Sous Vide Dulce de Leche Recipe (2024)

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Written by Jason Logsdon

Caramel is Pam McKinstry's (of SVKitchen.com) favorite thing, especially combined with chocolate, but she likes it unadulterated, too, in all of its many forms.

Dulce de leche, Spanish for “sweet milk,” is on her list of must-have condiments. Pam always has a jar or two in her over-crowded fridge because it’s very versatile and great for last-minute desserts. Sometimes she'll treat herself with a spoonful right from the jar if there's nothing else on hand to satisfy a sudden caramel craving.

Gourmet specialty shops generally stock dulce de leche (it's fairly trendy these days), but it tends to be expensive. Ethnic markets also sell canned dulce de leche, but Pam finds this product exceptionally flat tasting, lacking the depth of flavor and intensity of high-end products.

Pam's long made her own version, having learned the trick while working in safari camp kitchens in Zambia. They used the dulce de leche to create a concoction called Banoffee Pie, which alternates caramel with layers of Marie biscuits, sliced bananas, and whipped cream.

But first, here’s how to make your own dulce de leche.

Pam says that making your own dulce de leche will not only save you money, but your sauce will be superior in taste and quality. And it’s so very simple! The slow, even heat of the sous vide machine is perfect for caramelizing the milk, and eliminates the possibility of scorching. The milk slowly transforms into a thick and luscious dessert sauce.

She's specified making the dulce de leche in glass jars (canning jars are perfect), but some people might make it in the original condensed milk packaging (remove the labels first). Beware, however: tin cans are coated with a protective liner that contains bisphenol A (BPA). Although the EPA reports that human exposure to BPA from can coatings is minimal and poses no known health risk, some consumers find it a concern. Also, some condensed milk brands warn not to heat the cans, so why take a chance?

The sous vide technique works perfectly well with either form, but it takes a few hours longer to caramelize in glass, because glass is a better insulator than metal.

Dulce de leche makes a perfect hostess or holiday gift, so think about filling your machine with 6 or more jars when you make this recipe. For a quick dessert, mix dulce de leche with crème fraîche and use it as a dip for strawberries.

Quick Dulce de Leche Tip

Mix one part dulce de leche to two parts crème fraîche or sour cream, whip with a fork until well blended, then use as a fruit topping.

Modernist Tools, Ingredients, and Techniques Used

If you would like more information about the modernist techniques, ingredients, and equipment used in the Sous Vide Dulce de Leche you can check out the following.

  • Sous Vide Equipment
  • Beginners Guide to Sous Vide

Sous Vide Dulce de Leche

  • Published: April 1, 2012
  • By Pam McKinstry
  • Prep Time: 5 Minutes
  • Total Time: 13 to 15 Hours
  • Cooks: 185°F (85°C) for 13 to 15 Hours
  • Yields: 1.3 cups per can

Ingredients for Sous Vide Dulce de Leche

  • For the Sous Vide Dulce de Leche

  • 3 14-ounce cans sweetened condensed milk. You can cook more if you wish.

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Cooking Instructions for Sous Vide Dulce de Leche

For the Sous Vide Dulce de Leche

At least 13 to 15 hours before serving

Preheat the water bath to 185°F (85°C).

If desired, open the cans and transfer the condensed milk to sterilized 1/2-pint glass jars, leaving a 1/4 inch head space, and seal with tight-fitting lids. Alternately, remove the labels from the cans and leave them sealed.

Place the jars or cans in the water bath (Pam adds them while the machine is still preheating). Once the water reaches 185°F (85°C), cook the cans for 13 hours, or until you hear no liquid sloshing when the can is shaken. Cook the glass jars for 15 hours, or until the dulce de leche is thick and golden brown. (If the jar is only partially filled, the caramel will be cooked in less time. The jar will also float in the water bath, but that is not a problem.)

Remove the jars or cans from the machine and let them cool for about 20 minutes, then refrigerate the sauce. The dulce de leche will keep, chilled, for up to 3 months.

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Sous Vide Dulce de Leche Recipe (1)

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All tags for this article:Dessert, Milk, Recipe, Sous Vide, Sous Vide Dessert , Sous Vide Dulce de Leche, Sous Vide Milk, Sous Vide Recipes, Sweet , Sweet Sous Vide Feature

Sous Vide Dulce de Leche Recipe (2)This article is by me, Jason Logsdon. I'm an adventurous home cook and professional blogger who loves to try new things, especially when it comes to cooking. I've explored everything from sous vide and whipping siphons to pressure cookers and blow torches; created foams, gels and spheres; made barrel aged co*cktails and brewed beer. I have also written 10 cookbooks on modernist cooking and sous vide and I run the AmazingFoodMadeEasy.com website.

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Sous Vide Dulce de Leche Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you overcook dulce de leche? ›

Overcooking Dulce de Leche will make it too thick and maybe even taste burnt. To avoid overcooking, do a cold plate test. You simply dab a small amount of the caramel on a cold plate and turn it sideways. See how far the caramel runs.

How do you make dulce de leche more liquid? ›

Dulce de leche is too thick: If it's too thick while warm, this also happens when the sauce is overcooked and too much liquid has evaporated. Pulse in the food processor/blender with a tiny bit of cream or milk (start with 1/2 teaspoon; a little goes a long way) until it reaches your desired consistency.

Why is my dulce de leche not thickening? ›

Thickness: in order to obtain a really thick dulce de leche, you have to bake it for a really long time. However, the longer you bake it, the more scorched it gets. Frosting use: if the dulce de leche is too lumpy it won't work well for frosting.

What is the difference between dulce de leche and caramel? ›

Caramel and dulce de leche might look and taste somewhat similar, but they are actually pretty different. While caramel is made from slowly simmering water and sugar until it caramelizes, dulce de leche is made from simmering milk and sugar super slowly until it turns into a creamy, caramelized substance.

How do you fix hardened dulce de leche? ›

The dulce de leche is too thick or hard.

Try reducing the heat to low and boiling the can for no more than 3 hours. If the dulce de leche is still too thick, you can try adding a small amount of milk or cream and heating it gently until it reaches the desired consistency.

How do you fix lumpy dulce de leche? ›

Help, my dulce de leche is lumpy!

It's not uncommon for it to seem lumpy at first, but as you whisk the lumps should disappear and it should be smooth. If you've whisked for 15 seconds and things are still lumpy, you might have burnt your dulce de leche, unfortunately (did the water level get too low?).

Why is my dulce de leche runny? ›

The longer you cook, the thicker and darker the dulce de leche will be. For a light and runny dulce de leche, cook for 2.5 hours, for a dulce de leche that is easy to pipe and holds its shape, cook for 3.5 to 4 hours.

What does baking soda do to dulce de leche? ›

You can make dulce de leche by cooking down milk and sugar in the stove top, with the addition of baking soda to help the reactions that occur in order to form a thick and rich dulce de leche. The results: A dark sauce, slightly gritty, thick but not pipeable.

How do you fix caramel that didn't set? ›

If caramels are too soft, that means the temperature didn't get high enough. Again place the caramel back into a sauce pan with a couple of tablespoons of water and heat to 244°F. If you don't have a candy thermometer, you can test with a cold water test.

What is the consistency of dulce de leche? ›

Dulce de leche—Spanish for “sweet [made] of milk”—is a caramel-like sauce popular in Latin American desserts. It has a smooth, spreadable consistency and toffee-like flavor.

What to do if caramel isn t thickening? ›

For each cup (240 mL) of caramel sauce that you need to thicken, run 1 tbsp (14.7 mL) of cold water into a measuring cup, and slowly stir in 1 tbsp of cornstarch. Pour the cornstarch mixture into your pot caramel sauce, and stir constantly. Keep the sauce on low heat until it begins to thicken.

How long can I keep dulce de leche in can? ›

Your dulce de leche will last about two weeks in the fridge if kept in a sealed container or three months if left in the unopened can. If you're employing the boiling method it's better to use the cans that do not have tab openers although I have not had an issue with them personally.

Can you overcook caramel? ›

Overheating the mixture. Be very careful as you heat your caramel. Follow the recipe carefully, and never melt your caramel on your stove's highest setting—it will cause the caramel to scorch and taste burnt. Once it gets a burnt or bitter flavor, it can't be saved.

Is dulce de leche supposed to be runny? ›

The longer you cook, the thicker and darker the dulce de leche will be. For a light and runny dulce de leche, cook for 2.5 hours, for a dulce de leche that is easy to pipe and holds its shape, cook for 3.5 to 4 hours.

Does dulce de leche firm up? ›

It will firm up as it cools. The dulce de leche can be stored in a jar in the fridge and will keep for up to a month. If not storing in a jar ensure it's covered so a skin doesn't form.

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