If you would rather make it another way, we have listed how to make it in the crockpot and on the stovetop! Let me show you how to make this easy creamy caramel sauce.

Dulce de leche can be translated to sweet milk. It’s similar to caramel sauce but is much thicker and uses milk and sugar. I have been making homemade dulce de leche for years because it’s super easy, makes a great gift and is a great sweet treat.

What is Dulce de Leche?

Dulce de Leche is a way of making caramel. Typically, caramel is made by slowly cooking down granulated sugar by itself or with a splash of water. Dulce de Leche is made by slowly cooking cows milk and sugar together.

An easier way of slowly cooking cow milk and sugar is to slowly cook sweetened condensed milk. This is because sweetened condensed milk already has the sugar and cows milk mixed together. So, all you need for Dulce de Leche is a can of sweetened condensed milk and boom you have caramel!

Instant Pot Dulce de Leche Ingredients

The absolute best thing about this recipe is you literally only need 1 ingredient! What?! Here’s what you need:

• 1 (14- ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

Sweetened condensed milk – You can find sweetened condensed milk in the baking aisle. Mine is normally around the pie crusts. Grab a few cans and you can double, triple or even quadruple this recipe.

How to Make Instant Pot Dulce de Leche

This recipe only takes about 1-minute to prep and an hour and 5-minutes to cook. Here are the simple Instant Pot directions:

• Open the can of sweetened condensed milk.
• Cover the can tightly with aluminum foil
• Place in the instant pot on the trivet.

• Fill up the instant pot with water to cover the can halfway. 
• Close the instant pot and close the seal. Select “manual, high pressure” for 35 minutes. Due to the amount of water, it will take about 30 minutes to arrive to pressure. 
• Once it is done cooking, release the pressure using a hot pad or towel as steam will be hot. 

• Remove the can from the instant pot using tongs. Transfer to a cooling rack. 
• Cool and then serve! Delicious with apples, ice cream, or my favorite, by itself by the spoonful!

How to Make Dulce de Leche in a Crock Pot

Another way to make Dulce de Leche is in the crock pot. If you have an Instant Pot, you can use the crock pot setting as well. However, I have found that the crock pot feature on the Instant Pot is not quite as good as using an old fashioned crock pot. This is because the Instant Pot heats only from the bottom.

To make this in the crock pot, all you need to do is put a can of sweetened condensed milk in the crock pot full of water and cook for 6 to 8 hours. For the full recipe, please visit Delicious and Easy Homemade Caramel.

How to Make Homemade Caramel Sauce on the Stove Top

A third option to making sweet and delicious caramel is to make it on the stove top. This recipe is a little more work than the Instant Pot method or the crock pot method. Additionally, you will need a few more ingredients than with the above recipes.

To make caramel sauce on the stove top, you will need brown sugar, butter, heavy cream, vanilla, and salt. You will cook it on medium heat for about 3-minutes. With this recipe, you will need to stir it constantly. For the full recipe, please visit Caramel Sauce with Cream on the Stove Top.

How to Store Dulce de Leche

If Dulce de Leche is in an unopened can, it can be stored at room temperature for up to 3-months. However, you can refrigerate your opened container in an airtight container for up to 2-weeks.

Can You Freeze It?

Yes, you can freeze your Dulce de Leche. You will put it in a clean airtight container. Keep in mind that it will not freeze solid due to the sugar content. Dulce de Leche can keep in the freezer for up to 3-months.

When you want to use it, thaw it in the fridge overnight. If it separates, briefly whisk it or shake it vigorously. This will make the consistency smooth again.

Caramel Recipes to Make with Your Caramel Sauce

I have several recipes that use caramel. After you make your caramel sauce, you can use it with the following recipes:

• Salted Caramel Cheesecake Cups
• Salted Caramel Brownies
• Caramel Banana Wontons
• Dulce de Leche Cookies
• Salted Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream
• Salted Caramel Apple Cake
• Caramel Macchiato Blondie Bars
• Caramel Macchiato French Toast
• Salted Caramel Granola
• Caramel Fruit Dip
• White Chocolate Caramel Fudge

Instant Pot Dulce de Leche

Yield: 14 ounces dulce de leche

Prep Time: 1 minute

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Additional Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 11 minutes

How to make super thick dulce de leche, or homemade caramel sauce.

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Ingredients

• 1 (14- ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

1. Open the can of sweetened condensed milk.
1. Cover the can tightly with aluminum foil.
2. Place in the instant pot on the trivet.
3. Fill up the instant pot with water to cover the can halfway. 
4. Close the instant pot and close the seal. Select “manual, high pressure” for 35 minutes. Due to the amount of water, it will take about 30 minutes to arrive to pressure. 
5. Once it is done cooking, release the pressure using a hot pad or towel as steam will be hot. 
6. Remove the can from the instant pot using tongs. Transfer to a cooling rack. 
7. Cool and then serve! Delicious with apples, ice cream, or my favorite, by itself by the spoonful!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 123Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 49mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 0gSugar: 21gProtein: 3g

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