Dulce De Leche

[Isa]

I discovered dulce de leche in California. with Jock and his family. They were holding a tasting at Copia when I was there with Jock and his family, and even gave everyone the recipe. I decided to make some just to see if I could recapture the taste of it. Now I’m wondering what to do with it, can I freeze it? How long would it last in the fridge?? What are the best uses for it?

[Joni]

Isa....straight out of the jar works for me!! Over ice cream is quite good. Would you be willing to post the recipe??? I think the best is Salamander or something like that! Would love to make my own!

[angrychef]

Hi Isa. Having grown up in Venezuela, dulce de leche is one of the flavors/desserts very close to my heart. I make it by boiling cans of condensed milk(the way I was taught). I have frozen my dulce de leche with no problem whatsoever. In the fridge, I've kept it about 1-2 weeks max with plastic wrap touching the surface(so no mold problems). Never seems to last that long---someone usually steals it!

[W.DeBord]

I guess I'm the last person on earth who hasn't ever even tasted this, yet alone baked it. Any chance you'd walk me thru it Dana? How do you boil the cans, how long? Is there one authentic cake recipe, how can I dress this up, what's it taste like?

[shroomgirl]

There's even ice cream out with it now!!! Milk Caramel, thick and rich.
The condensed milk is boiled for hours. Salamander is about $6 for a 16oz jar....had to look in the fridge.
It is bloppy thick. I eat it on a spoon or on ice cream, It'd make a great filling for a cake. Or a layer in a pastry....I would use it a layer in a chocolate custard pie....crust, dulce, choco pudding...whipped cream, choco curls, Sounds pretty good.
The bloppiness would need to be worked with, I've not played alot with it since it's just so good on that spoon.

[m brown]

we have done it with goats milk, canned condenced milk and just cooking cream and sugar until it's wonderfully caramelized and thick.

this is great stuff!

[momoreg]

I believe the authentic recipe is with goat's milk. I'm sure, either way, freezing is not a problem.

[bradleyo]

An interesting variation on this is burnt caramel ice-cream. Corby Kumer has an interesting article on this. He characterizes it as "dulce de leche, a recent runaway success for Häagen-Dazs, to the nth degree." I've made his recipe, and it is some amazing stuff.

[angrychef]

Wendy, it's very simple but you just have to be very careful not to open the cans while they are hot. Very dangerous. Just place a pan of condensed milk in a deep pot and cover with water. Boil for 4 hours(simmer) and then remove pot from heat and let the can cool to room temp. Open can and enjoy the best caramelized milk ever. In Caracas we had "obleas" which were like very thin communion wafers(like pizelles) sandwhiched with dulce de leche and also stuffed caramelized crepes.

[Joni]

Isa...I still would love to get the recipe from Copia to compare if you would share it! Thanks.

[thebighat]

I made Pierre Herme's creme brulee ice cream and used the boiled condensed milk to swirl into it. good stuff.

[Isa]

I'm sorry I haven't replied to you sooner Joni but I've been dealing with a very bad episode of arm pain and I wasn't even able to hold the mouse. But finnaly it is over and I am back on my computer.


I can not find Copia's recipe for dulche de leche right n ow but I do remeber how to proceed.

Make a very small hole in a condensed milk can, cover the can thighly with aluminium foil and put in the pan half filled with water. Let it simmer for approximately four hours, adding water when needed. After four hours, remove the can from the pot and remove the lid. It is very important to fix very well as the caramel will be darker in the bottom of the can.

I recall leaving it on for about 4 1/2 hours. It was medium dark very gooey and so good.

[Isa]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. So far I've used it to make a swirl in vanilla ice cream.

Angry I love the idea of wafer and caramel....You wouldn't have the recipe by chance? It does remind me of a Belgium made cookie one would put atop a hot cup of coffee or cocoa and the caramel inside the wafer would start melting....

[momoreg]

stroopwafels! Good stuff, Isa!

[Isa]

Yes that's it Momo. Thank you!


How about a dulce de leche cheesecake? Anyone every tried it and has a recipe to share?