Condensed Milk Caramel Recipe (2024)

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This homemade condensed milk caramel sauce, or “Dulce de Leche”, only requires one ingredient & a crockpot! Use this simple recipe to make your own caramel sauce with sweetened condensed milk!

Condensed Milk Caramel Recipe (1)

Sweetened Condensed Milk Caramel Recipe

Did you know you can make caramel sauce with one single ingredient? Sweetened condensed milk is all you need to make delicious, rich caramel sauce!

Making caramel sauce is a lot easier than one would expect. No candy thermometer required for this crockpot caramel sauce!!

If you love caramel, I think you will LOVE this caramel shortbread cookie bars! It’s one of the top recipes on my site!

Condensed Milk Caramel Recipe (2)

I have seen this sweetened condensed milk caramel recipe on Pinterest multiple times, but I have always been weary of it. Primarily because of the heat & tin can situation.

I’ve read how toxic the lining of cans can be, one would think that adding heat is a recipe for disaster. When I discovered you can make this caramel sauce in glass jars, I was sold on giving it a try.

After simmering in the crockpot for 8 hours, I had 3 jars of perfectly colored caramel. No burning, no temperature taking; just waiting!

As I’ve done further research, you can absolutely spice and flavor the milk prior to adding it to the jars. Try adding some vanilla, sea salt, cinnamon, or pumpkin spices – they will all be delicious! And, if you’re wondering if this is shelf stable,it is not. Please make sure to refrigerate this caramel sauce.

Turn this into a sweet hostess gift by pairing it with some fresh apples and a cute little tag!

Condensed Milk Caramel Recipe (3)

This is the world’s easiest caramel sauce, and probably the most inexpensive. I’ve included a free printable that is compatible with these stickers so that you can give this caramel sauce as a gift!

Click here to download the free sticker printable used in this post!

Can this recipe be canned in an instant pot?

In order to use an instant pot for this recipe, you would need to remove the lid, and submerge the jars 1/2-3/4 in water.

There are a few recipes for it online, but it seems the caramel comes out inconsistent. I would not recommend this method.

Is this recipe shelf stable?

I reached out to a canning expert friend, she let me know that no, this recipe is not shelf stable. It should be refrigerated. Lasts about a month, conservatively.

How long do I really need to simmer this for?

I have made this in a pinch, and it came together in as little as 3 hours. However, the longer you simmer, the richer the caramelization becomes!
If you’re really short on time, you could certainly empty the sweetened condensed milk into a sauce pan and cook on medium until it caramelizes (stir continuously).

Condensed Milk Caramel Recipe

Using glass jars, whether Weck or not, eliminates the worry of BPA toxins leaking into the caramel sauce, plus it’s prettier.

Condensed Milk Caramel Recipe (4)

More fall recipes to love:

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Baked Pumpkin Donuts

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    1. Thank you so much! Thanks for visiting!

      Reply

  1. Do you think you could tweak for a few versions? Maybe add sea salt? Or a tbs or two of bourbon or rum?

    Reply

    1. Definitely! Just stir the extra ingredients in the mason jar with the sweetened milk before you put it in the slow cooker! I think some fresh sea salt or rum would be amazing!

      Reply

  2. This sounds amazing!
    I’m just wondering if you know how long this would keep for (un-opened).
    Thank you so much!

    Reply

    1. Hmm, that’s a good question! I know that this isn’t ‘preserved’ in the sense that it can last a year. However, it’s full of sugar, so it’s unlikely to go bad quickly. I would give it a month!

      Reply

  3. I adore this! I can remember as a child my mother making caramel by boiling the can. This sounds so much better.

    Reply

    1. This is similar, but using a glass jar means you don’t have to worry about any of the icky questionable chemicals in the can!

      Reply

  4. I can’t believe how easy this recipe sounds! No way would I have thought that sweetened condensed milk could turn into caramel. Brilliant!

    Reply

  5. I love this idea! We are going to try it! While I love Weck jars, it is hard to find the sizes I need without buying them online. This should work with canning jars, right? You just have the metal lid with the sealer instead of glass. Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Yep this will definitely work with normal canning jars. In fact, I like normal canning jars best!

      Reply

  6. What size jars do you use for this?

    Reply

    1. Hi Barbie – you can use any size you’d like! 8oz would make a nice gift size.

      Reply

  7. love this idea!! I’ve made it in the cans before but never thought about the aluminum! Wondering if you have any thoughts on if you could put the sealed jars in a pressure canner to cook and seal. Might make the shelf life longer?? Just wondering…..

    Reply

    1. That’s a great question – I have never used a pressure canner so I can’t speak to it; however, I can’t think of a reason as to why these wouldn’t be shelf stable if sterilized properly ahead of time!

      Reply

  8. very informative Thank You be very easy to write an article on my subject Roofing.

    Reply

  9. Do you know if you can do this in a Instant Pot/Instapot?

    Reply

Condensed Milk Caramel Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make condensed milk into caramel quickly? ›

Alternately, combine 200g butter with 200g brown sugar in a medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until the butter and sugar become a smooth liquid. Add 395g condensed milk. Stir over low heat for 20 minutes or until mixture browns and thickens slightly.

Does boiling a can of condensed milk turn into caramel? ›

Pour the condensed milk into a baking dish and bake. Alternatively, pour it into a double boiler and simmer. Either way, you'll have caramel sauce in about two hours.

Is caramel just heated condensed milk? ›

In this recipe, sweetened condensed milk is cooked until it creates a deliciously rich caramel sauce! The best part is this recipe has ONE ingredient! Just one!

Is it safe to make dulce de leche in a can? ›

It's safe to do so, as long as you follow the correct safety procedures: make sure the can isn't dented, make sure it's covered with water the whole time it's hot, let it cool down all the way before removing from the water and opening, don't jostle the pan around while still hot.

Which method is quickest in caramel making? ›

Dry caramel is quicker to make than wet caramel, but it's also trickier: Without additional liquid, the sugar can caramelize very quickly, burning before you realize it.

How to make caramel from condensed milk without boiling? ›

Place unopened cans in the slow cooker, cover with water, put the lid on and cook on high power for 5 hours.

What is it called when you boil sweetened condensed milk? ›

Dulce de Leche is a heavenly substance. At first glance, it looks a little like caramel, but it's actually sweetened milk that's been heated long enough to cause a caramelizing to occur. That's the long-winded explanation, so here's the short one: It's creamy, dreamy substance used as an ingredient in so many desserts.

What's the difference between caramel and dulce de leche? ›

Caramel and dulce de leche might look and taste somewhat similar, but they are actually pretty different. While caramel is made from slowly simmering water and sugar until it caramelizes, dulce de leche is made from simmering milk and sugar super slowly until it turns into a creamy, caramelized substance.

Do you have to refrigerate sweetened condensed milk caramel? ›

Sweetened condensed milk caramel tips

Store your condensed milk caramel in the fridge. It should keep for a couple of weeks, although it never lasts more than a few days at my house.

Why do people boil condensed milk? ›

In Soviet culture, it was once common to boil a can of condensed milk in water for about three hours. The resulting product is a sweet semi-liquid substance that can be used as a cake icing or put between layers. It is essentially the same as dulce de leche.

What happens when you microwave sweetened condensed milk? ›

After the first two stirs, you'll notice that the milk bubbles and foams up as it expels moisture. Then, with each stirring, the milk will be thicker and more caramel colored. If after the 10 minutes, you like the color and consistency, stop!

How do you know when caramel is done with condensed milk? ›

Bake for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the condensed milk has turned into a rich caramel colour* Check occasionally and add more hot water to the larger pan if needed.

Can you drink a can of condensed milk? ›

Can I drink sweetened condensed milk? It is a ready-to-use product so it may be consumed without any other preparation. You can add it to everyday items like in your coffee, on toast with cinnamon, on fruit or yogurt, and in any way you see fit.

Should homemade dulce de leche be refrigerated? ›

Your dulce de leche will last about two weeks in the fridge if kept in a sealed container or three months if left in the unopened can. If you're employing the boiling method it's better to use the cans that do not have tab openers although I have not had an issue with them personally.

Is it safe to boil a can of condensed milk? ›

Is it safe to boil my can of sweetened condensed milk to make caramel sauce? No. For safety reasons, we do not recommend heating a can of our condensed milk, opened or unopened. The current can is not designed to withstand high temperatures.

What happens if you whip sweetened condensed milk? ›

Can condensed milk be whipped like cream? Yes, condensed milk can be whipped to create a creamy, fluffy texture similar to whipped cream. This makes it a great alternative for those who are lactose intolerant or looking for a dairy-free option.

Why is my condensed milk caramel not thickening? ›

Melt 200g of butter in the microwave (in a large microwavable bowl) for 2-3 minutes, then add the condensed milk and golden syrup. Whisk the mixture well until the butter is thoroughly incorporated. Heat for 6-7 minutes until it is boiling, stirring thoroughly every minute.

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