. This simple recipe offers two classic methods – stove top simmering of the sealed can or baking the milk in a water bath – both resulting in smooth, sweet dulce de leche perfect for spreading, drizzling, or using in desserts.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
- Yield: 1 can (about 14 ounces) of dulce de leche
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Latin American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 Can (14 oz) Sweetened Condensed Milk
Instructions
- Stove Top Method: Peel the paper label off the can of sweetened condensed milk. Place the sealed can upright in a saucepan and fill the pan with enough water to cover the can by at least 1 inch. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Keep an occasional eye on the water level, adding more boiling water as necessary to maintain coverage. Simmer the can for 2 hours for a light caramel color or up to 2 1/2 to 3 hours for a darker, richer dulce de leche. Carefully remove the can from the water and let it cool completely before opening to avoid burns.
- Oven Method: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Pour the sweetened condensed milk into a pie dish or baking dish and cover it tightly with aluminum foil, pinching the edges to seal. Place the covered dish inside a larger deep pan, and pour hot water into the outer pan to a depth of about 1 inch, creating a water bath. Bake for 2 hours. After baking, remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Whisk the dulce de leche until smooth to remove any clumps.
Notes
- Always ensure the can is fully submerged in water to prevent it from overheating or bursting during the stove top method.
- Let the dulce de leche cool completely before opening the can or dish to avoid burns and help it thicken.
- The longer the cooking time, the darker and more intense the caramel flavor will be.
- The oven method requires careful water bath management to ensure even cooking and prevent scorching.
- Once opened, store dulce de leche in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
