Dulce de leche is a Latin American confectionary ingredient that is known for its creamy, deep, and rich caramel flavor. Consisting of sugar and milk, dulce de leche is easy to make on your own at home. Whether you need it for that first-ever recipe for dulce de leche cake or you're using it as a topping for dessert, here's a look at what you need to know to make dulce de leche on your own.

Gather Your Ingredients

To make dulce de leche, you need to have all of your ingredients ready. Dulce de leche starts with a milk base. You'll need three cups of milk to start with. Add a cup of sugar to create the sweet milk. Enhance the flavor by adding a teaspoon of vanilla. Combine the ingredients in a saucepan with a heavy bottom so that it heats evenly. 

Cook The Mixture

Once you have combined all of the ingredients, it's time to start making the dulce de leche. Turn the heat on medium, and stir the mixture frequently while you wait for it to come to a boil. Stirring and heating the mixture over medium heat helps the sugar to dissolve in the milk, producing a smooth, creamy dulce de leche when it's finished.

After the mixture comes to a boil, turn the heat down to medium-low. Allow it to simmer for at least an hour, if not an hour and a half. You'll need to stir it periodically to ensure that the sugar doesn't burn. The concentration of sugar in dulce de leche can burn easily, so stirring is important.

After an hour and a half, the mixture should be thickened and a rich, honey brown in color. If it's not, keep boiling until it gets there.

Store The Syrup

When the dulce de leche is finished, you'll need to store it in a canning jar or other airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week, but you'll need to warm it some before you use it again because the cold refrigerator will make the dulce de leche thick and hard to work with.

Making your own dulce de leche is a great way to enjoy the flavors of dulce de leche. However, if you aren't confident in your ability to make this syrup, you can buy dulce de leche from a number of grocery stores, including Latin American specialty markets. Check with a supplier such as Cordoba Foods- N Dulce for availability if you aren't ready to make it yourself.