This is a one ingredient recipe. Don’t be such a skeptic. Alright, I was pretty skeptical at first myself, and even well into the process. But it turns out this crock pot caramel sauce recipe is simple, affordable, and tastes pretty amazing. I’ll definitely be making it again!
I have been using my crock pot a lot during the summer months, and on my quest to find new recipes came across this on a couple of different sites like this one here. All you need is a can of Sweetened Condensed Milk. Seriously, that is all. The versions of this recipe that I saw placed the can straight into the crock pot, but I don’t feel so good about cooking it right in the can – paranoid as I am.
Instead, I emptied one can of Sweetened Condensed Milk into a glass canning jar and tightly screwed on the lid. I actually did two jars, since I was making it for a spa party that I hosted on Saturday. This stuff went fast, so next time I’ll do three and keep one for myself.
Next, I placed the canning jars into my largest crock pot and filled it with water all the way to the top of the jars. Be sure that the water level is higher than the milk.
The instructions called for cooking the submerged Sweetened Condensed Milk on low for 8 hours, which I did. But mine wasn’t quite ready yet. I started to get a little nervous if it was going to work at all. So, I bumped the heat up to high and let it go for another two hours. What I ended up with was beautifully golden caramel sauce. Had I used the can method and not the jars, I would not have known that it wasn’t ready. It’s possible that the temperature of my slow cooker is running a little lower than it should, so I recommend starting out with 8 hours on low, check the color of the caramel at that point and determine if you need to continue cooking it on high a little longer.
One or two jars just isn’t enough. I scraped every last bit out of those jars.
I served the caramel sauce with apple slices, but I imagine it would be pretty great over a bowl of vanilla ice cream as well. Heck, I’d eat it straight out of the jar. Oh wait, I did!
Store this in the refrigerator if you are not using it right away. Take it out a couple of hours before serving to bring it to room temperature.
Side note: I mentioned on our Facebook page that we had made this, and a reader asked if a salted caramel version would work. I don’t see why not and totally wish I had thought of this myself. Next time, I’ll sprinkle a little sea salt into the jar before putting the lid on.
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Amber K says
September 7, 2013 at 10:55 PMMmm I want to try this; I’ve never made caramel using condensed milk. It sounds much easier than from scratch.
Tricia @ Night owl mama says
September 8, 2013 at 1:16 AMthese just look delicious and I know I would love to make some but of course i do that before the kids came home from school so I can get some 1st
Emily says
September 8, 2013 at 1:37 AMOh i love the idea of sea salt!!
Lolo says
September 8, 2013 at 2:21 AMI totally love caramel on my apples as a treat! I want to make this!
LyndaS says
September 8, 2013 at 8:57 AMThat looks wonderful. I know people who would boil the whole can on the stove top and then use the contents to make a caramel pie.
courtney says
September 8, 2013 at 10:27 AMWHAT! I have to do this
Jenn says
September 8, 2013 at 12:09 PMPinning this to try later. Sure beats buying the expensive pre-packaged fruit dipping sauces!
HilLesha says
September 8, 2013 at 12:45 PMI must try this! 🙂
Lisa says
September 8, 2013 at 2:24 PMI need to make this!
Jennifer H says
September 8, 2013 at 2:38 PMhow cool! And it looks really yummy!
Katie says
September 8, 2013 at 2:48 PMoh, that looks PERFECT for Halloween parties!
Kathleen says
September 8, 2013 at 6:35 PMYum! This is one recipe I have got to try!
Rachel says
September 8, 2013 at 8:30 PMYum. I have always heard of doing this on the stove but never wanted to try it. I like this idea so much better. And I have lots of jars.
Mitch says
September 8, 2013 at 8:50 PMAre you trying to kill me? I love caramel sauce, I even weakened yesterday and bought the fake stuff!
PS I always have sugar babies in the car, you know, in case I get drowsy!
thanks,
Mitch
Becca @ Mama B says
September 8, 2013 at 9:07 PMOh my goshhh!! I am pinning this and making it ASAP!
Jenn- The Rebel Chick says
September 8, 2013 at 10:20 PMI love dipping apples into caramel sauce. Never had homemade caramel though.
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom says
September 8, 2013 at 11:57 PMI never realized this was so easy!
Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins says
September 9, 2013 at 1:47 AMThis looks so good! Now, I’m craving apples lol.
debra p says
September 9, 2013 at 3:36 AMI love caramel apples and this looks delicious.
Shell Feis says
September 9, 2013 at 4:54 AMI had NO idea how caramel was made- how cool! I need to try this, we bought some caramel sauce the other day & it tasted chemical-y so I want to make my own!
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
September 9, 2013 at 12:25 PMMy son would love this! Thank you!
Donna says
September 9, 2013 at 8:22 PMWow! I can do this! Really, I can! Thanks for sharing this. Now off to see if I have a can of sweetened condensed milk in my pantry. 🙂
Mellisa says
September 10, 2013 at 10:12 AMThat looks so easy! I’ll have to try it out.
Christina Strapp says
September 14, 2013 at 1:17 AMThis looks so good and very easy to make. I’m sure my daughter would love this with her fruit.
Evaq24 says
September 14, 2013 at 5:39 PMI’ve made this in the can in my crock pot. It works great :-). Alspo pretty much anything canned was boiled in that can. I’ve worked in a processing plant. It’s how it’s sealed . Also cooking it in the can doesn’t take as long because it’s under pressure. And you submerge the unopened can. Great post though.
Diane Cooper says
September 23, 2013 at 7:53 PMI have got to try this! My husband’s favorite thing is apple slices and caramel sauce. I am also a little skeptical about doing it in the can, so I will use canning jars, also.
Lisa Ehrman says
September 23, 2013 at 7:59 PMI can’t believe it’s that easy 🙂 I’ve got to try this on the weekend. Pinning now!
Terin says
September 29, 2013 at 12:42 AMEvaq24 is correct. By switching to the glass jars you affected the time it takes. The can conducts better and the pressure also decreases the time needed. I have done this since somewhere around 1982 when I learned it as part of a Spanish program and we were making Dulce de Leche. I don’t make it often. By the time you factor in the cost of heating something that long and the higher cost of sweetened condensed milk, I can often find a good Dulce de Leche or carmel sauce already made for less work and $$. I do agree this one tastes better to me, maybe due to nostalgia. I do like the idea of using the crock pot. I always just boiled mine on the stove.
Michelle F. says
October 7, 2013 at 2:08 AMlove that you do it in glass jars. I have my jars and condensed milk ready and will be attempting it tomorrow morning.
Jessica Fortner says
December 7, 2013 at 4:46 AMYour caramel sauce looks so thick and delicious! I’d love to try it at home.
melisa says
March 31, 2014 at 8:08 PMWhen I was younger we’d do the sweetened condensed milk in the can in water for awhile, we loved it. I haven’t heard of doing it in the crock pot, nor have I heard of doing it in mason jars. What a great idea, as you said, this way you can see when it’s ready, I really like that!
ANN*H says
April 21, 2014 at 11:30 PMthis is a good recipe for dipping apples in. we get caramel apples alot but we dont always want to eat the whole thing all at once , so this would allow us to eat only as much as we are hungry for. thanks for the recipe
Linda says
December 14, 2014 at 9:01 PMI tried this today. The color is more of a brown instead of caramel. The flavor is good but the texture is not like caramel at all. Just wondering if I cooked it the right amount of time. I did 8 hours on low.
Vicki says
July 4, 2015 at 11:43 AMWhere have you all been? My grandma was boiling Sweetened Condensed Milk in the can more than 50 years ago. I submerge mine in the stock pot basket so it doesn’t sit on the bottom of the pan. Then simmer for three hours. We spread it on graham crackers
Stacy says
March 21, 2017 at 9:21 AMI don’t have a slow cooker so I filled my Dutch oven with water and boiled/steady simmering 3 hours submurged in water a can of sweetened condensed milk with label off and then let it cool…Watch to keep water over can … Voila caramel inside!! And I mean DELISH!!! I put it in a jar with a lid and keep in fridge use as needed!! OMG!!
Angela says
March 21, 2017 at 9:43 AMHi Stacy! I’m so glad you found a way to make this work for you. Thanks for sharing.