Since getting a crock pot for Christmas I have been on a mission to find new recipes and techniques I can enjoy. Mainly I've been making soups. Soups are awesome. I saw a number of links of Pinterest (including this one) about making caramel (or dulce de leche) in your crock pot. What?! You know I had to try that.
The basic idea is you take a can of sweetened condensed milk, remove the label, submerge it in water in your crock pot (set on low) for eight hours. Sounds easy enough. I read a few sources that mentioned this method could result in a rust ring forming in the bottom of your crock pot. I don't know if that's true or not but I didn't want to take the risk (not my new and still sort of shiny crock pot!). Instead I tried a slightly modified method with a few added ingredients. Here's what I did:
In a mason jar pour in the contents from one can of sweetened condensed milk. Add any extra ingredients you like. I made two jars, and in one I added 1/2 teaspoon coarse grain sea salt (salted caramel anyone?). To the other I added 1 tablespoon bourbon. I love bourbon. :) Place the lid on the jar and seal. Shake the jar to mix up the ingredients. Place in your crock pot and fill with water so that the water covers the jar just past the milk. Cover your crock pot. I found my lid no longer fit over the mason jars, so instead I covered my crock pot with aluminum foil to keep the water from evaporating. Set on low and let that cook for 8 hours (go to bed, wake up to caramel!).
This was a fun experiment! The results: thick, richly colored caramel. The caramel is not perfectly smooth in texture, it was somewhat grainy. I loved both flavors (salted and bourbon infused). This would be delicious as a dip for apples, smeared on toast with peanut butter, piped into a cupcake or a small spoonful stirred into coffee. I gotz ideas for my caramel, as you can see.
What about you? Have you ever tried making crockpot caramel? xo. Emma
I am a total crock pot head! Love any chance that I get to use them. Soooo grateful for this post. Thank you emma.
Melissa
http://shakeshakee.blogspot.com
Posted by: melissa ahamad | January 25, 2013 at 12:55 PM
Ok. This looks incredibly delicious. Will have to try this asap. Thanks for sharing!!
Posted by: Jessica | January 25, 2013 at 12:56 PM
Oh my goodness, a pot of yummy ness x
Posted by: Sarah | January 25, 2013 at 12:58 PM
I had a couple of cans of condensed milk to use up, and now I know what I'm going to do!!! :)
Posted by: Sheilly | January 25, 2013 at 01:03 PM
That looks fantastic! If we ate more sweets in my house I would make this asap.
Posted by: Jessica | January 25, 2013 at 01:05 PM
I wonder if using a crock pot liner would prevent the rust ring from forming, if you want to use just the can of condensed milk?
Posted by: Amanda | January 25, 2013 at 01:09 PM
If you have a pressure cooker, I use the method of putting your can of sweet condensed milk in, submerge in water, and 30-45mn when it starts to whistle.
Love it :)
Posted by: Nolwenn | January 25, 2013 at 01:13 PM
I really love caramel and all what is sweat. So that recipe is like for me. Perfect job. Have a great friday.
http://www.fashiondenis.com/
Posted by: Denisa | January 25, 2013 at 01:16 PM
oh I never had but I really have to! omg
Posted by: Suzanne | January 25, 2013 at 01:17 PM
this sounds too good to be true! i love caramel and am def going to try this :).
Posted by: Gina_AcuteDesigns | January 25, 2013 at 01:17 PM
What a simple way to make caramel dip! Love the mix in suggestions.
http://sarahthearchitect.com/
Posted by: Sarah | January 25, 2013 at 01:17 PM
Mmm this looks amazing, my mom makes all kinds of crockpot dishes. This makes me want to pull out the crock pot for sure!
http://www.thecharleygirl.com
xo
Posted by: The Charley Girl | January 25, 2013 at 01:21 PM
Mmmm. Looks good. Must taste even better!
Posted by: Charlene Zale | January 25, 2013 at 01:23 PM
Looks so yummy! Do you know if canned coconut milk has the same properties as condensed milk and would work for this recipe? Or do you have any vegan ideas?
Posted by: Kensie | January 25, 2013 at 01:23 PM
Dulce de leche! You can also make this by taking a can of sweetened, condensed milk and boiling it in a pot on the stove for about 20 minutes. Same result, less time! It's so yummy!!!
Posted by: Shay Liann | January 25, 2013 at 01:24 PM
Hello! I blew up a crockpot and covered my kitchen in caramel and glass doing this recipe(a few years ago now), the pan was on very low with a lid on but over the hours the steam escaped and it still boiled dry as I also left overnight! If I had been in the kitchen I would have been very badly burned and cut as glass, bits of pot and caramel went everywhere! We had to repaint the walls and roof once we had scraped off the caramel, not fun :P Please can I warn your lovely readers to use LOADS of water and check it/top up if needed! The caramel is totally amazing though, well worth the effort, great share :D
Posted by: Kerry | January 25, 2013 at 01:24 PM
Yum, I have never tried it, but this. looks. awesome. Great Job!
-Anna
Posted by: Anna | January 25, 2013 at 01:25 PM
Great post!
You are welcome to visit my MAC lipstic giveaway!
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Posted by: Gabi | January 25, 2013 at 01:26 PM
You can also make banoffee pie!!! It's so good! http://www.alwaysoverthinkingit.com/2013/01/banoffee-pie.html
Posted by: tara | January 25, 2013 at 01:30 PM
Mmmm! Thanks for this, amazing!
Katie xx
http://gravityandshe.blogspot.co.uk
Posted by: Katie | January 25, 2013 at 01:31 PM