# The Easiest Recipe Ever: Dulce de Leche **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 28, 2018, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710 "2018-02-28T00:24:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TPWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TPWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TPWombat)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/21 "2018-02-28T09:50:48Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > The key part of the OP is topping off the water. Forget or take a nap, and it’s supposed to be an explosion risk. When I was a kid my friend told me that this had happened to his little brother. Lost track of time, pan boiled dry, can exploded , sticky semi-caramel substance blasted all over kitchen. Had to redecorate. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/22 "2018-02-28T12:18:45Z")
_Guys and Dolls_ featured Cuban dulce de leche. This is Argentinian dulce de leche. I don’t know if Cubans really do have a drink as described in the movie, but this stuff definitely isn’t a drink. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/23 "2018-02-28T12:37:23Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > You know, this would be a wonderful way to make children drink their milk! Cider, right in my ear! ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/24 "2018-02-28T12:46:03Z")
Could you do it in a crockpot, I wonder? It would take longer, obviously. But you would avoid the risk of forgetting to add more water. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/25 "2018-02-28T12:57:33Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Could you do it in a crockpot, I wonder? It would take longer, obviously. But you would avoid the risk of forgetting to add more water. Not in my experience. Not with the dulce, but with crockpots. Topping off the water is still something that has to be done if you cook a long time. Still, maybe it would be less frequent. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/26 "2018-02-28T13:10:21Z")
My Brazilian wife has been doing this for decades–it is one of her favorite treats. She cooks them in the pressure cooker. She first peels the labels off (to not clog the vent), then fills the pot enough to cover the cans. Once the cooker starts hissing she leaves it for a half hour. She prefers Eagle brand. Carnation seems to result in a different texture. She keeps a dedicated old pressure cooker for this since the goo from the peeled labels does form a ring around the pot that is all but impossible to remove. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/27 "2018-02-28T13:19:32Z")
I love dulce de leche but I am now cursed with lactose intolerance. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/28 "2018-02-28T13:32:13Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Could you do it in a crockpot, I wonder? It would take longer, obviously. But you would avoid the risk of forgetting to add more water. I’ve been told that you can do it in a crockpot, only you pour it out of the can and don’t use the water either. Just condensed milk on low, but I don’t know how long it takes. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/29 "2018-02-28T14:27:16Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > the peeled labels does form a ring around the pot that is all but impossible to remove. Try WD-40. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/30 "2018-02-28T14:40:08Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Try WD-40. Nah, I’m going to stick with using cans of condensed milk, but I’m sorta traditional that way. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/31 "2018-02-28T14:46:16Z")
> [@Purd\_Werfect](#): > > Nah, I’m going to stick with using cans of condensed milk, but I’m sorta traditional that way. Nyuck nyuck nyuck. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/32 "2018-02-28T15:22:22Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > You know, this would be a wonderful way to make children drink their milk! I understand Bacardi flavoring works well, too. ---
**Author:** ![PlumBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@PlumBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlumBob)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/33 "2018-02-28T16:20:46Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Could you do it in a crockpot, I wonder? It would take longer, obviously. But you would avoid the risk of forgetting to add more water. I’ve done it in a crock pot overnight on the low setting. Works just fine. Edited to add… Put the cans in the Crock-Pot, add water to cover the cans, put the lid on. Then you’re good to go. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/34 "2018-02-28T17:05:40Z")
In my New England family this has always been known as “caramel pudding” 🙂 and has always been served on top of a canned pineapple ring. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/35 "2018-02-28T18:19:48Z")
Name some desserts that this would be added? Ice Cream? Chocolate cake? Banana Bread? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/36 "2018-02-28T18:30:59Z")
Any or all of those. It’s like a caramel sauce. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/37 "2018-02-28T18:31:18Z")
I myself wouldn’t take a chance, boiling a can in water. I think there is a chance of explosion. Even if the ‘If you do it this way, properly’ crowd weighs in. I once had a cookbook from the library, and this recipe was in the pages, and a square of paper was glued over that recipe referring the reader to the front of the book. In the front of the book was yet ANOTHER square of paper glued on advising to NOT boil an unopened can in water. If the writer or publisher of that cookbook went to all that trouble of correcting the dangerous recipe, I would be leery of attempting it. Unless the can was opened a bit, even a 1/4 inch hole in the top. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/38 "2018-02-28T18:34:53Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Name some desserts that this would be added? > > Ice Cream? > > Chocolate cake? > > Banana Bread? Coffee. Just a glop of the stuff in a hot cup of strong coffee? MMMMMmmmmMMmMMmm ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/39 "2018-02-28T18:38:11Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Name some desserts that this would be added? > > Ice Cream? > > Chocolate cake? > > Banana Bread? Pour the caramelized milk into a pie shell, chill, and you’ve got caramel pie. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710/40 "2018-02-28T18:48:34Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Name some desserts that this would be added? > > Ice Cream? > > Chocolate cake? > > Banana Bread? [Cheesecake.](http://www.mybigfatcubanfamily.com/2016/07/dulce-de-leche-cheesecake-recipe/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-easiest-recipe-ever-dulce-de-leche/809710.md?page=3)