Dulce de leche recipe: Dulce de leche is a type of confection made by slowly heating sweetened milk, cream, or condensed milk until it caramelizes. The slow cooking of sweetened condensed milk makes it dark and rich. In Spanish, this delicacy is called “dulce de leche,” which literally means “candy of milk.”
But did you know that you can make dulce de leche in a multicooker? Now you do.
Dulce De Leche vs. Caramel
Dulce de Leche is made by cooking a can of sweetened condensed milk over low heat for several hours until it thickens and becomes brown in color. The result is a creamy caramelized substance that looks similar to cookie dough.
On the other hand, caramel sauce is made by melting sugar over low heat until it liquefies, then boiling it until the water evaporates and the sugar turns brown.
Dulce De Leche Recipe
Ingredient
Methods
There are two methods for making dulce de leche in a pressure cooker.
- Sealed Aluminum Can
For the first method, you will have to keep the lid of the sealed aluminum can intact and put it in the multicooker. Although this sounds scary as the aluminum can might burst due to extreme pressure and heat inside the cooker, it is safe.
The benefit of this method is that all the moisture that will build up in the pressure cooker won’t affect our dulce de leche. However, if you don’t think this method isn’t safe, you can try another one. All you have to do is remove the lid of the can and replace it with foil. This way, you will be 100% sure that the can will not explode.
That said, some moisture will be absorbed by dulce de leche, and a layer of water will come up on the top, which might ruin your experience.
- Sealed Glass Jar
Here is another way of making the dulce de leche recipe. It is safe and helps you make dulce de leche much more efficiently. I often use a glass jar to make dulce de leche. The glass allows me to check on the dulce de leche without waiting for it to cool completely.
I prefer this method because it’s visually appealing, and would recommend it to anyone wanting to try it.
Instructions
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk into a glass jar with a sealed lid. Place a trivet in the bottom of the pressure cooker and place the jar on top of the trivet.
- Add water to your Instant Pot until it reaches an inch below the jar’s lid—above where the condensed milk is, but below the lid.
- After closing the lid of the Instant Pot, press Manual, High Heat, and set the timer for 35 minutes. It will take a little while to heat up because there is a lot of liquid in it.
- Once the water has come to a boil, remove the pot from the heat and set it aside. When the jar is cool enough to touch, use tongs to remove it from the water or wait until it cools completely.
- After the dulce de leche has cooked for the required amount of time, move the jar to a wire rack. It will be bubbling for a bit as the caramel continues to cook. Do not open the jar yet! Let it cool so pressure can subside before opening.
How Much Water to Add?
You don’t need to cover the jar or can with water for both methods I chose. If you choose the “can method,” you would cover it completely with water—which is not what I did.
1. Jar Method
Fill the jar halfway between the surface of the sweetened condensed milk and the lid. The water should be less than 1 1/2 inches below the lid’s seal.
2. Can/Foil Method
To make the can/foil method work, you’ll need to fill the water up so that it just covers the bottom half of the can.
FAQs
What is the Cooking Time for Dulce De Leche Recipe?
I prefer to cook the can/jar of dulce de leche for 35 minutes. The optimal cooking time for is nearly 35-40 minutes, depending on how dark or light you prefer it.
When to take off the Lid from the jar?
When using the glass jar method, you can see what is happening in the jar. Let it cool in the pressure cooker for a few minutes, and then carefully open it. If it isn’t bubbling or if the jar feels warm to the touch, it’s probably ready to be taken out.
How Can we Use Dulce De Leche?
You can use your freshly homemade dulce de leche as a:
- Swirl into brownie batter before baking
- Spread on Toast
- Coffee sweetener
- Fruit Dip
- Ice Cream Topper
- Filling for cookies or cakes
Conclusion
Just as dulce de leche is not for everyone, having to make it in a multicooker may or may not be for you. But if you enjoy the process, then this is absolutely the quickest way to make it, and that too at a fraction of the cost many stores charge for it.
So if you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty with a little caramel, do yourself a favor and try out this recipe with your multicooker.
