My grandmother originally shared how to make caramel sauce using sweetened condensed milk with me back in 2000. She recommended putting the unopened can of sweetened condense milk in a pan, covering it with water, and simmering for 3 hours.
While her caramel sauce recipe was easy and delicious, that is a lot of time to have something simmering on the stove! A friend told me that she made caramel sauce in her slow cooker by cooking the submerged can of sweetened condensed milk for 8 hours on low. Again easy and delicious, but that is a lot of time to cook one can!
Brilliant solution just in time for apple dipping season: Batch cook multiple cans of sweetened condensed milk in a Crock Pot, so you always have a ready supply of caramel sauce on hand. Your welcome!
One Ingredient Crock Pot Caramel Sauce
Ingredients:
2-4 cans of sweetened condensed milk (depending on the size of your slow cooker)
Supplies Needed:
a slow cooker (This is the Programmable Crock Pot that I own.)
Optional: canning jars with lids and rings. (These make a lovely gift for friends and neighbors).
Directions:
- Place cans of unopened sweetened condensed milk into slow cooker and fill slow cooker as full as possible so the cans are completely submerged in the water. It’s very important that no part of the can should be out of the water during the cooking process.
- Cook on low for 8 hours. You may need to refill water if it gets too low.
- Allow the cans or jars of caramel sauce to cool on the counter until they reach room temperature before opening.
Optional if using canning jars: Divide the sweetened condensed milk from cans into small canning jars. Close with lids and rings. Follow the same steps.
Notes:
- Store the caramel sauce in the refrigerator. It’s a fantastic dip for apples or to use as a topping for ice cream.
- This is often called Dulce de leche. Some differentiate the two by saying that Dulce de leche is sugar and milk-based, while caramel sauce is sugar and water-based, but I always make my caramel sauce with either milk or a dairy-free milk substitute.
One Ingredient Crock Pot Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 2-4 cans sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Place cans of unopened sweetened condensed milk into crock pot and fill crock pot as full as possible so the cans are completely submerged in the water. It’s very important that no part of the can should be out of the water during the cooking process.
- Cook on low for 8 hours. You may need to refill water if necessary.
- Allow the cans or jars of caramel sauce to cool on the counter until they reach room temperature before opening.
Niki says
If putting into canning jars does this make is self stable?? Or would you need to pressure cook to seal?? Thanks.
Cindy says
Once cans are “cooked” can they be stored in the pantry for use later?
Rita says
The two cans I bought to do this with, are pull tab tops. I Didn’t notice this til I got home. Will they work?
Alea Milham says
I am not sure. I have never tried it with pull tab cans.
Roxanne says
I just did it with pull tops. Turn the can over so pull tops are on the bottom. I read it on another page. It does work!
Nicole says
Does the can open in the warm water? I’ve never heard of maki g caramel this way so someone needs to enlighten me.
Alea Milham says
No, the can doesn’t open in the warm water. You open it after it is done cooking.
Jennifer Mab says
Turned out amazing! Wonderful taste and creamy texture. Not sticky like store bought. Too good and easy. Making more for gifts
Janet says
Don’t forget to remove the label from the can first!
Donielle says
Need help. Mine came out almost curddled and was thick like jello. Not creamy. What did I do wrong?
Alea Milham says
Without more details, I can’t be sure.
SassyPants says
how long can you leave it in the can before using? can you store in pantry in side unopened can or must it open, and store in fridge?
Dolores k says
Will low fat work.
Alea Milham says
I haven’t tried it.
Laurie says
yum! Pinning. Thank you for sharing with us at the Brag About It Link Party!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Angie says
It’s dulce de leche and not caramel. Delicious, but different flavor to me.