Originally published March 12, 2018
One ingredient instant pot dulce de leche without cans is a delicious caramel sauce that takes 35-40 minutes and is SO easy to make!
Dulce de Leche is a creamy milk-based caramel that can be used as a dulce de leche spread or dip for fruit, in Chocolate Caramel filled Cupcakes, and as a maple caramel glaze for other treats like Apple Cinnamon Scones. This is a quick instant pot caramel so you don't have to slave away at the stove!
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If you've never tried easy homemade dulce de leche before, you're missing out on the most delectable, finger licking caramel sauce ever. Instant pot dulce de leche is a quicker version than using the stove or a slow cooker. It's the perfect fall caramel dip recipe!
A slow cooker takes 8-10 hours , and the stove top takes 3-4 hours once the water is boiling, not to mention you have to watch it and pour more water in the pot to make sure the water level doesn't get too low. This version only takes 35-40 minutes. 😍
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Why This Recipe Works
- It's SAFE and uses a pressure safe glass mason jar. Many other dulce de leche instant pot recipes have the whole can in the pot, which under pressure could explode if the pressure becomes too great inside the can. It has been done by others with no issues but I cannot live that life, my poor heart can't handle it.
- Making caramelized condensed milk is so much easier and faster in a pressure cooker. No filling up water at the stove or waiting forever for a slow cooker.
- Uses less water than other recipes. A pressure cooker needs enough liquid to make steam to create pressure. This version does NOT need a lot of water because we don't need to cover the jars, which means it takes less time to heat and cook the caramel.
- You can make one up to three (14 oz) cans at a time or more if you have a larger instant pot.
🛒 Ingredients and Equipment
- Sweetened Condensed Milk - I've tested multiple brands: generic store brands, Nestle Carnation and La Lechera, Eagle Brand, and all have turned out virtually the same. Those brands will work and have the same quality, texture and taste.
- Canning Safe Mason Jars - you can use 1 to 3 jars in the pressure cooker at a time, as long as the edges don't touch.
- New Jar Lids and Rings - make sure if the rings have been previously used that there is no rust or deterioration.
- Metal Rack - this lifts the jars off of the bottom of the instant pot, keeping them from overheating.
- Water - needed to create the steam to build pressure in the pot.
NOTE: This recipe is NOT meant to be shelf-safe, it is not recommended to can/preserve foods using an instant pot. This is why the water does not need to cover the jars, the instant pot caramel is meant to be stored refrigerated.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
🆒 Variations
- Stir in ¼ teaspoon sea salt (or more to taste) to make a salted caramel dulce de leche!
- Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract or paste to make a fancy instant pot vanilla caramel sauce.
- Stir in ½ teaspoon cinnamon for a nice cinnamon caramel sauce.
🧑🍳 Instructions
It's super easy to make instant pot caramel. I'll walk you through the steps!
TIP: Using just enough water to cover the rack helps to prevent water entering the jars as the caramel cooks, which helps to prevent grainy dulce de leche.
Step 1. Pour the sweetened condensed milk into the glass jars and place the lids and metal rings on them. Screw the rings on firmly, and place jars on the metal rack in the inner pot.
Step 2. Pour in water until it just covers the rack, about 2 cups. Make sure the inner pot is flat inside the instant pot base, then put on the lid with the gasket and turn the knob on top to "seal".
Set instant pot to high pressure for 35 minutes for lighter caramel, and 40 or even 45 minutes for darker, thicker caramel.
Step 3. Release the pressure from the instant pot by turning the knob to "vent" when the timer is up. Carefully remove the jars with a hot pad and place on a cooling rack or dry dish towel to cool.
The dulce de leche may be bubbling when it comes out, this is fine, it's boiling hot. While hot, it may still be quite thin like a caramel sauce. As it cools it will thicken.
Enjoy!
❓Frequently Asked Questions
Sweet condensed milk a mixture of milk and sugar, cooked for a long time until the moisture content is much lower and the milk has thickened.
Dulce de leche is sweetened condensed milk that have cooked even longer until the sugar and milk undergo the Maillard reaction caused by the heat, sugar, and time, caramelizing the sugar and turning it a brown color.
As long as it is completely covered in water and the pressure inside the can stays below the pressure outside it, it is considered safe. It takes much longer to heat more water to cover the cans, so keep that in mind.
It is either undercooked or undercooked. It thickens quite a bit as it cools, so as long as it is cooked to a dark golden brown color and for the proper length of time it should thicken nicely.
This recipe is made to be refrigerated, it is not shelf-stable. You can store it refrigerator for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.
Yes it is possible but not probable using the instant pot method. It can become too thick and the sugars may start to burn, especially when cooking on the stove top. This method helps prevent that.
🍯 How To Use Dulce de Leche
- As a dip - for fruits like apples, peaches, bananas, strawberries, or pretzels and graham crackers.
- As a topping - for ice cream, creamy rice pudding, pie, Apple Cinnamon Scones cookies, cake, Fudgy Brownies, or even Brownie Batter Overnight Oats.
- As a filling - for things like Chocolate Caramel filled Cupcakes or the middle of a layered cake or Halloween Pudding Cups. So good!
🥧 More Delicious Dessert Recipes
You can never have enough desserts that go with dulce de leche caramel, or fall dip recipes like my Pumpkin Fluff Dip! Here are a few of my favorites!
Did You Try This Recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Make sure to leave a star rating and a comment below the recipe card. I love hearing from you, and it is so helpful to other readers! Better yet, share it with family and friends. Thank you!!
📝 Printable Recipe
Instant Pot Dulce de Leche
Ingredients
- 2 cans (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 2 pint size glass mason jars with metal lids
- 2 cups water for cooking
Instructions
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk into the glass jars and place the lids and metal rings on them. Screw the rings on firmly, and place jars on the metal rack in the inner pot.
- Pour in water until it just covers the rack, about 2 cups. Make sure the inner pot is flat inside the instant pot base, then put on the lid with the gasket and turn the knob on top to "seal".Set instant pot to high pressure for 35 minutes for lighter caramel, and 40 or even 45 minutes for darker, thicker caramel.
- Release the pressure from the instant pot by turning the knob to "vent" when the timer is up. Carefully remove the jars with a hot pad and place on a cooling rack or dry dish towel to cool.Once cool enough to touch, open and use as desired. Cool completely and refrigerate if you want thicker caramel.
Patsy says
Is it possible to make this using a crock pot instead of an instapot?
Sara says
It is, you can cook it on low for 8-10 hours depending on how thick and dark you want it. I would definitely use more water, enough to reach the line of condensed milk in the jar.
I like to use the instant pot because it’s much faster.