Creamy Dulce de Leche Delight Recipe

Heavenly Dulce de Leche Delight Recipe for Sweet Tooths

Sweet, golden, and impossibly creamy, this dulce de leche delight recipe promises a culinary journey that melts hearts instantly.

Caramel lovers will swoon over the rich, silky texture that defines this classic dessert.

The recipe captures the essence of Latin American comfort, blending simple ingredients into a luxurious treat.

Each spoonful carries notes of warmth and nostalgia, transporting you to sun-drenched kitchens.

Carefully crafted techniques bring out deep, complex flavors that dance on your palate.

With just a few steps, you can create a dessert that looks sophisticated but feels wonderfully approachable.

Get ready to impress with this irresistible sweet sensation that turns ordinary moments into delectable memories.

Presenting Dulce de Leche at the Table

  • Sweet Morning Breakfast Bliss: Drizzle warm dulce de leche over fluffy pancakes or waffles, creating a decadent breakfast treat that melts in your mouth with rich caramel sweetness.
  • Dessert Parfait Spectacular: Layer dulce de leche between crushed graham crackers, whipped cream, and fresh berries in elegant glasses for a stunning no-bake dessert that impresses guests with minimal effort.
  • Ice Cream Transformation: Swirl dulce de leche into vanilla ice cream or use as a delightful topping, adding a luxurious caramel twist that elevates a classic dessert into a gourmet experience.
  • Fruit Dipping Delight: Serve dulce de leche as a smooth, creamy dip alongside sliced apples, bananas, or strawberries for a simple yet indulgent snack that satisfies sweet cravings instantly.

Dulce de Leche Dessert Storage Tips

  • Cool Chill Strategy: Refrigerate unopened dulce de leche cans for maximum freshness up to three months, ensuring delightful caramel goodness stays intact.
  • Quick Access Storage: Transfer opened dulce de leche into airtight glass containers, which help maintain flavor and prevent absorption of other refrigerator odors for seven days.
  • Temperature Safety Tip: Always allow cans to naturally cool before handling to prevent potential burns and ensure smooth caramel texture when opening.
  • Freezing Option: For extended enjoyment, portion dulce de leche into small freezer-safe containers, where it can stay delicious for approximately two months when sealed tightly.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes

Calories: 420 kcal

Servings: 4

Ingredients for Dulce de Leche Delight

For Caramelization Base:
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk: Creamy liquid gold that transforms into a rich, golden caramel through slow, gentle heating, ensuring a luscious and smooth dulce de leche texture.
For Cooking Liquid:
  • Water: Essential for creating a water bath that provides gentle, even heat distribution, preventing direct scorching and helping the milk caramelize safely and consistently.
Notes for Selecting Ingredients:
  • Always choose high-quality, unopened sweetened condensed milk cans with intact seals to guarantee food safety and optimal caramelization results.
  • Use filtered or bottled water to avoid any potential mineral interference with the caramelization process.
Pro Tips:
  • Select cans with consistent manufacturing dates for uniform cooking results.
  • Check water levels during cooking to maintain proper submersion of milk cans.
  • Refrigerated dulce de leche can be stored for up to three weeks in an airtight container.

Kitchen Tools for Dulce de Leche Dessert

  • Large pot: Spacious enough to fully submerge cans with 2 inches of water coverage.
  • Can opener: For removing can labels smoothly.
  • Pot lid: Optional but helpful to reduce water evaporation during cooking process.
  • Tongs: Safe tool for handling hot cans when removing from water.
  • Measuring cup: To accurately add water above can level.
  • Kitchen towel: Useful for handling hot cans carefully.

Easy Steps for Dulce de Leche Dessert

Dulce de Leche Adventure

  • Can Preparation Gently remove labels and clean off any sticky residue from the exterior of unopened condensed milk cans.
  • Water Bath Position cans horizontally in a deep pot, ensuring they are completely covered by several inches of water, creating a cozy swimming environment for your future caramel treat.
  • Slow Cooking Bring water to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, maintaining a peaceful bubble for about three to four hours. Keep a watchful eye, topping up water as needed to prevent cans from peeking above the surface.
  • Cooling Patience Turn off heat and allow cans to rest in water until completely cooled, which might take several hours. This gradual cooling process helps prevent potential pressure buildup.
  • Storage Magic Once cooled, transfer cans to the refrigerator. Unopened cans will happily wait for your sweet moment for several weeks. After opening, enjoy your creamy caramel within a week, storing it in a sealed container.

Flavor Adjustments for Dulce de Leche

  • Cooking Tips & Variations
  • Caramel Consistency Control: Simmer longer for a darker, thicker dulce de leche or reduce cooking time for a lighter, softer texture. Keep an eye on water levels to prevent can exposure.
  • Safety First Technique: Always use tongs when handling hot cans and wear protective oven mitts to avoid potential steam burns during the cooking process.
  • Flavor Boost Hack: Sprinkle sea salt, add vanilla extract, or mix in ground cinnamon before sealing the cans for a gourmet twist on classic dulce de leche.
  • Storage Genius: Transfer opened dulce de leche to an airtight glass container for easier refrigeration and to maintain its rich, creamy consistency for maximum freshness.
  • Versatile Dessert Base: Use as a spread on toast, drizzle over ice cream, fill pastries, or blend into milkshakes for endless delicious possibilities.
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Creamy Dulce de Leche Delight Recipe

Creamy Dulce de Leche Delight Recipe


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4.6 from 29 reviews

  • Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Creamy dulce de leche delight combines Argentine caramel magic with silky smooth textures and rich flavor profiles. Sweet indulgence awaits travelers and dessert enthusiasts seeking authentic Latin American culinary pleasures.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cans (397 g / 14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
  • Water (enough to cover cans)

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Remove labels from condensed milk cans, ensuring no adhesive residue remains on the exterior surface.
  2. Setup: Choose a deep pot capable of fully submerging unopened cans with two inches of water coverage above them.
  3. Positioning: Carefully place cans in the pot, fill with cool water, and set on stovetop at medium-high heat until water reaches a rolling boil.
  4. Simmering: Reduce heat to lowest setting, creating a gentle simmer that will transform condensed milk into rich caramel; cover pot with lid to minimize water evaporation.
  5. Monitoring: Allow cans to simmer for three and a half hours, periodically checking water levels and replenishing with hot water to maintain full submersion.
  6. Cooling: Remove pot from heat source and let cans cool naturally to room temperature without disturbing them, which may take several hours.
  7. Handling: Use extreme caution when approaching cooled cans, as opening while hot can cause dangerous sputtering; once completely cooled, refrigerate for storage.
  8. Storage: Unopened cans can be preserved for up to three months, while opened dulce de leche maintains quality for approximately one week when refrigerated.

Notes

  • Prevent Can Explosion: Always ensure cans are fully submerged in water to avoid potential bursting during caramelization process.
  • Monitor Water Levels: Consistently check and replenish water with hot water to maintain complete can coverage during simmering.
  • Safety First: Never open hot cans immediately after cooking, as intense pressure buildup can cause dangerous splattering and potential burns.
  • Storage Tip: Refrigerate unopened cans for up to three months, and consume opened dulce de leche within one week for optimal flavor and quality.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Simmering
  • Cuisine: Latin American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 420
  • Sugar: 60 g
  • Sodium: 120 mg
  • Fat: 12 g
  • Saturated Fat: 7 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 72 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 8 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Emily Roberts

Emily Roberts

Content Creator & Kitchen Tips Specialist

Expertise

Dietary Planning​, Public Health Nutrition, Nutritional Education​, Content Development​

Education

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • Degree: Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences
  • Focus: Research on dietary patterns and their impact on chronic diseases.​

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

  • Credential: Expertise in translating nutrition science into practical advice. ​

Emily Roberts is our content specialist and registered dietitian at HealthyChoices.org. With her Master’s degree in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Illinois and her Registered Dietitian Nutritionist certification, Emily uses her deep nutrition knowledge to write helpful, easy-to-understand guides about healthy eating. 

Her warm, practical advice empowers readers to confidently make healthier choices, turning everyday meals into simple moments of wellness and joy.

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