Dulce de Leche is a delicious and versatile spread, but it can take FOREVER to make! This Dulce de Leche in an Instant Pot cuts your cook time in a quarter, allowing you to make this sweet concoction easily in your own home! Keep reading for instructions and best practices of how to make Dulce de Leche in an Instant Pot.
What Country Invented Dulce de Leche?
You read my article about Alfajores (Argentinian Shortbread and Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies), you’ll know that I’ve been trying to learn how to make my own Dulce de Leche for quite some time.
Dulce de Leche is a caramel-like substance that was invented in Argentina. Quite frankly, I don’t know why it’s not eaten more here in America. This stuff is delicious!!!
Deciding to Make Dulce de Leche in the Instant Pot
Normally to make Dulce de Leche, you must put the pot on the stove and boil it for hours upon hours. It takes a long watch and a careful eye to get homemade Dulce de Leche right.
That is… until the Instant Pot came along. Now, if you really want to feel like you’re making your dessert from scratch, it is so much easier. Instead of three hours watching over your stove, Dulce de Leche in the Instant Pot takes 40 minutes with no hovering necessary!
What is the Difference Between Caramel and Dulce de Leche?
Caramel and Dulce de Leche are very similar, but the ingredients within them vary slightly. Sugar, butter, water, and cream combine to make caramel. In contrast, Dulce de Leche is made with sweetened condensed milk.
Both are sweet, sugary concoctions that are delicious on ice cream, cakes, and cookies. However, dulce de leche tends to have a thicker consistency and a darker color. It’s sometimes so thick that it can spread like a peanut butter consistency.
What Ingredients Do I Need to Make this Recipe?
To make this recipe for dulce de leche, all you’ll need is a 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk and some water. That’s it!
Some recipes call for vanilla or baking powder. The baking powder seemed like a fantastic idea, because the article boasted that it would make the dulce de leche both darker and thicker at a faster rate.
Unfortunately, when I tried this method in my Instant Pot, I opened the pot after 40 minutes to find that the scene of a mild explosion. The contents of the can had poured out into the water.
After that experience, I decided that sometimes, the best option is to K.I.S.S. or “Keep It Simple, Stupid.” 😉
How to Make Dulce de Leche in the Instant Pot
To make your Dulce de Leche in an Instant Pot, you’re going to need your ingredients, aluminum foil, and the Instant Pot trivet.
To start, remove the paper label from the outside of your can and then use a can opener to open it. Discard the top. Next, rip off a large piece of aluminum foil and wrap it tightly around the entire can, covering the top and bottom of the open can. This step is vital, as you want to make sure that none of your dulce de leche can boil out of the can.
Place the trivet in your Instant Pot, and fill it up with enough water to cover about half the can. The amount of water will depend on the size of your Instant Pot, but for me it took about 10 cups of water.
Place the lid on your Instant Pot and then set the pressure to Manual High for 40 minutes. This leaves a lightly colored Dulce de Leche. If you want a thicker or darker Dulce de Leche in the Instant Pot, you can increase the cook time.
If you open your aluminum foil and your Dulce de Leche isn’t as dark as you’d like, simply rewrap the can and place it back in the pot. Seal it again, and turn the pressure on for longer. I would recommend increments of 10 if cooking it for longer.
How to Enjoy this Recipe
Hmmm… can my answer be “everything”?
Dulce de Leche is such a delicious spread, that I want to use it on everything! You can dip fruit or crackers in it. You can spread it on pancakes or even cookies! Basically, use this Dulce de Leche on whatever you want.
But can I give you some suggestions? If you want to use homemade dulce de leche, here are some great options:
- Brazo de Reina (Dulce de Leche Roll Cake)
- The Most Delicious Liege Waffles from Belgium
- Pumpkin Pie Filling with Dulce de Leche
- Alfajores (Argentinian Shortbread Sandwich Cookies)
Did you like this recipe for Dulce de Leche in the Instant Pot? I had such a good time testing it for you! If you make this recipe, don’t forget to post a photo on Facebook or Instagram and tag @TheForeignFork and hashtag #TheForeignFork. I can’t wait to see your finished product!
Dulce de Leche in the Instant Pot
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- To start, remove the paper label from the outside of your can and then use a can opener to open it. Discard the lid. Next, rip off a large piece of aluminum foil and wrap it tightly around the open can, covering the top and bottom. This step is vital, as you want to make sure that none of your dulce de leche can boil out of the can.
- Place the trivet in your Instant Pot, and fill it up with enough water to cover about half the can. The amount of water will depend on the size of your Instant Pot, but for me it took about 10 cups of water.
- Place the lid on your Instant Pot and then set the pressure to Manual High for 40 minutes. This leaves a lightly colored Dulce de Leche. If you want a thicker or darker Dulce de Leche in the Instant Pot, you can increase the cook time. Perform an Instant release when the time is up.
- If you open your aluminum foil and your Dulce de Leche isn’t as dark as you’d like, simply rewrap the can and place it back in the pot. Seal it again, and turn the pressure on for longer. I would recommend increments of 10 if cooking it for longer.
- Note: If your dulce de leche comes out of the aluminum foil looking lumpy or curdled, this is NORMAL. Put it in a bowl and whisk it and it will smooth out!ANOTHER NOTE: Your dulce de leche will thicken as it cools. As long as it reaches your desired color, put it in the fridge and it will start to thicken. It will thin out when heated up again 🙂
Lina Marron says
After the 40 minutes, do you perform a Quick Release or Natural Release on the Instant Pot? Thanks.
The Foreign Fork says
It is a Quick Release 🙂
Mary says
My family has this in a pudding ever holiday. We LOVE it so much. This way would be easer than boiling it for hours. To make the pudding do the following:
1 can of the condensed milk cooked chilled
1 carton whipping cream
Whip the whipping cream until you have a cool whip like mixture. (If you put the whipping cream in a metal bowl then place the bowl in a bowl of ice. It will whip much faster.) Then mix in the cooked and chilled condensed milk. We always add a cup of ruff chopped pecans. Place covered in the refrigerator until you serve.
So wonderful!
The Foreign Fork says
That sounds absolutely fantastic Mary!! I will be trying that with the next can of Dulce de Leche that I make! Yes, this recipe is a lot faster than boiling it for hours… patience is not one of my better qualities so I like that this is fast 🙂