How to Make Dulce de Leche from Sweetened Condensed Milk in a Slow Cooker

Sticky and delicious Dulce De Leche made at home! Easy to make, and you only need 1 ingredient!

Jump to:

• Tips
• Why glass jars and why not cook it in the can?
• What is the difference between caramel and dulce de leche?
• Difference between Dulce de Leche and Cajeta?
• What can I use this on or eat it with?
• Step by step process – making dulce de leche
• Other sweet recipes you might enjoy!
• How to Make Dulce de Leche from Sweetened Condensed Milk in a Slow Cooker Recipe

This is also sometimes called Cajeta here in the U.S. because it’s easier to find cows milk than goats milk. This recipe will be about how to make dulce de leche or cajeta from sweetened condensed milk in a glass jar, not cooked in the can, and in the slow cooker or crock pot.

Tips

You can make different thicknesses if you cook multiple jars at once. You can pull them out as you see the color change. Pull out at around 6-8 hours for a light still slightly runny consistency, after about 10 hours it will be more of a caramel color and more thick and less runny. At 12 hours it will be dark and thick.

There will be some lumps, to work them out, stir or whisk your dulce de leche vigorously until it becomes smooth.

Does need to be refrigerated.

Lasts about 3 weeks or a few months if never opened after removing from the water.

Why glass jars and why not cook it in the can?

Most jars have a BPA lining which is a chemical that is used for food and beverage packaging. Specifically, it is used to make a hard plastic called polycarbonate that is found in the protective lining of some metal cans. Thus, making the can poisonous and harmful. All those chemicals will leach into your food, in this case into your sweetened condensed milk/dulce de leche.

What is the difference between caramel and dulce de leche?

Caramel is made primarily of sugar with some butter and cream added at the end. Dulce de leche is milk with some sugar. Both are caramelized but flavors are very different.

Difference between Dulce de Leche and Cajeta?

Dulce de leche is made from cows milk and cajeta is made from goats milk. Also, Cajeta is originates in Mexico and has cinnamon and vanilla, while dulce de leche originates in Argentina. This is also the reason why a lot of latinos use cajeta and dulce de leche in the same way. Goats milk isn’t always easy to come by and so it’s easier to make cajeta with cows milk which then technically it would be dulce de leche.

What can I use this on or eat it with?

• empanadas
• tres leches cake
• as a filling for the center of cupcakes
• sandwiched between shortbread cookies
• drizzled on ice cream
• Pancakes
• and so much more!

Step by step process – making dulce de leche

Start by opening your sweet and condensed milk can and pouring the whole thing into a 16 ounce canning jar or into two 8 ounce canning jars splitting the milk evenly between the two jars.

Using new canning lids, close the jars tightly, but NOT TOO tight so that you can’t get it open!

Place the jars in your slow cooker or crockpot next to each other standing up or lying down, either way is fine.

Fill with enough water to cover the jars about ½ an inch.

Cover and set the slow cooker on low.

Leave in for about 6-7 hours for a light colored dulce de leche, 9-10 for dark brown but not too thick consistency, and 12-14 hours for thick not runny, holds its shape consistency.

Once your milk has reached the color and consistency that you would like, carefully remove it from the hot water using tongs or another tool and on to a cooling rack or hot plate to cool. 

After about 30 minutes you can try and remove the lid, if it’s cool enough to handle. Letting it cool for 1 hour would be best.

The lid might be a bit stuck and hard to open. If that happens, unscrew and remove the top ring and wiggle a butter knife between the lid and the glass  jar VERY CAREFULLY until it pops.

You now have delicious dulce de leche!

Enjoy!

Other sweet recipes you might enjoy!

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