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One spoon inside jar of dulce de leche with more jars in background
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4.80 from 5 votes

Dulce de Leche Recipe

Make homemade dulce de leche in the slow cooker! Crockpot dulce de leche is so easy to make with just ONE ingredient - it's a rich caramel that goes in so many recipes.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 hours
Total Time10 hours 5 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24 servings
Calories: 130kcal
Author: Dorothy Kern
Cost: $5

Ingredients

  • 2 14 ounces cans sweetened condensed milk
  • 3 8-ounce jars with rings and lids or 4-6 ounce jars
  • Water
  • Slow Cooker

Instructions

  • Divide the sweetened condensed milk among the 3 or 4 jars. (Make sure the jars you choose will fit in your crockpot with 1-2 inches of water covering them.) Seal the jars with clean rings and lids. Place in your slow cooker, making sure they do not touch.
  • Fill the crockpot with water to cover 1-2 inches above the tops of the jars. Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 10 hours.
  • When they’re finished cooking, remove the jars carefully with tongs (they and the water will be HOT!) and place them on your kitchen counter to cool to room temperature. Once cool, refrigerate until using. Will keep for up to 4 weeks in the refrigerator.
  • Some of the rings may get little rust spots from being in the water all day. Just wipe the rust off with a kitchen towel.

Notes

  • Use jars with fresh rings and tight-fitting lids. You don’t want any water getting into the milk.
  • You can overcook dulce de leche – even in the slow cooker! So, remember to set the timer for 10 hours and remove the jars once it goes off. The caramel should be thick and a deep golden color when it’s done.
  • Be very careful when you remove the jars – the jars of dulce de leche in the crockpot will be very hot! Use tongs to lift them out.
  • You may notice some rust on the rings when you take the jars out. This is normal and happens when they are in contact with water all day. Use a dishtowel to wipe off the rust, and it’s all good.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g