Learn how to make Cloud 9Β Instant Pot Dulce De Leche Recipe (Pressure Cooker Dulce De Leche). No can, no jar method. 2-ingredient super easy to make. Creamy, silky smooth, deeply caramelized dangerous indulgence. Makes perfect DIY Christmas gifts.
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After hours of research & 9+ Tests with 9 cans of Sweetened Condensed Milk, weβre proud to present our glorious Cloud 9 Instant Pot Dulce De Leche Recipe!!
Our fourth #ChristmasGive Challenge Recipe. π
What is the #ChristmasGive Challenge?

oopsβ¦I think we taste-tested too much before we put the Dulce de Leche in the jar π
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For December, weβll be publishing a series of NewΒ Instant Pot #ChristmasGive Recipes.
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What is Dulce De Leche?
Dulce De Leche is finger lickingΒ ecstasy.
A dangerous guilty pleasure.
A sinful indulgence as a kid.
Dulce De Leche is a sweetened condensed milk caramel thatβs popular through South America.
When you thought Sweetened Condensed Milk is good. Wait till you try Dulce De Lecheβ¦
Thick, spreadable, smooth, aromatic, rich, deep caramelized flavors.
Youβll think youβre on cloud 9β¦
Instant Pot Dulce De Leche Usages
- Eat straight out of the jar!!! π
- Drinks: sweetener in coffeeΒ or teaβ¦
- Cakes:Β topping, filling, or drizzle on cheesecakes, cupcakes, muffin, browniesβ¦
- Breakfast: spread on toast, biscuits, shortbread, crepes, pancakes, baguetteβ¦
- Snacks:Β dip forΒ apples, pears, crackers, cookiesβ¦
- Desserts:Β drizzle on ice-cream, fillings for tarts, chocolate bites, rice krispiesβ¦
- DIY Gifts: Christmas baskets, housewarming gifts, party favorsβ¦
Why Use Instant Pot Pressure Cooker?
We love making Dulce De Leche in Instant Pot Pressure Cooker because itβs easier, faster, and no need to babysit the pot on the stove!
Making Dulce De Leche on the stovetop normally requires 1.5 β 2 hours hands-on simmering with an occasional stir. And it takes roughly 8 β 12 hours in the Slow Cooker.
Instant Pot Dulce De Leche Experiment
Weβve Explored 3 Factors for Making Dulce De Leche:
- Which Brand to Use?
- Which Method to Use?
- Secret Ingredient
1. Which Brand of Sweetened Condensed Milk?
When we checked different brands of Sweetened Condensed Milk at the grocery store, they have more or less similar ingredients and nutrition facts.
So, does it matter which brand we use?
To satisfy our curious minds + tastebuds, of course we had to experiment for ourselves! More like an excuse to stock up on Condensed Milkβ¦hehe~ π
We tested our Instant Pot Dulce De Leche Recipe using 3 different brands of sweetened condensed milk: Eagle Brand, Longevity Brand, andΒ Store Brand.
And the answer is YES! It matters.
The brands vary in flavors (complexity, sweetness) and texture (creaminess). And these factors affect the quality of the final caramelized Dulce de Leche.
Caramelization Tests
Longevity BrandΒ & Store BrandΒ caramelized better/faster (darker color) thanΒ Eagle Brand.
- Store BrandΒ took High Pressure 40 mins + Natural Release to reach desire caramelized color.
- Longevity Brandβs result was similar to Store Brandβs.
- Eagle Brand took High Pressure 60 mins + Natural Release to reach the same color.
Winner: Longevity Brand (ε£½ζε ¬η ε₯Ά)
Longevity Brand wins over Eagle Brand and Store Brand in terms of overall flavor complexity (balanced & not flat tasting), sweetness (not too sweet), and texture (creamy thick syrup texture), both before and after caramelization.
Get your hands on the Longevity Brand!
*Pro Tip: If you couldnβt find them in your local supermarkets, try an Asian market or buy it onΒ Amazon.
P.S. Weβre not sponsored by the Longevity Brand. And our taste-tests were totally unbiased (though the Longevity Brand was founded by a fellow Hong Konger β θ‘εΏ΅ε ε η π ).
2. Which Method to Use?
2 of the most common methods to make Instant Pot Dulce De Leche: in Mason Jars and in the Original Can.
However, there are disadvantages to both methods mainly concerning safety and quality ofΒ final results.
Letβs take a look at each of the methods.
#1 Can Method
Since Condensed Milk Manufacturers advise against heating the condensed milk in the original can due to safety concerns, we didnβt want to risk it.
Pros
- Convenient: no need to use any other containers, just peel the labels on the can and pressure cook the sealed can
- Age-old Method that Works: the method of boiling a can of condensed milk in water bath has long been used in multiple countries
Cons
- Worrisome: some may feel uncomfortable pressure cooking sealed aluminum or tin cans
- Safety: may cause safety issues as advised byΒ Condensed Milk Manufacturers
- Longer Time:Β you need to wait for the can to totally cools down before it is safe to open β the wait is a killer!
- Less Room for Customization:Β cannot adjust the caramelization to your liking, canβt add our Secret Ingredient
- Messy Cleanup:Β may need to clean up the messy adhesive from the can in the pot after pressure cooking
#2 Jar Method
Making Dulce De Leche in the jar is a popular alternative.
Pros
- Convenient for Gifts: you can decorate & gift the glass jar you made them in.
- Safety: donβt have to worry about pressure cooking aluminum or tin cans
Cons
- Need Right Canning Jars
- Safety: thereβs a risk of glass jar breaking under pressure
- Room for Error: may not yield great results if the lid was too loose or too tight.
- More Time-Consuming & Harder to Remove Lumps: since the Dulce de Leche are in individual jars, youβll need to whisk through each jar for a few minutes to smooth out the caramel.
#3 Stainless Steel Bowl Method
Instead of the Jar or Can Methods, we prefer the Stainless Steel Bowl Method! π
Why use the Stainless Steel Bowl Method?
- Easy Prep:Β pour all the sweetened condensed milk in the bowl β done! (no need to worry about finding the right canning jars, how tight to turn the lid, if the seal is new, how full to fill the jarsβ¦etc.)
- No Need to Use Steamer Rack/Basket:Β stainless steel bowl goes straight in the water in the pot
- Safe: no need to worry about breaking glass, exploding cans, or heating aluminum cans under pressure
- Quick & Easy to Remove Lumps (if any): you can simply use a immersion hand blender to smooth out any lumps right in the stainless steel bowl
- Allows Customization:Β you can easily adjust how caramelized (dark color), how thick, how smooth you like your Dulce De Leche with this method
- Quick Satisfaction: enjoy it right away if you will π
3. Secret Ingredient β Baking Soda
Our last concern is how to achieve a beautifully caramelized Dulce De Leche.
We experimented making Instant Pot Dulce De Leche with and without Baking Soda, and here are the results:
Results Comparison
With Baking Soda: more intense color, more caramelized, slightly less sweet with more flavors complexity, tastes like caramel sauce with slight milky sugary flavors, buttery aroma, tastes better than without Baking Soda.
*Note: Since milk is slightly acidic, you wonβt be able to taste the small amount of Baking Soda.
Without Baking Soda: much lighter brown color,Β more milky sugary taste, not as caramelized
Conclusion
The secret to achieving beautifully caramelized color in a shorter time: Baking Soda!!
As you can see, Dulce De Leche is serious matter in our house. π
After 9+ Tests with 9 cans of Sweetened Condensed Milk, we were lifted into a state of perfect happiness β Cloud 9 β as we indulge in spoonful after spoonful of Dulce De Leche.
Hence, weβre naming this gloriousΒ Cloud 9 Dulce De Leche!
Time to make someΒ Instant Pot Cloud 9 Dulce De Leche!!
Ingredients for Cloud 9 Instant Pot Dulce De Leche Recipe
- 1 14oz can (396g)Β sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup (250ml) cold water
- Baking Soda Mixture: Β½ teaspoon (3g)Β baking soda +Β 3 tablespoons (45ml) warm water
*Caution:Β please ensure you got the right ingredients!! π
- Use Baking SodaΒ β NOT Baking Powder.
- Use Sweetened Condensed Milk, dulce de leche magic wonβt work with Evaporated Milk. π
ToolsΒ for Cloud 9 Instant Pot Dulce De Leche
- Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker
- Small Mixing Bowl
- Food Grade Stainless Steel Bowl (to place in Instant Pot)
- Immersion hand blender
How to Make Cloud 9 Instant Pot Dulce De Leche Recipe
Step 1
Create Baking Soda Mixture
Β½ teaspoon (3g) baking soda
3 tablespoons (45ml) warm water
Small Mixing Bowl
In a small mixing bowl, combine Β½ tsp (3g) baking soda with 3 tbsp (45ml) warm water.
*Pro Tip: Mix very well until all the baking soda has dissolved.
*CAUTION: double or even triple check β weβre using Baking Soda for this recipe, NOT Baking Powder.
Step 2
Combine Ingredients
1 14oz can (396g)Β sweetened condensed milk
Baking soda mixture
Food grade stainless steel bowl
Pour 1 14oz can (414ml) sweetened condensed milk in a stainless steel bowl (we used a 7β bowl for our 6 quart Instant Pot).
Add in the baking soda mixture and combine. Mix well.
Step 3
Pressure Cook Dulce De Leche
1 cup (250ml) cold water
Condensed milk mixture in bowl
Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker
Add 1 cup (250ml) cold water in the Instant Pot.
Place the stainless steel bowl of condensed milk mixture directly in the water.
Close lid and pressure cook at
- Pressure Cooking Method: High Pressure for 40 β 90 minutes (see Pro Tip), then Full Natural Release.
Open the lid carefully.
*Pro Tip:Β We tested 3 different brands of sweetened condensed milk. One brand took only 40 mins + Natural Release to reach desire caramelized color, while the other brand took 60 mins + Natural Release to reach the same color. Adjust accordingly.
Step 4
Create Instant Pot Dulce de Leche
Remove the stainless steel bowl from the Instant Pot pressure cooker.
Mix & inspect the dulce de leche with a fork.
*Pro Tip 1: If it is not caramelized to desired color, simply place it back into the Instant Pot and pressure cook it for another 20 β 30 minutes.
*Pro Tip 2: Depending on your brand of Sweetened Condensed Milk, the Dulce De Leche can turn out lumpy and looks unappetizing.
Donβt worry! Itβs perfectly normal. It takes 30 seconds to smooth it out withΒ an immersion hand blender.
*Note: if the Instant Pot dulce de leche looksΒ a bit runnier than your desired consistency, keep in mind that itβll gradually thicken as it cools, and itβll harden when itβs chilled overnight in the fridge.
Step 5
Serve Cloud 9 Instant Pot Dulce de Leche
Ta da! Your very own Cloud 9 Dulce de Lecheβ¦
The possibilities are endless on how to enjoy this dangerous indulgence Cloud 9 Instant Pot Dulce De Leche.
Let your creative side shine!
*Note:Β the Instant Pot Dulce De Leche will thicken up as it cools and thin out as it warms up.

Instant Pot New York Cheesecake #17 spread with Instant Pot Dulce De Leche
Whatβs your favorite way to enjoy Dulce De Leche?Β Leave us a comment below.
Cooking TipsΒ for Cloud 9 Instant Pot Dulce De Leche
1. Choose Your Brand of Sweetened Condensed Milk Wisely.
After tasting and testing our Instant Pot Dulce De Leche Recipe with 3 Sweetened Condensed Milk Brands: Eagle Brand, Longevity Brand, andΒ Store Brand, Longevity Brand clearly wins.
2. Triple-Check You Have the Right Ingredients!
Baking SodaΒ β NOT Baking Powder.
Sweetened Condensed Milk β itβs easy to be confused by canned Sweetened Condensed Milk with Evaporated Milk, especially when theyβre placed side-by-side on the grocery shelves. They are NOT interchangeable in recipes, so be sure to double-check youβve got Sweetened Condensed Milk! π
3. Dulce De Leche Not Dark Enough?
If the Dulce De Leche didnβt caramelize to your desired color, place it back in the Instant Pot and pressure cook for another 20 β 30 minutes.
4. Dulce De Leche Turned Out Lumpy?
From our experiment with different brands of Sweetened Condensed Milk, some Dulce De Leche came out smooth, while others came out lumpy and looks unappetizing.
If yours turn out lumpy, donβt worry! Itβs perfectly normal. It just takes 30 seconds to smooth it out withΒ an immersion hand blender. π
5. Dulce De Leche Not Thick Enough?
If your Instant Pot Dulce De Leche looksΒ a bit runnier than your desired consistency, keep in mind that itβll gradually thicken as it cools, and harden when chilled overnight in the fridge.
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Instant Pot Dulce De Leche
Ingredients
- 1 14oz can (396g) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup (250ml) cold water
Baking Soda Mixture:
- Β½ teaspoon (3g) baking soda
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) warm water
Instructions
- Create Baking Soda Mixture: In a small mixing bowl, combine Β½ tsp (3g) baking soda with 3 tbsp (45ml) warm water. Mix very well until all the baking soda has dissolved.
- Combine Ingredients: Pour 1 14oz can (414ml) sweetened condensed milk in a stainless steel bowl (we used a 7β bowl for our 6 quart Instant Pot). Add in the baking soda mixture and combine. Mix well.
- Pressure Cook Dulce De Leche: Add 1 cup (250ml) cold water in the Instant Pot. Place the stainless bowl of condensed milk mixture directly in the water. Close lid and pressure cook at High Pressure for 40 - 90 minutes (Please see notes), then Full Natural Release.
- Create Instant Pot Dulce de Leche: Open the lid carefully. Remove the stainless steel bowl from the pressure cooker. Mix & inspect the dulce de leche with a fork. If it is not caramelized to desired color, simply place it back into the Instant Pot and pressure cook it for another 20 - 30 minutes. The mixture will be lumpy, use an immersion blender or blender to smooth out the lumps.
- Serve: The dulce de leche will thicken up as it cools and thin out as it warms up.
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