Description
This recipe guides you through making rich and creamy dulce de leche using two easy methods: the Instant Pot and the stovetop. By gently cooking sweetened condensed milk until it caramelizes into a luscious, golden spread, homemade dulce de leche can be enjoyed on its own or used as a decadent topping or ingredient in desserts.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Prepare for Instant Pot: Transfer the sweetened condensed milk into a clean, pint-sized mason jar and screw on the lid tightly to seal.
- Set Instant Pot: Place the Instant Pot trivet inside and set the jar in the center of the trivet. Add water to the pot until it reaches about 1 inch below the lid of the jar.
- Cook in Instant Pot: Close the Instant Pot lid and cook on the Manual setting at high pressure for 35 minutes.
- Release Pressure: Perform a quick pressure release once cooking is done. Use tongs or oven mitts to carefully remove the jar from the pot.
- Cool Down: Allow the jar to cool completely before opening to prevent any burns or spills.
- Prepare for Stovetop: Remove the label from the sealed can of sweetened condensed milk and place it in a large pot or Dutch oven.
- Submerge and Simmer: Fill the pot with water until the can is submerged by at least 2 inches of water.
- Cook on Stovetop: Bring the water to a boil on high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for about 2 1/2 hours. Make sure to add water as needed to keep the can submerged.
- Remove and Cool: Use tongs to carefully take the can out of the water and let it cool completely to room temperature before opening to avoid spillage or burns.
Notes
- Always ensure the jar or can is fully submerged during cooking to avoid overheating or burning.
- Do not open the jar or can while it is hot as the contents are under pressure and very hot, which can cause burns.
- Use the dulce de leche as a spread on toast, a topping for desserts, or incorporate it into baking recipes.
- If using the stovetop method, monitor water level throughout cooking to keep the can submerged.
- Homemade dulce de leche can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes (Instant Pot) or 2 hours 30 minutes (Stovetop)
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Latin American
Keywords: dulce de leche, caramel sauce, sweetened condensed milk, Instant Pot dessert, homemade caramel
