Homemade Caramel Sauce ?

[Zandy595]

I remember hearing a while back that you can make caramel sauce just by cooking a can of sweetened condensed milk. Does anyone know how to do this? Is it worth the effort or is the jarred stuff just as good?

 

[TigerKat]

I remember seeing "Barefoot Contessa", Ina Garten do this on a show, but the ingredients were sugar, water, cream and vanilla. It looked very easy, you could probably print off Food Netwirk website.

 

[Zandy595]

Thanks Kathy. I had my heart set on trying the sweetened condensed milk one. I guess it's actually called dulce de leche. I found a recipe on FoodTV.com from Sara Molten. It's in the oven now. Hope it works. If it doesn't, I'll look up Ina's recipe and try that some other time.

 

[chobie]

You need to boil it about three hours in a covered pot and then let the can cool before opening it. That last step is VERY important! It's delicious by the way.

 

[chasbos]

I just got done making caramel dip for my family!

Here is the recipe I use:

1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
3/4 cup corn syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla

Combine butter, sugar, corn syrup and milk in sauce pan. Heat over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar, 5 minutes. Stir in vanilla.

 

[chamonix]

The "old fashioned" recipes for caramel made from cans of sweetened condensed milk called for cooking the can UNopened. It's actually considered to be dangerous to do that (though obviously thousands/millions of people have done so safely, your call on that--I would be too paranoid to do it, lol)

You can make caramel simply by cooking sweetened condensed milk in pan on the stove top (can opened and poured out into the pan, lol). Long and low. Stir constantly. It will get darker as it cooks. When it tastes right to you, take it off the heat.

 

[da-winnie-pooh]

I think it's most dangerous if you let all of the water boil off. Like, if you put it on the stove and then took a nap or something.

Don't ask how I know.

But, it can also make a really good pie. Pour a couple of (cooled) cans in a graham cracker crust, add some whipped topping, maybe some chocolate chips. It's good!

 

[NMAmy]

Seriously, you have to try the sweetened condensed milk thing at least once--it is the BEST EVER. My mom has always made this and now I do, too. It does freak people out if they happen to wander into the kitchen when you're making it, though.

It is incredibly rich so a little goes a long way. It keeps in the fridge for a week or so. I like it with a dab of Cool Whip because apparently there are just not enough calories in it to suit me just plain.

You all should just come on over and I'll make it for you. I'm very brave.

 

[Zandy595]

I opened the can, poured it into a glass casserole dish, covered it with foil, put it in a water bath and baked it for 2 hours. I don't know if there was something off with the sweetened condensed milk, but it tasted like sweet cheese when it was done and it was very lumpy. I ended up throwing it away. I hated doing it, but we just couldn't eat it.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I think it's most dangerous if you let all of the water boil off. Like, if you put it on the stove and then took a nap or something.

Don't ask how I know.

But, it can also make a really good pie. Pour a couple of (cooled) cans in a graham cracker crust, add some whipped topping, maybe some chocolate chips. It's good!

It can be really dangerous -- sometimes the can will explode even without it boiling off. Happened to a lady at church a few years back. The can must be covered with water at all times.

Here's a link: http://www.recipesource.com/side-dishes/beverages/milk/00/rec0011.html. And another: http://www.netcooks.com/recipes/Pies/Caramel.Pie.html

 

[Buckalew11]

I opened the can, poured it into a glass casserole dish, covered it with foil, put it in a water bath and baked it for 2 hours. I don't know if there was something off with the sweetened condensed milk, but it tasted like sweet cheese when it was done and it was very lumpy. I ended up throwing it away. I hated doing it, but we just couldn't eat it.

Did Sara Molten covor it with foil? I don't remember that part (& haven't looked on Food Network's site). But I do remember her saying that you take it out and carefully stir it up really well and add some things to it.

Sorry it didn't turn out.

Maybe it needed all the stuff Chasbos added?!

 

[Zandy595]

Did Sara Molten covor it with foil? I don't remember that part (& haven't looked on Food Network's site). But I do remember her saying that you take it out and carefully stir it up really well and add some things to it.

Sorry it didn't turn out.

Maybe it needed all the stuff Chasbos added?!

The recipe I used was the one with the grilled pineapple. That one was covered with foil. She stirred in rum when it was done cooking, I skipped that part. I stirred it a lot and it still had a lot of little lumps in it. Oh well, I have always wanted to try it, now I have.