Forget the canned stuff, homemade dulce de leche is super easy to make – All you need is just 2 basic ingredients and one pot!
Homemade dulce de leche (which literally means milk jam) is one of the most popular desserts in Latin America, and for all the good reasons.
Made with really simple inexpensive ingredients, this luscious sauce has a nutty brown colour and deep caramelised toffee flavour that will totally win you over.
Just as caramel sauce, dulce de leche can be drizzled over pretty much anything you like.
Think brownies, ice cream, cookies, muffins, cheesecakes, cakes, pie (hello banoffee pie!), and almost any other dessert you can think of.
Other mouth-watering ways to totally rock your homemade dulce de leche include stirring it into a luxurious Italian hot chocolate, or using it as a dip for apple slices, for a health-ish treat.
But you know, the best way to eat it is with a spoon directly from the jar *careful when trying this at home, it's totally addictive*!
Differences between Dulce de Leche and Caramel Sauce
You may think caramel sauce and dulce the leche are the same things but in fact, they're not.
Although they share a similar process of caramelisation, they have different ingredients and timings.
Dulce the leche is mainly made with cows’ milk (or goats’ milk for a Mexican version) and sugar.
The two ingredients are slowly cooked until the mixture turns first into condensed milk, then into a thick nutty-coloured spreadable mixture.
The classic recipe for caramel sauce, on the other hand, calls mainly for three ingredients: sugar, water and cream (but there’s also Chef Ramsay’s version made with butter in place of water).
With caramel sauce, the caramelisation process is quicker and the risk of burning is higher, so it needs a tiny bit more of attention.
For me, it's dulce de leche all the way, even if it takes a little more time. The fresh milk and the slow process give it such a deep luxurious flavour and a gooey, totally drool-worthy texture.
Dulce De Leche Ingredients
Making homemade dulce de leche requires only one pot and super basic ingredients - milk and sugar (and optional baking soda), so make sure to choose them wisely.
MILK
The choice of milk for this recipe is absolutely critical. You will need fresh whole cows’ milk.
SUGAR
I like to use organic turbinado sugar (or muscovado sugar) when making homemade dulce de leche, which adds a deeper colour and a richer aroma.
You can of course substitute with white sugar, but your dulce de leche will be lighter both in colour and flavour.
BAKING SODA
Once the milk is heated and the sugar dissolved, even though is not necessary, you can add a pinch of baking soda.
The baking soda helps to prevent lumps and encourages the Maillard reaction.
Be careful when adding the baking soda, as the mixture will briefly bubble quite violently.
Step-by-step video recipe
Once you've got your ingredients covered, making this dessert recipe couldn't be easier.
Milk, sugar and optional baking soda are slowly simmered until most of the water evaporates and, with the help of Maillard reaction, the sauce reaches a gooey texture and a rich golden-brown colour.
Take a look at my video recipe below to make dulce de leche at home.
How to store:
You can store prepared dulce de leche in an airtight container, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Homemade Dulce De Leche
Ingredients
- 1 lt fresh whole milk
- 200 g muscovado or turbinado sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Place the milk and sugar into a large saucepan, and heat over medium-low heat just below a simmer.
- Stir the ingredients until the sugar is fully dissolved, then add the baking soda and stir (it will bubble briefly then it will stabilize).
- Keep the mixture just below a simmer over low heat, stirring every 10 minutes for about 2 hours.
- Once the mixture begins to turn brown, start stirring it continuously and lower the heat to a minimum.
- The homemade dulce de leche is done when it reaches a deep caramel colour and a thick but gooey texture.
- If not perfectly smooth, strain through a fine mesh strainer or give it a quick mix with an immersion blender.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Laura says
I don’t know how to rate this but it’s 5*. I made this years ago and it turned out great. I made some more and somehow it was better! I wanted to make Alfajores and they were just perfect with this in the middle! I love that I can make a caramel without cream as I don’t always have cream in. Milk & sugar, so simple and so delicious!
Natalie says
Wow this looks really tasty. I love that you used muscovado sugar. I love it's deep caramel aroma. I bet this dulce taste just perfect. I must give it a try this Christmas.
Jyothi (Jo) says
I always make my own dulce-de-leche and love it with apple nachos. Ooo i'm salivating thinking of it now. Looks great
Jagruti Dhanecha says
OMG..homemade dulce de leche! I am sold, one of my favourite stuff and your homemade recipe sounds so easy and fuss free!
Tammy says
Wow your dulce de leche looks perfect!! I never knew it was so easy to make but now I'm definitely making it for the holidays!
Marisa Franca says
We love our raw sugar and prefer it to white. So for our coffee it's always the raw sugar. I've never tasted Dulce De Leche but I have made homemade caramel. I'd really like to give it a go you make it seem so easy. I can think of a lot of ways I can use it.
Anne Murphy says
Oh, cool! I've seen recipes before, but they all used shortcuts that always left me feeling a bit... skeptical... This looks so much better!
Blogtastic Food says
I love how this is make Andrea! I have never tried muscovado or turbinado sugar before but I really want to give it a go now! (:
Andrea says
Thank you so much! Ohh you should definitely try muscovado or turbinado sugar, they both taste incredible! I love muscovado sugar so much I even sneak it into my morning espresso 🙂
Veronika's Kitchen says
Love Dulce De Leche but never made it at home. Your recipe sounds so easy to make, definitely will give it a try!)
Kiki Johnson says
I am OBSESSED with the color of this dulce de leche! I will make a batch and use them to fill my Linzer Cookies! That is, if my husband doesn't find it first....
Andrea says
Stuffed cookies? CALL ME IN! I NEED the recipe for your Linzer cookies!
Sherri says
This dulce de leche would be a huge hit in our house! Great video to show how easy it is to make too! 🙂
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
This is calling my name! Totally irresistible!
Veena Azmanov says
I love dulce de leche and making homemade is like the best thing ever. I love how the home smells so sweet. This looks so good. The color is magnificent.
Alida | Simply Delicious says
I love dulce de leche so your recipe is right up my alley!
Maria says
I have always wondered what the difference is between dulce de leche and caramel! This looks pretty simple, and would be great as gifts in cute little jars!
Andrea says
I love the idea of gifting cute little jars filled with gooey rich awesome dulche de leche!
Laineey says
Oh my goodness! Homemade dulce de leche? Sign me up. This looks so delicious and easy to make. You could say perfection in a jar.
Pam Greer says
Thanks for the easy to understand explanation of dulce de leche verses caramel. I prefer dulche de leche too!
mamabearscookbook says
I've always wanted to know the difference between dulce de leche and caramel sauce.. thanks for all the awesome information! I always hate how iffy caramel sauce can be, I so look forward to trying this dulce de leche recipe!
Edward/vegz says
It's a good thing that you posted this one. I bought from a friend a Dulce de leche and I really love it but you can't just buy it anywhere where I live.