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One ingredient? Seriously? YES! Let’s make this one ingredient wonder – Dulce de Leche

 

This couldn’t be easier. Simply simmer canned sweetened condensed milk in the slow cooker.

 

Poof!

 

Like magic, the sugar caramelizes and creates Dulce de Leche, translated as “sweet of milk” or “milk jam”.

 

One Ingredient Dulce de Leche

Dulce de Leche is best known featured in desserts from South American countries including Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. It’s is a luscious milk based creamy caramel-like sauce that can be used in so many ways, as an ingredient in baking, a dip, a schmear, a filling, or just devoured with a spoon right out of the jar.

Or . . .

Add a little salt for a salted caramel flavor.

Add unsweetened cocoa powder to make chocolate Dulce de Leche.

Use this little luxury to swirl in or on top of cheesecake.

Aa frosting to top spice, apple, pumpkin or banana cupcakes.

Drizzle over blondies and swirl into brownie mix.

Stir a spoonful into your coffee or hot chocolate.

Warm  some in a sauce pan along with some sliced bananas (maybe a spoon of dark rum like Bananas Foster) and use this to top pancakes, waffles, over ice cream or to fill a crepe.

It’s also great as a dip for fruit like apples, bananas and strawberries and on baked goodies like vanilla wafers, graham crackers and pretzels.

 

 

 

SLOW COOKER DULCE DE LECHE
Time: 8 hours 3 minutes Yield: 3 cups 

What You’ll Need: 

• Two (14 oz.) cans of sweetened condensed milk – (not evaporated milk)
• Three (half pint) canning jars with lids and rings
• Water
• Crock pot

Here’s How:

Pour the sweetened condensed milk into the canning jars dividing the two cans evenly between three, half pint jars, filling to the top. Place the lids and rings on the jars.

 

Alternatively – you can just plop the cans of sweetened condensed milk right in the crock-pot. Remove the labels first.

 

Don’t have a 40 year old, vintage “Crockpot” like mine? Here’s really nice new one that’s absolutely wonderful! 

Hamilton Beach 8-Quart Portable Slow Cooker, Black

 

In my research I came across warnings that the cans might explode. I tested it myself and nothing exploded or leaked or anything bad. It worked beautifully but I’m doing my due diligence. If you’re concerned, then put the sweetened condensed milk in mason jars before putting it in the crock-pot. Another advantage is you can see how caramelized it’s getting. And you can serve and store it right in the mason jars, too.

 

Place the jars in the crock pot and add water so the jars are covered by an inch. Put the lid on the crock pot and turn to LOW for 8 hours.

 

 

When the time is up, turn off the crock pot, let cool and carefully remove the jars. Allow the jars to cool before you open them.

 

Since this isn’t a canning process the lids won’t seal meaning it’s not shelf stable. This will keep for about four weeks in the refrigerator, if it lasts that long. I’ll never know.

 

What setting do I use – LOW or HIGH?

The temperature of the water must reach to boiling (212 degrees) or this technique won’t work.

 

Since slow cookers differ you’ll have determine which setting works for you. I have to put mine on HIGH but some slow cookers reach a simmer on LOW. If you’re cooking on HIGH you can reduce the time to 6 hours.

 

It’s preferable to cook on the lowest setting possible to keep the water at a simmer, not on full boil. To see if it’s done, you can peek at the color of the milk in the jars to see if it’s caramelizing.

 

 

Diva Tip – The longer you cook it, the thicker it gets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a great hostess gift, give a pretty jar of Dulce de Leche with a loaf of banana bread.

 

Try this recipe and tell me you don’t feel like a magician or benevolent mad scientist. When my kids aren’t around I secretly love this on toast. Just me, my dulche de leche toast and an iced coffee. Bliss! Shhhhh.

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