5 Ingredients or Fewer

Homemade Dulce de Leche

by:
March 31, 2014
3.5
4 Ratings
Homemade Dulce de Leche
Photo by James Ransom
  • Makes 1 cup
Author Notes

Caution: before you proceed with this recipe, understand that dulce de leche is dangerously addictive. It's perfectly sweet and rich -- without being too sweet or too rich. Its name also translates to "milk jam," so it is perfectly acceptable to spread thickly on buttered toast, topped with a sprinkle of sea salt.
For a vegan variation, replace the milk with coconut milk. This can also be made with goats milk for an added tang, but then you're technically making cajeta.
This recipe was inspired by the versions by Deb Perelman and Alton Brown, then adapted. —Catherine Lamb

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 quart whole milk
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 vanilla bean, split
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Directions
  1. Mix the first four ingredients together in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Take off the heat.
  2. Stir in the baking soda, then put the mixture back on the stove over low heat. You want the mixture to bubble along the edges, but not to boil over.
  3. Let the mixture cook for 1 1/2 - 2 hours, stirring occasionally. The color will begin to sneak from white to tan after an hour or so, then will darken rapidly. Keep a close eye on it now, stirring constantly. As the mixture darkens it will become thicker, and also nuttier. After your dulce de leche reaches your desired tone of caramel color, take it off the heat and let it cool slightly
  4. If you want your dulce de leche to have a silky smooth texture, push it through a fine mesh strainer. If you don't want to go through the extra effort, it will be more than fine as is.
  5. Dulce de leche keeps, refrigerated, for up to four weeks. Eat it over ice cream, spread on toast, or right out of the jar.
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  • Smaug
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46 Reviews

Smaug
Smaug February 7, 2020
I have to wonder about the coconut milk version. When you cook milk, the casein (one of the main proteins) unravels (denatures) and forms a bond with water molecules, which causes it to thicken. As coconut milk contains very little protein, and not the same ones, I wouldn't expect it to behave much like regular milk in this type of recipe.
 
Kim
Kim March 22, 2019
A terrible waste—salty and definitely NOT a traditional Dulce de Leche! My son’s class was doing a Heritage report and the teacher suggested bringing in samples of a food or dish for the class. I have very fond memories of my Abuela making Dulce de Leche when I was a kid and I thought it would be a fun project. Unfortunately, I found this recipe. This might be a modern salted caramel sauce but it is nothing like real Dulce de Leche. The salt ruined the recipe and we made a double batch. Very unfortunate!
 
Darian
Darian February 10, 2019
I made this today, a double recipe. It took waaayyy longer than listed - thankfully I had read the other reviews so was prepared for that! However, it turned out really well and is SO delicious so no complaints!
 
Chef C.
Chef C. May 21, 2018
On the other hand, I've made this recipe several times but I just opened a can of Nestle dulce de leche and it is superb - a consideration when getting DDL in your mouth ASAP
 
Daph
Daph May 21, 2018
This is amazing. The cooking took longer (about 3 hours), but the result was a really smooth, creamy (and not grainy!), vanilla dream. I am not a dulce de leche expert, but this one set the bar very high for me.
 
Andie P.
Andie P. August 11, 2016
I make it in a Crock-pot, the longer lower temp cooking makes it smoother and less grainy.
It is also, in my opinion, better when made with goat milk. I got my recipe from an ex-neighbor, they lived next door to me for almost 20 years. They were originally from Durango, Mexico.
It is an essential ingredient in the tres leches cake.
 
Karen
Karen July 11, 2017
Directions for the crockpot?
 
Nancy H.
Nancy H. July 24, 2016
ok. only made one error while making. I halved the recipe. turned out so good I wish I had made the whole amount! Yum. thanks for another community pick keeper!
 
Mauricio L.
Mauricio L. December 14, 2014
mmm... this is delicious, but in Argentina it is not grainy, it is very smooth... in Chile it is called manjar... it can be made by boling a can of condensed milk (dont open the can) for several hours (2 or so...)
 
Kerri
Kerri June 30, 2014
I think the can in water is fine. I have done it for years just the can in a pot of boiling water for an hour. Of course, make sure the water doesn't run out,,, but why would you walk away from the stove when you're cooking anyway, right?
 
Gloria B.
Gloria B. June 27, 2014
who would think dulce de leche will have so many comments.
Im agree with Chef Carlos.
I grow with Dukce de leche and think fudge is different dulce de leche is cooked milk with sugar and is amazing!
Nestle has a product they called Caramel and this is mkore alike to dulce de leche anyway the best dulce de leche for me is made in home!
 
Chef C.
Chef C. June 27, 2014
Dear Jewels - hard to believe that dulce de leche is really fudge. When I think of fudge, Mackinac Island or Maine comes to mind, not Buenos Aires
 
Mauricio L.
Mauricio L. December 14, 2014
never thought of that
 
Jewels V.
Jewels V. June 27, 2014
FWIW this is called "fudge" in English. A fellow from Columbia gave me a half coconut shell full of something incredibly good but he didn't know what it was called, he only knew it was made from milk and sugar. It took me a lot of searching to discover the name. Modern Americans are so accustomed to *chocolate* fudge that we perceive plain fudge to be an exciting new flavor.

Fudge is a crystalline product, that's why it takes so long to form. The quick recipe uses marshmallow creme to jump start the crystallization process so it is not such a demanding process. Milk and honey is a time honored combination, but for some reason fudge is a quite recent invention, 1896. Some combinations might crystallize and some might not. Useful information for experimenters: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fudge
 
Victor L.
Victor L. June 27, 2014
I use the condensed in a can/water method. After it's done I add toasted pecans or walnuts and coconut. Top a really good vanilla ice cream and you're good to go.
 
raisingkane
raisingkane June 20, 2014
It's late and I want to go to bed. Early work day tomorrow. My dulce de leche has been simmering for 2.5 hours and it looks like it could last another hour. Uh, wonder what would happen if I turn it off and go to bed and finish it in the morning? Probably not a good idea...
 
weshook
weshook September 16, 2014
I made this today, and I know that your comment was 3 months ago, but I had to go in and out of the house today and didn't want to leave this cooking while I was out so I turned it off when I left and resumed when I returned. I also was cooking down 1/2 gallon of milk instead of 1 quart so it took longer. but it eventually cooked down and is so delicious. I am looking forward to making alfajores now.
 
Grace H.
Grace H. July 14, 2017
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.chowhound.com/recipes/alfajores-28373/amp
 
Michele
Michele May 20, 2014
I just finished making a batch and the color is much darker than the photo here. I used raw milk and I wonder if that contributed to the deeper color. It's delicious!!
 
J. P.
J. P. May 14, 2014
I hate to say this but the color isn't as dark as I'd like to see it. But then, I spent a month in Buenos Aires last year and became addicted to La Salamandra Dulce de Leche. It's like a staple down there. They put dulce de leche in everything. So the question is - how do make the Argentinian version?
 
JadeTree
JadeTree May 8, 2014
Great success with this recipe; delicious results! Generously gave one jar away and made a friend for life. I must say that this definitely a litmus test for one's stovetop. My crummy electric burners turned out to be very difficult to regulate for a long, slow process like this one that is more delicate than a braise. It took me almost *three* hours to get to a good, caramel-colored stage (a bit darker than the pictures above) because my burners are so clumsy to calibrate. You know, too low, then boiling and frothing, then low again, aggravation. So electric stove people, get ready to know your appliance better!
 
Elena
Elena May 1, 2014
Which coconut milk would you use for the vegan option?
 
Gloria B.
Gloria B. April 10, 2014
I wanna say cover the t5ins with water in the pressupre cook.
 
Gloria B.
Gloria B. April 10, 2014
In a pressure cooker with wáter over the tins I cook about 1 hour, LET COOL BY a while before to open the pressure cook.
And let the tins cool before to open. And is ready!
 
Girl I.
Girl I. April 9, 2014
Dangerously addictive, must be dangerously good!
 
Cyndylee1
Cyndylee1 April 5, 2014
How long in a pressure cooker and what weight, full steam?
 
Anna O.
Anna O. April 4, 2014
I can't have the sugar. Can this be made with agave or with honey? Please!!! I love dulce de lecho so much, help
 
Gloria B.
Gloria B. April 3, 2014
Omy I love all dulces de leche lol and for this only make when I will make a recipe ha!
anyway I think I will make this!!
 
Chef C.
Chef C. April 3, 2014
Muy bien, German, how about sharing your recipe to create darker, smoother dulce de leche? I agree, it's much darker in Argentina than this version. Question #2: what do you think about Mexican Cajeta?
 
Gloria B.
Gloria B. April 3, 2014
Yes I know but for me is perfect (Im from Chile) and love Dulce de leche so much. Yes in tins is more darkness but I love this type (the most dangerous lol) Love grainy! You still live in ARgentina ? they have amazing dulce de leche and alfajores!xxxx
 
German
German April 3, 2014
Thanks. And very nice, but if I may: this is not really what Dulce de Leche should look like. It's much darker, and more velvet looking. This looks a bit grainy, right? Hope this is helpful. Living and cooking in Argentina my whole life.
 
Gloria B.
Gloria B. April 2, 2014
Im worry I can eat all this lol
I love it!
 
Chef C.
Chef C. April 2, 2014
Addictive dulce de leche certainly is, the entire country of Argentina is completely hooked. Glad this isn't the boil the can of condensed milk version, too scary for me. Heading to the stove now
 
love2cook
love2cook April 2, 2014
At what point do you remove the vanilla bean?
 
Food52
Food52 April 3, 2014
We kept it in until the dulce de leche was finished cooking!
 
Winifred R.
Winifred R. April 2, 2014
Does this cook down much (ie. what is the yield)? Yup, I'm one to probably eat it all at one go. Not really these days, but when I was younger . . . Anyway I'd like an idea of how many jars to have ready.
 
msophelia
msophelia April 2, 2014
looks like the recipe says it yields one cup - one or two jars, then, depending on what you use.
 
Panfusine
Panfusine April 2, 2014
I made some quick dulce de leche using condensed milk in the can. Just peel off the label place it in a pressure cooker which has about 3 cups of water added. Shut the lid and allow to cook for 1/2 hr.
http://dish-a-day-panfusine.blogspot.com/2014/03/day-81-dulce-de-leche-one-pot.html
 
esther
esther April 2, 2014
If you are doing the above and might forget....consider using a crock pot!
 
beejay45
beejay45 April 11, 2014
Do you have any guidelines for making this in the crock pot, esther? That is usually my first thought when something takes a lot of cooking at a controlled heat. I'd love to try it in the ol' CP.
 
Rebecca C.
Rebecca C. April 2, 2014
Great idea for when you have time to stand watch over the stove. Somewhere I found a recipe that bakes sweetened condensed milk in the oven for about an hour. I tried it and it worked out, perfectly.
 
Catherine L.
Catherine L. April 2, 2014
Serious Eats has done that! It's definitely a great time-saving method -- the above version is ideal if you want to control the amount of sugar/seasoning. Also you only have to stir very occasionally -- don't let it put you off!
 
Rebecca C.
Rebecca C. April 2, 2014
You are right; more control usually translates to better taste. And, i admit, i am a bit scared of the canned stuff. Nonetheless, i found the oven baking instructions. my idol - David Lebovitz - has it posted on his website and a version of it in his ice cream book, The Perfect Scoop, which I own (duh).
 
Edibletcetera
Edibletcetera April 2, 2014
Another way to create this delicious treat (and used in the UK as the filling for Banoffee Pie), is to simmer a can of full-fat condensed milk in a large pan of water for 3 hours. perfect!
 
esther
esther April 2, 2014
BE CAREFUL!!!!!!! If the water runs out the can explodes! This can be dangerous- read about how to do it carefully on line. I do it for several hours in the pressure cooker with the vent open making sure little to no steam escapes. The can should be lifted off from the bottom- using my canning rack or a fold out steamer. If the cans are well covered fine...if you have a small pressure cooker check the water level! Exercise great caution! It can be done and the advantage is if you are doing one can you might as well do a few in the same amount of time but if you are forgetful or careless or inexperienced PLEASE DO NOT DO IT THIS WAY!
 
Catherine L.
Catherine L. April 2, 2014
I've done that method successfully before! But esther is right -- be very, VERY careful that the water doesn't run out or your could have a major mess on your hands.