Homemade Dulce de Leche
Dulce de Leche, a sweetened caramel-like milk sauce, is a popular treat in many South American countries. Creamy, rich, and packed with a sweet flavor, it serves as a delightful filling for cakes, pastries, and even as a spread over toast. Making it at home ensures an authentic taste and creaminess that’s hard to match. Here’s how you can whip up a jar of this heavenly treat.
Ingredients:
- 1 liter of whole milk
- 250 grams of sugar
- ½ teaspoon of baking soda
- A pinch of vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Prepare the Mixture: Begin by pouring the milk into a saucepan and placing it over medium heat. Once it becomes warm, but before it reaches boiling point, reduce the flame. Add the sugar and keep stirring continuously. This ensures that the sugar doesn’t settle at the bottom and burn. Continue stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved. Now, stir in the vanilla extract and baking soda.
- Cooking Process: Cook the mixture on low heat. It’s crucial to ensure it doesn’t boil. While it simmers, stir it periodically. This helps prevent the mixture from sticking to the base of the saucepan. You will see the mixture thickening and deepening in color as time goes by. The cooking process can take anywhere between 90 minutes to 2 hours, depending on your preferred consistency and color. Remember, the longer it’s cooked, the darker and denser the result.
- Cooling: Once you achieve the desired consistency, remove the saucepan from the stove. Continue to stir the mixture for another 5-10 minutes as it begins to cool down. This ensures an even texture.
Allow it to cool completely. Your homemade Dulce de Leche is now ready to be savored. Store in an airtight container and enjoy the delightful sweetness whenever you desire.
Tip: Dulce de Leche is not only delicious on its own, but it’s also a versatile ingredient. You can use it as a filling for cakes, drizzle over ice creams, spread on pancakes, or even eat it straight from the jar! Whatever you decide, its creamy caramel goodness will never disappoint.
