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Home / Recipes / Desserts / Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe

Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe

November 10, 2016 By Jill Selkowitz / 60 Comments Updated December 23, 2020 / As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs I earn from qualifying purchases; see all disclosures.

Jump to Recipe

Rich and delicious Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe is buttery, creamy and sweet. Perfect for topping ice cream and dunking apple slices.

Pressure Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe

Pressure Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe

Growing up in Miami, Dulce de Leche was every where. It was in every bakery. It was in every restaurant. It was in every deli. It was everywhere.  You couldn’t get away from it. 🙂  That’s because it is SOOOOOOOOOOOO SOOOOOOOOOOO very good!

I’m told that Dulce de Leche Recipe was first made popular in Argentina and then spread to other Latin Countries. Living in South Miami in the 70’s was almost akin to actually living in Cuba. By the mid-80’s you would think you were in Cuba. The food, the desserts, the coffee, oh my!!! Love.

 

Cast of Ingredients for Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe

Cast of Ingredients for Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe

My first time making this Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe, was in my Slow Cooker. I was taught to pour the Sweetened Condensed Milk into Kerr Half Pint (8 oz) Mason Jars, as opposed to cooking right in the cans. Would you believe that I am still using the same Mason Jars from years ago?

Below, I will show you the pressure cooker version using my Instant Pot, as well as the slow cooker version using my Instant Pot Slow Multi-Cooker and my KitchenAid 6-Qt. Slow Cooker. 

Pro Tip: I do not suggest making dulce de leche in the can as there is too much of a chance of leeching aluminum for my comfort.

 

Simple Dulce de Leche 4 oz Party Favors

Simple Dulce de Leche 4 oz Party Favors

Marla Lackey who follows my This Old Gal Facebook Page loves to make Dulce de Leche in the small Ball 4 oz Mason Jars for party favors and hostess gifts.

Choose your favorite brand of Sweetened Condensed Milk. There are a few that I like best. I love using the Longevity Brand and like to use it in my Vietnamese Coffee. I used to like to use the La Lechera brand too, until I decided not to use Nestle products, if I can avoid. The Eagle Brand is something that is probably in most grocery stores and works really well.

Jump to Section

  • Can I Make Vegan Dulce de Leche?
  • How to Make Dulce de Leche
  • Is Dulce de Leche Better in Instant Pot or Slow Cooker?
  • Can Dulce de Leche be Frozen?
  • Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe

Can I Make Vegan Dulce de Leche?

Yes, use Nature’s Charm Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk which is quite tasty and it makes a very nice vegan dulce de leche.

 

Pour Sweetened Condensed Milk into Mason Jars

Pour Sweetened Condensed Milk into Mason Jars

How to Make Dulce de Leche

  • All you will need are a couple of cans of sweetened condensed milk and a three Half-Pint Wide Mouth Canning Jars.
  • For gift giving and/or to make smaller amounts, use six 4 ounce wide mouth canning jars. This size is nice for gift giving with some apples.

Is Dulce de Leche Better in Instant Pot or Slow Cooker?

  • This is totally personal preference. While dulce de leche is quicker using the pressure cooker or Instant Pot, if I’m making a lot, I prefer to use my slow cooker.
  • Plus, I can put them into the slow cooker and go to bed and not worry about waiting around.

Two cans of sweetened condensed milk will fit into three Half Pint Mason Jars.

 

Two cans fit perfectly into three Mason jars

Pour Sweetened Condensed Milk into Mason Jars

Can Dulce de Leche be Frozen?

  • Yes, tighten the tops and after cooling off, it is safe to put the dulce de leche into the freezer.

 

Screw on the Bands

Screw on the Bands

Make sure not to over tighten the lids.

 

Cover the Jars with Water

Cover the Jars with Water

If using a Slow Cooker, cover the Three Mason Jars with water. Make sure the water is at least an inch over the top of the Jars. The bigger your Slow Cooker, the more Jars you can put into the Slow Cooker. I used my 7 Quart Slow Cooker here. They unfortunately don’t make this model anymore.

I also have two of the 6 Quart KitchenAid Slow Cookers, which I like just as much. If I told you I owned nine Slow Cookers, would you believe me? That is not even counting the Slow Cooker function on all my Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker.

 

Place a Trivet in your Pressure Cooker

Place a Trivet in your Pressure Cooker

Some Pressure Cookers are also Slow Cookers, so you will have the best of both Worlds. You can choose if you want to Slow Cook or Pressure Cook your Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe. I decide how I want to cook my Dulce del Leche depending on amount and/or time.

For the Pressure Cooker (I’m using my Instant Pot here, which is also a Slow Cooker), place a Trivet into the Pressure Cooker cooking pot. Place the Three Mason/Canning Jars on top of the Trivet.

Add enough water to reach about one-half inch below the Bands of your Three Mason/Canning Jars. In my 6 Quart Instant Pot, the water came up to the 6 cup mark.

You’ll have to find your sweet spot for this Pressure Cooker Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe. I like mine nice and dark, so I cook for 40 minutes. For the smaller Ball 4 oz Mason Jars, start with 30 minutes.

 

Carefully Remove the Jars and the Metal Rings

Carefully Remove the Jars and the Metal Rings

If using your Slow Cooker, you can take a peek after 9 hours, to check on the darkness of the Dulce de Leche. As I said, I usually go for 11 hours and start this procedure before I go to bed.

When the time is up, make sure to use some type of gloves on your hands or use a canning tongs, to remove the Canning Jars. They will be very HOT.

Gently remove the Bands, leaving the Lids and wipe off any rust that may have formed.

 

Delicious Dulce de Leche

Delicious Dulce de Leche

Leave undisturbed until the Canning Jars have cooled. You can then stir them up if you like, or just put right into the refrigerator.

 

Download the PDF file .

If you would like some labels to use for gifts, you may print these out, if you like.

Marla @thegadgetgourmet gives her Dulce de Leche with apples

Marla @thegadgetgourmet gives her Dulce de Leche with apples

What a wonderful idea, Marla. This makes such a perfect gift for teachers, mailmen, parties, housewarmings and more. Thank you for sharing your photo!

If you want to package your gifts like this, check out these awesome Gift/Treat Bags. They are adorable and the price is right!

 

Slow Cooker Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe Image

Slow Cooker Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe Image

There are so many uses for this Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe. Top one of my Pressure Cooker New York Cheesecakes with this sticky goodness. We like to dip in apples, for a nice and cool snack. Drizzle over ice cream, warm and pour over pancakes and waffles. Add a dollop to your coffee (Cuban and Vietnamese Coffee recipes posting soon).

More Dessert Recipes to Make:

  • Quick Air Fryer Doughnuts [Glazed & Cinnamon Sugar]
  • Pressure Cooker Red White and Blue Cheesecake Singles
  • Instant Pot Apple Crisp + Video
  • Instant Pot Pumpkin Bundt Cake w/Butterscotch

 

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

  • Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker
  • KitchenAid 6-Qt. Slow Cooker
  • Kerr Half Pint (8 oz) Mason Jars
  • Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • Gift/Treat Bags
  • Stainless Steel Trivet

Caring is sharing! If you would like to support This Old Gal, please share this recipe on Social Media, so that I can continue to bring you more wonderful recipes! 

If you share a picture of something you make from our blog, tag it with #thisoldgalcooks so we can see it. We might feature it on Instagram! It makes my day when I see you’ve made one of our recipes!

Here is the handy printable recipe:

Slow Cooker Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe Image

Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe

4.95 from 18 votes
Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
Course: Dessert, Sauce
Cuisine: Cuban, Mexican
Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
Total Time: 6 minutes minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Calories: 106kcal
Author: Jill Selkowitz

Ingredients

  • 2 cans Sweetened Condensed Milk (14 oz each)

Recommended Products

Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker
Slow Cooker
Slow Cooker
Stainless Steel Trivet Set
Stainless Steel Trivet Set
8 oz. Mason Jars

Instructions

  • Pour the Sweetened Condensed Milk evenly into three Mason Jars.
  • Place on the lids and tighten.

Pressure Cooker

  • Add a Trivet to the Pressure Cooker cooking pot. Place Jars on Trivet. Fill Pressure Cooker with water to 1/2 inch below the rim of the Jars.
  • Lock on Lid and close Pressure Valve.
  • Cook at High Pressure for 40 minutes.
  • When Beep sounds, allow a full Natural Pressure Release.
  • Carefully remove jars to a cooling rack. Remove rings and after 15 minutes, remove lid and stir. Place lid back on and leave undisturbed, until cool. Transfer to the refrigerator.

Slow Cooker

  • Place jars in Slow Cooker and fill with water to at least one inch above the jars.
  • Cook on LOW for 9-11 hours, checking at 9 hours to see if the color is to your preference.
  • Carefully remove the jars from the Slow Cooker to a cooling rack. Remove the rings. Leave undisturbed, until cool. Transfer to the refrigerator.

Notes

With this Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe, you can decide the level of depth and darkness that you want your Dulce de Leche. I like mine dark, so I cook for 11 hours. Some people prefer a lighter Ducle de Leche and cook for 9 hours. Check your Jars after 9 hours to see if your Dulce de Leche is the color you like. If you want a darker color, put them back into the Slow Cooker. For the smaller Ball 4 oz Mason Jars, 9 hours is pretty good.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 106 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 11mg4%
Sodium 42mg2%
Potassium 122mg3%
Carbohydrates 18g6%
Sugar 18g20%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 88IU2%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 94mg9%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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© ThisOldGal.com - Sharing the recipe link to any of my recipes posts are both encouraged and appreciated. Unauthorized and improperly attributed or non-attributed use of this material, including screen shots, copy/paste of full recipes to any social media site, website, mobile application or service (e.g., copymethat, recipe keeper, pepper) or cookbook, without the requisite attribution or otherwise with express written permission from Jill Selkowitz is strictly prohibited. You may share a photo with a link back instead.

PIN this Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe {Pressure or Slow Cooker}!

Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe (Pressure & Slow Cooker Method)

Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe (Pressure & Slow Cooker Method)

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November 10, 2016

About Jill Selkowitz

Hi, I'm Jill. I'm a mom to Tonkinese cats and enjoy sharing restaurant quality meals, easily made at home. With my easy step by step photos and directions, new cooks will be able to follow along and cook like rock stars.

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Hi, I'm Jill, cooking enthusiast. Here you'll find top chef quality recipes with step by step photos and directions. More About Me

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