DIY Dulce de Leche

This dessert recipe, DIY Dulce de Leche, leans on pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste, pint each canning jars with lids and rings and Water. It makes 8 Servings (Makes about 1 1/2 cups) and takes about 545 minutes.

• Yield 8 Servings (Makes about 1 1/2 cups)
• Ready in 545 minutes
• Prep 5 minutes
• Cook 540 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cans (14-ounces each) sweetened condensed milk
• 1-2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste (optional)
• 3 1/2 pint each canning jars with lids and rings
• Water

Instructions

1. Open the cans of sweetened condensed milk and portion them equally into the three canning jars. Wipe the tops and sides of the canning jars, if needed, in case any of the sweetened condensed milk spilled down the sides. Place a lid and ring on the canning jar and screw tightly to seal. Put the three canning jars in a slow cooker and cover with water by one inch. It doesn't matter whether the jars are laying on their side or standing up straight - do what works best for the size of slow cooker you have. Place the lid on the slow cooker and set to low for 8-9 hours, until the dulce de leche is deep golden brown. Carefully remove the jars from the hot water and let them cool.
2. The dulce de leche can be warmed up on low heat in the microwave or on the stovetop in a pan of water to be drizzled over ice cream, used as dip for apples, spread over crepes etc. We also enjoy it cold or at room temperature for a spread on bananas, apples, sweet breads (like banana or zucchini). The options are endless!

Let the center settle before you cut it, or the slices will slump.