• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Food Blogging Resources
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Pip and Ebby

Recipe Index
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Dessert » Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe

    Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe

    Published: Dec 20, 2017 · Modified: May 8, 2021 by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Dulce de Leche sweetened condensed milk recipe is made using only ONE ingredient. This delicious sweet sauce pairs well with baked goods!

    mason jar filled with dulce de leche with a drizzle down side

    Original post: December 2017 | Updated: May 2021

    Why This Recipe Works

    When you think of Homemade Dulce de Leche, do you envision yourself sweating over a hot stove, fumbling with a candy thermometer and feeling hot, bubbling caramel splatter on your arms?

    Because it is the opposite of that. Homemade Dulce de Leche requires one ingredient: a single can of sweetened condensed milk!

    ONE ingredient and very limited effort is required to create this irresistible caramel sauce. Crazy, right?! There are so many delicious things to do with Dulce de Leche!

    Recipe Ingredients

    Sweetened condensed milk – That’s it! One ingredient that is probably already sitting in your pantry. You can’t mess that up, right?

    How To Make Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe

    Step 1

    Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Pour sweetened condensed milk into a round baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and set inside a 9×13 baking dish. Pour water into the outer pan (should reach 1 to 2 inches from bottom of pan).

    2 photos: left is a bowl with sweetened condensed milk inside, right is creamy dulce de leche being whisked

    Step 2

    Place into the preheated oven and bake for 90 minutes, or until the milk has turned into a deep caramel color. Remove from the oven and whisk until creamy. Let cool and store in sealed containers in the fridge.

    FAQ About Dulce de Leche

    Can dulce de leche be frozen?

    It must be placed in an airtight container (not glass) and can be frozen for up to three months. When you are ready to use the sauce, allow it to thaw completely in the fridge before using. Pour it into a skillet and heat, stirring, until smooth.

    What does dulce de leche mean?

    A direct translation of the Spanish phrase “dulce de leche” is sweet from milk. It refers to heating sweetened milk until it caramelizes.

    Is dulce de leche caramel?

    Dulce de leche closely resembles caramel. The difference is that dulce de leche is made using sweetened condensed milk (milk + sugar) and caramel is made using sugar and water.

    What to do with dulce de leche?

    Dulce de leche can be used as a filling or topping for baked goods such as cupcakes or sandwich cookies. It can also be used as an ice cream topping, as a topping for donuts or a crepe filling.

    spoon pulling dulce de leche out of a mason jar

    What To Do With Dulce De Leche

    • Drizzle it over an Oreo Caramel Frozen Yogurt Cake.
    • Add it to a few scoops of ice cream.
    • Sandwich it between Chocolate Cookies.
    • Pour it into a mason jar and gift it so a loved one!

    Other Sweet Sauces

    • Just 4 ingredients needed to make your own Salted Caramel Sauce. Top or fill your next batch of baked goods with this delicious, irresistible sauce. You will need to resist the temptation to eat it by the spoonful!
    • Easy Blueberry Sauce is super easy to make and goes great on pancakes, waffles or works great as a pie filling!
    • Apple Butter is worth the wait! After you enjoy picking your favorite assortment of sweet and tart apples, you can add just a few spices to the rest of the ingredients and let it simmer.
    • Crockpot Applesauce – Homemade applesauce is fun to make and tastier than the store stuff! Let your slow cooker do the work so kids and adults alike can have a healthy snack!

    Will you help add value to Pip and Ebby?
    If you make this recipe and love it, stop back and give it a 5-star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a comment. THANK YOU!

    Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe

    Dulce de Leche sweetened condensed milk recipe is made using only ONE ingredient. This delicious sweet sauce pairs well with baked goods!
    No ratings yet
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert, Sauce
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 106kcal
    Author: Megan Porta

    Ingredients

    • 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
    • 2 cups water

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Pour sweetened condensed milk into a round baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and set inside a 9×13 baking dish. Pour water into the outer pan (should reach 1 to 2 inches from bottom of pan).
    • Place into the preheated oven and bake for 90 minutes, or until the milk has turned into a deep caramel color. Remove from the oven and whisk until creamy. Let cool and store in sealed containers in the fridge.

    Notes

    Homemade Dulce de Leche must be placed in an airtight container (not glass) and can be frozen for up to three months. When you are ready to use the sauce, allow it to thaw completely in the fridge before using. Pour it into a skillet and heat, stirring, until smooth.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 106kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 44mg | Potassium: 123mg | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 88IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!
    « Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
    Dulce de Leche Chocolate Sandwich Cookies »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jennifer

      November 23, 2017 at 12:37 am

      There’s even a easier way to make it, put the can of milk in a pan of water be sure to keep the can covered with water at all times, then boil for 1 to 1 1/5 hours. Let the can cool before opening.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        November 23, 2017 at 4:07 pm

        Ooo, I am going to try this! Thanks for the tip, Jennifer!
        Megan

        Reply
    2. Val

      October 18, 2014 at 12:22 am

      NOT EVEN CLOSE…. To the real Argentinian Dulce de Leche…. Or the Mexican Cajeta, for that matter. That's just caramel sauce….

      Reply
    3. Del

      December 14, 2012 at 3:19 am

      Hello! I just wanted to tell you that I'm argentinean, wich means I'm from the land of dulce de leche! (Yes, lucky one here)
      This recipe is quite good, and I have tried it many times,and although it's not quite like real dulce de leche, the taste is nonetheless amazing.

      Reply
    4. Megan

      November 13, 2012 at 5:12 am

      You can also make it by boiling the can of condensed milk for 3 hours in a pot of boiling water. Works really well!

      Reply
    5. Megan Porta

      March 28, 2012 at 12:44 am

      Hi Helen! I wanted to give people the option of not having to purchase it. It is so easy to make…so, why buy?! 🙂
      Megan

      Reply
    6. Helen

      March 28, 2012 at 12:18 am

      You can buy this in the can aleady made in the Mexican food isle.

      Reply
    7. Dani

      May 21, 2011 at 1:27 am

      This is a great way to use oven space while making something else with a neutral smell in there. It saves on having to make it on the stove top for over an hour. Thank you for the tip.

      Reply
    8. Pip

      April 24, 2011 at 1:36 am

      I would say it would keep for 2 weeks, tightly sealed in the fridge. Glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
    9. a person

      April 24, 2011 at 1:29 am

      I made this today, and it's absolutely amazing, better than caramel!! But would you happen to know how long it keeps if i put it in a jar and stick it in the fridge?

      Reply
    10. Dee

      April 23, 2011 at 4:23 pm

      That looks delicious! Definitely something I need to do soon, I love dulce de leche 😀

      Reply
    11. Parsley Sage

      April 21, 2011 at 3:15 am

      ohmigosh, you've just made my week.

      Reply
    12. Blog is the New Black

      April 20, 2011 at 4:57 pm

      Yum! Looks delicious!

      Reply
    13. S from work

      April 20, 2011 at 4:54 pm

      Girl I wish I never would have read that. Oh my – i will be putting that on EVERYTHING!
      LOVE IT – Thanks tons!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    I'm Megan and I am so happy you are here! Whether you are looking for a healthy salad, easy dinner or indulgent dessert, I've got you covered! Let's dig deeper →

    Dominate Your Instant Pot!

    Food Blogging Resources

    Yummy Desserts

    Simple Icing Glaze

    Brownies With Mint Frosting Recipe

    Valentine Snack Mix Recipe

    Banana Blondies Recipe

    Instant Pot Cinnamon Applesauce Recipe

    3 Ingredient Oreo Balls – No Bake Recipe

    Comforting Soups

    Easy Loaded Baked Potato Soup

    Easy 5 Ingredient Chili Recipe

    Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup With Rotisserie Chicken Recipe

    Easy Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe (aka Pantry Soup)

    Ham Bone Vegetable Soup (Slow Cooker) Recipe

    Garlic Roasted Tomato Soup Recipe

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    As Featured In

    • Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2025 Pip and Ebby on the Foodie Pro Theme

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required