Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe {Pressure or Slow Cooker}

This rich and delicious Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe can be made in the Pressure Cooker or the Slow Cooker with little effort.

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

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 method and the Slow Cooker method. Those of you with Multi Cookers, such as the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker and the GoWise USA Pressure Cooker, can do both methods in your Muli Cookers.

Never, and I mean, never, make Dulce de Leche right in the cans themselves. There is just too much leeching of aluminum for my comfort.

All you need for this Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe, are a couple cans of Sweetened Condensed Milk and a few Half-Pint Wide Mouth Canning Jars. Some people like to use larger jars, but I like to use these smaller, Wide Mouth Jars, so that I can freeze them and take out a small jar, every once in a while. Plus, I love to use them as gifts. I have some cute Dulce de Leche Gift Labels, which you will see below, that you can print up, if you like.

Simple Dulce de Leche 4 oz Party Favors

Marla Lackey who follows my This Old Gal Facebook Facebook Page says the small Ball 4 oz Mason Jars make great Party Favors and Hostess Gifts! The cooking time for the smaller jars, remains the same. It is to your personal preference.

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.

This Nature’s Charm Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk is pretty darn tasty too. It is a great option for Vegans. Oh my, is that good!

While it is quicker to make in the Pressure Cooker, when I want to do a lot at once, I will pull out my Slow Cooker, as I can get six jars in at once and go to bed.

Pour Sweetened Condensed Milk into Mason Jars

The preparation is simple and quick. Open up two cans of Sweetened Condensed Milk and divide them amongst three Half Pint Mason Jars.

Pour Sweetened Condensed Milk into Mason Jars

Three Mason Jars are perfect for this Simple Dulce de Leche recipe. I’m already plotting who will get some of this lusciousness!

Screw on the Bands

Screw on the Bands and tighten. Not overly tight, just give a twist.

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 Pots and other Multi-Function Pressure Cookers.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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).

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

• Instant Pot Smart DUO60
• KitchenAid 6-Qt. Slow Cooker
• Kerr Half Pint (8 oz) Mason Jars
• Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
• Gift/Treat Bags
• Stainless Steel Trivet

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Here is the handy printable recipe:

Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe

Simple Dulce de Leche Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert, Sauce

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 6 minutes

Servings: 24 ounces

Author: Jill Selkowitz

Ingredients

• 2 cans Sweetened Condensed Milk (14 oz each)
• 3 half-pint Wide Mouth Canning 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.

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