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We Ukrainians have been making sweetened cooked condensed milk (sguschonka) for years, but who knew we were actually making dulce de leche?
What’s in a name right? I discovered a new way of cooking this in the crock pot; a safer way. I was poking around my can of sweetened condensed milk and found this:
Oh snap!! This is exactly what I’ve been doing. I’ve heard the can can explode if it’s not fully submerged in water, but could there have been chemicals from the can entering my dulce de leche? Well, I was inspired to try something new!
Thanks to Pinterest, I learned that condensed milk can be cooked in a crock pot. I took it one step further to ensure the condensed milk remained untainted while cooking…
Crockpot Method for Sweetened Cooked Condensed Milk:
So I used two cans of condensed milk and found 2 little jam jars; washed them clean and poured 1 can of sweetened condensed milk into each. I sealed the tops as tightly as I could by hand.
I then placed them in my Slow Cooker
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The dulce de leche was perfect. The right color and texture. No mysterious chemicals and now I get to lick the spoon.
When choosing a brand of condensed milk, just make sure the ingredients are simple. This was a cheap-o can and it reads “milk and sugar” – sounds simple enough to me! I’ve never noticed a difference between brands. Have you?
I’m dipping into this tonight with apple slices. Also, if you haven’t tried it already, our waffle cakes are a great way to use up your dulce de leche. What are your favorite dulce de leche recipes?
P.S. Once dulce de leche is cooled to room temp, refrigerate if you aren’t using it right away.
Dulce de Leche; Cooked Condensed Milk
Instructions
- I used two cans of condensed milk and found 2 little jam jars; washed them clean and poured 1 can of sweetened condensed milk into each. I sealed the tops as tightly as I could by hand.
- I then placed them in my Slow Cooker and completely covered them with hot water from the sink; hot water speeds up the process. I set it on high for 4 hours
- and walked away and when it was done, I drained the water and set the cooked sweetened condensed milk cans on the counter to cool. From my reading you can also set it on low for 6-8 hours overnight.
- The dulce de leche was perfect. The right color and texture. No mysterious chemicals and now I get to lick the spoon.
When choosing a brand of condensed milk, just make sure the ingredients are simple.
Notes
Hi there! Thanks of the recipe. Just one question…if I don’t have slow cooker, how else is possible to make it without using the can boiling version (I am scared to experience explosion, my mum once had it, it was such a mess to clean the ceilings after.. )
You can do it on the stove top, just make sure to have your cans fully submerged in water when you cook them and set timers both on your phone and in your kitchen so you don’t forget. On the stove top, it should be done within 2 hours. I’ve seen tutorials online for baking it also, but just haven’t tested it myself. Hm… that’s actually a great idea! Thank you 😉
How long does it stay good after cooking it? I probably cooked mine 3 weeks ago and its been standin on my counter, now I decided I wanted to use it but maybe its too late and its already bad?
I usually refrigerate mine if I am not using it the same day. It stays in the fridge for awhile (like 2 weeks at least!), but I’m not sure about being at room temp. I added that note to the recipe. I didn’t realize I hadn’t put that in there!
After 4 hrs its still really runny and it’s a light brown… I’m not sure what the consistence should be? Like this? Or more solid? Yours looks a lot more darker then mine. Will it solidify when I take it out and it cools?
It will firm up and get a little darker as it cools. It should be syrupy, not watery and a light tan caramel color when it first comes out of the crock pot. P.S. Did you start with hot water?
Yes I did. Thank you for responding 🙂 it did thicken up although it was still cooking for another hr:) I don’t think it harmed it. Delicious stuff btw! And I ate it right away with green apples:)) mmm! Thank u! Love ur website!!
Blessings to u from Asheville NC!
Thanks Sveta (I have a sister named Sveta) I don’t think you could really over cook the stuff unless you WAY overdid it (like several hours) 😉 Anyway, now you’ve got me craving this with green apples!
How would you cook it, if you don’t have a slow cooker?
You can cook it in a pot but I think a slow cooker is a safer bet. Make sure you always have enough water in the pot if using that method.
Thank you!! I wondered how to do this without doing it in the can! Wonderful.
You’re welcome 🙂 I think it’s safer too. I’ve heard many explosion in the can stories!
Natasha this looks awesome! What a great tip! Will have to try this next time I make vafilney tortik 🙂
Mila thank you! P.S. I love your blog. I’m not following you on all of your social channels. So happy to discover your site! 🙂
Its sgushonka not gushonka…:)
Thanks Dina, got it fixed :).
Wow! I had no idea that we weren’t supposed to cook it that way in the can… opps! Now I know to do it the right way. Ever think about adding a recipe about how to make caramel apples in the desserts section? would be so cool!
I do actually have a good recipe up my sleeve but haven’t posted it yet. Maybe in the Fall when it’s caramel apple season 😉
Hi Natasha,
Thank you for the great recipe 🙂 I made the dulce de leche last night and tasted it this morning – WOW! I am making tiny mason jars of this yummy stuff to give out to family at Christmas but I want to know how long it can be kept in the fridge? Will it still be good in about 2 weeks?
Thanks again for the great recipe 🙂
I’m so glad you liked it. It stays good for several weeks! 🙂 It’s great in coffee and anything really 🙂
Thank you for the tip . I always used to just boil cans for couple hours till one day both of them exploded in my kitchen !!!! I was cleaning my kitchen top to bottom ( including ceiling and walls ) for hours !!! Everything was sticky and icky . After that incident I’m soo afraid to cook it !!!! It sounded like a bomb explosion 🙂
I can only imagine that kind of disaster. And that stuff is so sticky too!! Ahh! I bet you were finding it in strange places for awhile 😉
Perfect! Just what i was looking for!
yes!!! 🙂 Happy to be of service.
To store cooked condensed milk, is it best to store in fridge or in shelf, if not opened but cooked? and for how long do you think? And a opened can too.
Cooked condensed milk should be refrigerated to be on the safe side. We have always kept it refrigerated.
I read most of the comments and still have a question. i don’t have a crock pot so do you think it would work if i just put the jars of condensed milk into a pot of water? i assume it would work just fine…
Yeah that should work just fine. I’d put it on a low boil for 2 hours. It’s faster in a pot of water. Just be sure the jars are fully submerged in water. 🙂
I have the glass jars in my crock pot and it doesnt seem to be turning a nice caramel color? It has 15 mins left of the 4 hours on high. The machine works so Im not sure whats going on? Do different brands get different temps? I am wondering what the heck to do now that I have 4 jars sitting here not caramel..
Kristine, did you add hot water in the beginning? That should speed up the process. Or possibly, if your slow cooker doesn’t heat up as quick as mine, leave it in for a little longer until it turns a light caramel color. It turns slightly darker when it cools. Hope this helps :).
Hi Natasha,
Quick question – I don’t have a slow cooker… can I cook it on the stove top? Not sure if you or any of your reader have tried this.
Thanks!
That should be fine, Let it simmer for 2 hours. MAKE sure the cans are covered the entire time with water to prevent explosions (to put it gently) 😉
How do you store the condense milk when it’s all done? Refrigerator or room temperature? Thanks
I refrigerate when it has cooled down to room temp.
If I dont have a slow cooker… can I just put the sweetened condensed milk in jars and cook them in a regular pot? Does it make a difference??
You sure can! It’s just nice in a slow cooker because you don’t have to watch it so closely. Make sure the jars are submerged in water.
You’re welcome 🙂
Have you ever made hard candy by boiling equal amounts of milk and sugar for what seems like hours? My mother used to let us “help” her make it on rainy summer afternoons when we complained of being bored. Wonder if you cooked it a little (lot?) less, would it taste like zhushchenka??
Oh good question! The last time I tried making hard candy was when I was 14 and I destroyed my mom’s pot. That would be a great thing to learn to make and post. Thank you for the tip! If you find something before me, please share! 🙂
Thanks for the recipe! I haven’t had one in a while. just wanted to check if anyone on here kne the recipe of sgushonoe kakao? 🙂 thanks