Description
Rich, creamy caramel made from simmered milk and sugar. A simple treat perfect for desserts or spreading!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 liters (4 cups) full fat milk
- 1 lbs (300 g) caster sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking soda/bicarbonate of soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Pour the milk into a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Use one that is at least twice the volume of the milk because it will bubble up when it boils.
- Add the sugar, baking soda, salt, vanilla extract, and cinnamon stick to the milk. Stir to dissolve the sugar.
- Place the pot over medium heat and bring to a boil, watching carefully. The milk will foam up rapidly when it hits a boil. Stir and lower the heat immediately to prevent it from boiling over.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low so the mixture maintains a gentle, steady simmer. Stir every 5-10 minutes with a wooden spoon, scraping the bottom and sides of the pot to prevent scorching.
- After about 45 minutes the mixture will turn a pale tan color and reduce noticeably. Continue cooking and stirring. After about 1.5 hours it will become a deeper golden caramel color.
- Cook for a total of 1.5 to 2.5 hours. The dulce de leche is done when it turns a rich amber-brown color, coats the back of the spoon thickly, and a drop placed on a cold plate holds its shape without running.
- Remove the cinnamon stick. Let the dulce de leche cool in the pot for 15 minutes, then transfer to a clean glass jar. It will thicken further as it cools. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Notes
- For a smoother dulce de leche, use a fine-mesh sieve to strain out the cinnamon stick and any solids before cooling.
- If you don’t have caster sugar, granulated sugar can be used, but it may take slightly longer to dissolve.
- Store the cooled dulce de leche in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks for optimal freshness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 150 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 25
- Sodium: 20
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 10