We have how to make caramel with condensed milk for you here. From making it in a slow cooker or an easy 1 ingredient Dulce de Leche Instant Pot style it is a delicious sauce or caramel you can enjoy as is or baked into a pie.

One Ingredient Caramel
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Making Crockpot caramel is way easier than you might think. I mean what doesnโ€™t this go good on? I havenโ€™t found anything sweet that it doesnโ€™t make even more fabulously delicious. Just make as a Crockpot recipe, drizzle on the top of pie, cake or ice cream takes your bites to a whole new level. (post may contain affiliate links present)

Slow Cooker Dulce de Leche Recipe

We shared above how to make this in a fraction of the time, but if you do have the time low and slow is key to everything being more yummy.

You literally only need 1 ingredient to make homemade caramel sauce at home. The longer it cooks the darker, richer and thicker it will get. Less time will yield a lighter milder outcome.

Either way it is a fun experiment to do with your kids and they will love it when the top is opened up and they get a taste. Do this. Teach them how to make ice cream at home with bags and then move on to this one. Enjoy together after dinnertime and makes the weekend an interactive one.

Caramel From Sweetened Condensed Milk

You can make this โ€œregularโ€ or dairy free dulce de leche too!! This comes in handy when I am making some that my husband can enjoy as he is lactose intolerant. Luckily there is a coconut milk version you can buy here online that really doesnโ€™t taste much different.

Ingredients

  • 2 cans sweetened condensed milk, could fit more depending on the size of your pot
  • Water is all you need beyond that

Equipment Needed

A slow cooker is the method of choice this go around and a piece of parchment paper is helpful as well as tongs to lift them out.

NO need to open the cans you just throw them right in there for the whole day basically to transform. Like I explain below, the longer it is in the heat the darker, thicker and richer flavor youโ€™ll experience.

Both outcomes are quite delicious really, just depends on your tastebuds and what youโ€™re making with it. Once done you can change up the flavors just a bit with just a touch of extract. Think vanilla or even coconut is amazing.

Slow Cooker Dulce de Leche

One Ingredient Caramel From Sweetened Condensed Milk

Below are instructions for the thickened leche in slow cooker, and above for the pressure cooker. Here I will explain how to use a pot on the stovetop with boiling water to do the same thing.

That should cover all our basis so you can try all 3 methods. Then serve on your Banana Upside Down Cake or ice cream. Compared to store bought especially over a bowl of vanilla ice cream you can feel and taste the richness.

Can You Make Dulce de Leche on the Stove?

  • Pour contents into a saucepan.
  • Place the saucepan over medium low heat.
  • Stir continuously
  • This takes 1 to 2 hours of gentle simmering to transform into thick rich caramelized. The longer you simmer it, the thicker and darker brown it will become.

In Can Method (Dangerous โ€“ Not Recommended)

  • Place the unopened can in a large pot with a trivet at the bottom. Fill the pot with enough water to completely submerge it.
    • This will prevent the can from touching the potโ€™s base directly.
  • Ensure that the can is completely submerged in water throughout the cooking process.
  • Place the pot on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
  • Allow the can to simmer gently for 2 to 2.5 hours or until dark brown.

    Itโ€™s important to maintain a gentle simmer, not a rolling boil, to prevent the can from exploding (why it is dangerous and not recommended). Keep an eye on the water level and add more hot water as needed to keep submerged. DO NOT open until cooled to room temperature no matter which method you choose or you risk it exploding.

    How to Make Caramel with Condensed Milk

    How to Make Crockpot Caramel

    • To prepare the caramel: Remove the labels from the sweetened condensed milk cans and wash the cans. Place a sheet of parchment paper in your slow cooker to avoid rust rings.
    • Position the cans on the parchment paper and fill the slow cooker with water until the cans are covered by about two inches of water.
    • Set the slow cooker to the low heat setting and cook for eight hours.
    • After the cooking time, turn off the slow cooker and let the cans sit inside for four hours.
    • Once the cans are cool enough to handle without burning yourself, open the cans. 
    • Opening the cans before cooling could cause the caramel to splatter.
    • Proceed with caution as the contents are pressurized.
    • Spoon into a bowl, stir and enjoy as an ice cream topping or on top of caramel apple bread pudding.

    Will dulce de leche thicken as it cools?

    Yes this Crock pot dulce de leche recipe or other methods will, definitely if you store leftovers in the fridge inside mason jars it will. To thin do so with warm milk into a medium saucepan adding slowly and stirring until you get it right to drizzle over Pumpkin Pecan Pie.

    What happens if you overcook dulce de leche?
    Why is my dulce de leche gritty?
    How long does it take to boil a tin of condensed milk?
    How to make dulce de leche runny?
    Can you eat dulce de leche by itself?
    Crockpot Caramel
    A pot of creamy caramel with a spatula, showing a smooth, rich textureโ€”a delightful result when you know how to make caramel with condensed milk.
    5 from 2 votes

    How to Make Caramel with Condensed Milk

    By The Typical Mom
    This is how to make caramel with condensed milk sweetened in a slow cooker, pressure cooker or on the stove. Homemade thick caramel sauce.
    Prep: 10 minutes
    Cook: 8 hours
    Servings:
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    Equipment

    • 1 slow cooker

    Ingredients 

    • 2 cans sweetened condensed milk
    • water
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions 

    • **** DO NOT open until cooled to room temperature no matter which method you choose or you risk it exploding.
    • Slow Cooker Dulce de Leche โ€“ To prepare the caramel: Remove the labels from the sweetened condensed milk cans and wash the cans. Place a sheet of parchment paper in your slow cooker to avoid rust rings.
    • Position the cans on the parchment paper and fill the slow cooker with water until the cans are covered by about two inches of water. Set the slow cooker to the low heat setting and cook for eight hours.
    • After the cooking time, turn off the slow cooker and let the cans sit inside for four hours. Once the cans are cool enough to handle without burning yourself, open the cans.  Opening the cans before cooling could cause the caramel to splatter. Proceed with caution as the contents are pressurized. Spoon into a bowl and enjoy.
    • Dulce de Leche on the Stove โ€“ Pour the contents of a can of sweetened condensed milk into a saucepan. Place the saucepan over medium-low heat.Stir the condensed milk continuously to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan and burning. It can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours of gentle simmering for the condensed milk to transform into thick and caramelized dulce de leche. The longer you simmer it, the thicker and darker it will become.
    • Instant Pot Dulce de Leche โ€“ Wrap 1-2 open cans twice with foil very tightly. Place the wrapped can(s) into the electric pressure cooker resting in the middle of a trivet. Fill the electric pressure cooker with enough water to come halfway up the sides of the can. Close lid and steam valve. Pressure cook on high for 40 minutes. Quickly release the steam when done. Lift out, unwrap carefully, stir and enjoy. As it cools it will continue to thicken.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1oz, Calories: 106kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 42mg, Potassium: 122mg, Sugar: 18g, Vitamin A: 88IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 94mg, Iron: 0.1mg

    Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

    Additional Info

    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!

    About The Typical Mom

    Justine is the creative mind behind The Typical Mom and The Typical Family on YouTube. She began blogging about easy recipes, budget friendly activities for kids, and fun family travel destinations in September 2012.

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    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    3 Comments

    1. Can you leave the finished Caramel in unopened can until ready to use it ( days later) ?

      1. I would imagine it would be fine in the fridge once completely cooled, it will just be quite thick once opened. I have instructions on thinning it out in the post though for you as well.