Delightfully Delectable Dulce de Leche

Dulce de leche is a milky caramel sauce that is popular in the Spanish countries of South America and also in Brazil (where it is known as doce de leite) . It has a rich and creamy consistency that is hard to resist, and goes well with many different desserts. The original method of making dulce de leche involves simmering milk and sugar together for a long period of time until the mixture thickens and darkens in color.

There are a few shortcut methods for making dulce de leche using sweetened condensed milk: some people boil, pressure, or slow cook the can and its contents, some cook the condensed milk over a double boiler on the stove-top, and some pour it into a pan and bake it in the oven. I have read about how easy the "whole-can" method is, but there are so many warnings about the can exploding that I was too afraid to try it. The oven method seemed easier than the stove-top method, as it requires less supervision (cooking time is pretty long for both). I tried the oven method, and it turned out fabulous!

Ingredients:
2 14-oz. cans of sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon of a fine-grain salt

Method:
Preheat the oven to 425F. Pour the cans of condensed milk into a shallow glass baking dish. Sprinkle the salt over the top and whisk to mix. Cover the glass dish tightly with foil. Place the glass dish in a larger baking/roasting pan. Pour water into the larger pan until it reaches a level of about halfway up the sides of the glass dish. Place it in the oven, and bake for 2 - 2 1/2 hours, checking every half hour or so to add water if it goes below the original level. Once the condensed milk has turned a deep golden brown, remove the pan from the oven. When you first take it out, it will have the texture of a custard, so whisk the dulce de leche until smooth and allow it to cool completely. It will thicken slightly upon cooling. Store in a jar and refrigerate for up to a week.

Out of the oven

After whisking smooth

Don't know what to use dulce de leche for?
Try it as a filling for cakes (recipe coming!) or cookies, a topping for ice cream or apple pie, swirled in cheesecakes, as a dip for apples, and so much more. Try it, and be creative!

Dulce de Leche Cake

Dulce de Leche-filled Cupcakes