Instant Pot Dulce de Leche Recipe
An easy 35-minute Instant Pot Dulce de Leche recipe. This is a 1-ingredient recipe! Sweetened condensed milk is cooked until it becomes a thick and creamy caramel-like indulgence you can use for many dessert recipes.
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Valentina with Valentina’s Corner here. I am really excited to share this recipe with you because it’s a lifesaver. Dulce de leche (cooked condensed milk) was a must-have in my Mother’s kitchen as we used it for many traditional recipes. We always had (and have) a few cans stored in the refrigerator.
Dulce de leche is great in recipes like the easy and traditional Ukrainian Waffle Cake or drizzled into your morning coffee.
What is dulce de leche?
Dulce de leche is incredible. It is basically sweetened condensed milk heated until it thickens and caramelizes. You could sit and eat with a spoon when a dessert craving kicks in. Admit it, you’re guilty of this.
We used to always prepare it with a slow cooker but that takes considerably more time. If you have an instant pot (pressure cooker), this 35-minute version is going to become your new favorite. You get the same results in a fraction of the time.
How to make dulce de leche in an instant pot?
- Wash pint-sized mason jars, lids, and bands with soapy warm water. Dry the jars. (This keeps the jars from exploding.)
- Pour sweetened condensed milk into mason jars. Secure with lids.
- Place jars on a rack in the instant pot. Pour water into the pressure cooker just below the lids.
- Cook 35-40 minutes on manual high pressure with a quick release of pressure. Cans will be HOT, remove them with a canning jar lifter
.
- Cover jars with a kitchen towel and allow to cool. Don’t open the jars until they have completely cooled.
.NOTE: When removing the jars, the dulce de leche may seem runny and not fully cooked, no worries. It will thicken more as it fully cools.
How long should I cook the condensed milk?
The cook time will depend on how thick and dark you like the dulce de leche:
- 35-minutes cook time will result in a golden creamy dulce de leche.
- 40-minutes cook time will result in a dark brown rich color and it will be really thick. (This would be the same consistency and color you’d get if you have ever purchased it at the store.)
How to store dulce de leche?
You can store it in the refrigerator in the jars 2-3 weeks.
NOTE: You can fit up to three mason jars into a standard pressure cooker. If you need more than two jars, add another one when cooking.
Try these recipes using dulce de leche-
- King’s Cake – A stunning layered cake
- Russian Cherry Layer Cake- The cherry crumble is so good!
- Poppyseed Roulade- For the poppyseed lover!
- Layered Snickers Cake- Tastes just like the candy bar.
Instant Pot Dulce de Leche
Instructions
- Wash two mason jars, lids and bands with soapy warm water. Dry the jars. (This keeps the jars from exploding.)
- Pour sweetened condensed milk into the mason jars. Secure the jars with lids and bands.
- Place the jars on the rack of your instant pot. Pour water into the pressure cooker just below the lids.
- Cook 35-40 minutes* on manual high pressure with a quick release of pressure. Cans will be HOT, remove them with a canning jar lifter.
- Cover jars with a kitchen towel and allow to cool. (Don’t open the jars until they have completely cooled.)
Notes
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
What is your favorite recipe using dulce de leche? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
Valentina Ablaev
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Hi Natasha. I’ve tried this recipe but I think I’ve made a mistake. Was 1 hour too long? I wanted a golden color but my mom told me to do it longer & it turned out choppy darker.
Hi Lily, I recommend following the recipe as written and as it is especially your first time because that has been proven to work.
hi….i’m so excited on trying to make dulce de leche this way but i’m confused is to why i need to wash the jars again “to avoid exploding” should i be worried about jars exploding?
Hi Emily, the key is in making sure you have enough water going up the side of the jars (also avoid using very large jars or you won’t be able to accomplish that).
Hi Eliza, I think that should work fine so long as they fit on the rack. We have a note on it in the recipe, You can store it in the refrigerator in the jars 2-3 weeks.
thats great natasha. thank you for answering my questions. can i add 2 cans of condensed milk into 1 taller jar then? also do you have an ORESHKI recipe?
Hi Eliza. You can use the search bar at the top of the page to search for all my recipes on my website. I do not have a recipe for that.
The key is making sure you have enough water going up the side of the jars so if you’re using large jars you may not be able to accomplish that.
sooo using a Ball wide mouth 24oz jar per 1 can is a NO then? i have no idea is to where i can find a 14oz jar with out buying the whole case of them. lol.
thank you natasha.
This is great! I tested today in instant pot but not in jars, I poured it in 6inch stainless steel bowl that fits perfectly in my instant pot and added water to the instant pot ,cooked 45 minutes… 👍
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Hi, I just made this and put in 4 ounce jars but I’m wondering how to make it to preserve it so I could use these as a bridal shower or wedding shower favor and not worry about it not being refrigerated.
Hi Donna, Please check out How to store dulce de leche in the recipe. I haven’t tried it any other way though to advise.
Hi! I’m from Malaysia. Follow the recipes but water gets into my jar. I already sealed properly but still water gets in. Can I pour away the top water and use the dulce de leche.
Hi Amy, I wonder if maybe there is a gap in the seal. You can drain off any water that pools at the top and still use it.
Hi! Looking forward to making this. I have left over condensed milk and thought I could make this with the churros. Does the time change if I have about 3/4 cups?
Hi Vedika, It should still take about the same amount of time to make dulce de leche even with a smaller amount.
What brand of condensed milk do you use? Also, can I make it in a regular jar with a screw type lid instead of mason jar?
Hi Natasha, we buy the brand Costco carries. But we like the Eagle Brand or Nestle Carnation.
Mine never thickened. It’s been 24 hours. What went wrong? I’ve tried twice
Hi Shanna, was time or size of can altered? Anything skipped in the recipe to help us better troubleshoot? It is hard to say without being there.
I’m not clear why the jars need to be dry “to avoid exploding”. The milk is wet going in and the jars are in water. Have you had problems with the glass jars exploding? I would think as long as everything heats up together it should be okay.
Hi Leigh, the key is in making sure you have enough water going up the side of the jars (also avoid using very large jars or you won’t be able to accomplish that).
Hi! Is there another way to make this without an instant pot? I have a crock pot of boiling? Any suggestions are appreciated.
Hi Gabriela, I have a crockpot version for dulce de leche here.
I received an Instant Pot from our son and his family for Christmas this year. I am looking for fun things to make. This will be on of them I love Dulce de Leche. I can’t wait to make it. I have to buy the Evaporated mile first.
Oh that’s very exciting! Make sure to explore our instant pot recipes here. I have another great one that we will publish on January 10th that we just filmed. It’s amazing!
Oh my gosh this is amazing! I just purchased an instant pot and wanted to cook something simple. I just love dulce de leche. So yummy. Thanks for sharing!
You’re so welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed that.
I’ve made this twice in my Instant Pot. So quick and easy. And soooo good! I used it both times to make Banoffee Pie. It’s great on ice cream too.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
I have an off brand pressure cooker which didn’t come with racks…. is it okay to make this without the racks with jars placed directly on the bottom?
Hi Natalia, I haven’t tested that without a rack so I can’t say it will work. If you experiment please let me know how you like that.
I placed a couple paper towels on the bottom of my cooker and it worked great!
Thank you for sharing that with us!
Can you do 4 jars at a time in the large instant pot?
Hi Tanya, I think that should work fine so long as they fit on the rack.
I made this today. I let it sit a little longer in the pressure cooker based on the picture. Added a little salt and a teaspoon of vanilla and it was perfect! Thank you so much for this recipe!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it Kevin!
I had 2 smaller jars which was able to hold one 14oz. can of sweetened milk. Is the cook time still the same?
Hi Paula, yes the cook time should still be the same.
Why are you covering with a dish towel during the cooling process?
I covered mine with a dish towel during the cooling process. If you look inside the jar it’s still boiling for a bit when you pull it out.
That’s why you cover it with the dish towel during the cooling process, allows for the center to finish cooking as it’s cooled. 🙂
Hi Valentina,
I’ve made my own sweetened condensed milk and it’s about two cups which I have put into one jar with a screw type lid. I don’t have an instant pot. Will a normal pressure cooker do?
Hi Miyani, yes a normal pressure cooker should work well since an instant pot is essentially a pressure cooker and we are just cooking this on the pressure cooker mode.
I’m looking forward to trying this. I’ve made dulce de leche in a pie plate (that’s been placed in a water bath) in the oven before, but your method would good for the summer when you don’t want to heat up the kitchen. Plus, I recently got an Instant Pot (which I have yet to try). I have a killer recipe for salted dulce de leche sandwhich cookies that I will use this in.
That’s so great Paula! Enjoy your Insta Pot! mmmm those sandwich cookies sound so good!
40 years ago,I made the cans boiled in a regular cooker .I made sure the cans were covered by water and I made them boiled for 45 m.Unfortunately the water evaporated before the time and the cans explored .So,from then on,I ordered the dulce de leche by mail.
That has always been a fear of mine! Why I chose this method!
LOVE this, cannot wait to try it!!!! You don’t want to cook with the aluminum cans, it’s really bad for your health, even says so on the back of the cans. And it only takes like 1 minute to transfer it to the jars:).
Yes! I figured there was a reason why they would put a warning like that right on the cans! Thanks for sharing Olya!
Thanks for the heads up!
I love dulce de leche. Thanks for this easy recipe.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Wow. This is awesome. Thank u for sharing. Going to make some this weekend. 👌
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
Hello ! I make dulce de leche from scratch on the stove top and it last for approx 2 up to 2 1/2 hours. This one is my new favourite, definitely ! Thank you so much !
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Hi! Are we able to just put the cans into the instant pot without transferring the condensed milk to mason jars?
Hi Zoya! Honestly, I haven’t tested that because I’ve heard terrible stories of those tin cans exploding if not fully submerged and I’m not sure if that would be made worse under pressure. I would not risk it.
I always put the tins directly into the pressure cooker. Never had a one explode on me……. and it is something I make fairly regularly!
Thank you so much for sharing!! I’ve heard several stories from my readers about stove-top explosions in the tin cans but no one has said anything about pressure cookers thankfully! 🙂
I put the tin cans directly in my pressure cooker also!
How long would you cook the cans for? Same as the glass?
I like mine really thick, so I put the tins at 15lb’s pressure for 40 minutes. The longer you leave it the thicker it gets!
Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Well, I have a neighbor who for many years never had an issue with the cans exploding until one day they did. I will never make mine in the can for this reason and because of the very real danger of toxins/chemicals leaching from the cans into your dulce de leche. Not worth it. This method of transferring into canning jars works great, is safe, easy and makes delicious dulce de leche.
It is definitely safer and prevents toxins. Thank you for sharing that great review with us!