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4.6 from 16 votes

1 Ingredient Caramel Sauce

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By: Joanna Cismaru •Last Updated: 7/7/22 30 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

1 Ingredient Caramel Sauce – you won’t believe how easy this is, you only need 1 ingredient and less than a minute prep time and you have smooth and delicious caramel sauce.

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  • Recipe: 1 Ingredient Caramel Sauce
  • How To Make 1 Ingredient Caramel Sauce
  • Other Delicious Recipes To Try
  • Recipe: 1 Ingredient Caramel Sauce
1 Ingredient Caramel Sauce in a jar

1 Ingredient Caramel Sauce

This has seriously got to be the silliest thing I’ve ever posted … BUT I was so curious, I just had to try this. I was watching youtube the other day looking at how to make macarons, yes I am scared of making them and think that if I watch a million videos I’ll get the courage to make them some day, when I came across a video on how to make caramel sauce.

You see I’ve never made caramel sauce at home, I always buy the stuff. For one I don’t use it often, and two I couldn’t be bothered. However this video intrigued me because it required only one ingredient, my friends. And that was sweetened condensed milk. Now I always have this stuff in my pantry, don’t ask me why, I’m a food blogger, we need sweetened condensed milk.

I used the Eagle Brand, I think that’s pretty much the only brand they have at my local grocery store, but any brand will work, so don’t worry about that.

How To Make 1 Ingredient Caramel Sauce

A can of sweetened condensed milk

Remove the label from the can if you can, otherwise just leave it on, it will easily come off as you boil this. That’s right, you heard me right. Fill a soup pot, or some pot that’s deep enough, with hot water then place the can in the pot. Make sure it’s covered with water. You want there to be a couple inches of water over the can.

Can of sweetened condensed milk boiling in a pot of water

Now boil this on medium high heat for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. I boiled mine for 3 hours. The longer you keep it the darker and thicker it will be. Make sure you look at it occasionally because you will need to add more water as some water will evaporate. After 3 hours remove let the can cool completely in the water. then remove from pot. I left mine out on the counter overnight because I didn’t need it until the next day. Before opening it i placed it in the pot with hot water from the tap for just a few minutes so that the caramel becomes a bit smoother. Just make sure you don’t open the can immediately after boiling it for 3 hours, you could hurt yourself.

Can of caramel

Yes I licked the caramel sauce from that lid, cause I’m a kid that way, not a mature woman!

So let me tell you that I was full of skepticism as I was making this, not believing that it would work. But it does! It’s like magic! And you know how I love all things magic.

Alternately, you can place the can in the slow cooker and fill the slow cooker with water, set it on low and leave it there for 8 hours. Same thing with the slow cooker though, you might want to check on it occasionally and add more hot water.

So there you have it, the easiest way to make caramel sauce or dulce de leche, to me they’re one and the same. Can’t beat that, 1 ingredient! Come back for my next post where I will show you another magic recipe I made where I used this caramel sauce. You won’t believe it!

Top shot of 1 Ingredient Caramel Sauce in a jar with a spoon in it

Other Delicious Recipes To Try

  • Apple Hand Pies
  • Caramel Apple Dip
  • Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake Bars
  • Mini Salted Caramel Cheesecakes
  • Scrumptious Caramel Pear Pie
  • Canadian Butter Tarts

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

a spoon taking a scoop of caramel sauce from a jar
4.63 from 16 votes

1 Ingredient Caramel Sauce

Prep 1 minute minute
Cook 3 hours hours
Total 3 hours hours 1 minute minute
8
Rate Recipe Print Recipe
1 Ingredient Caramel Sauce – you won’t believe how easy this is, you only need 1 ingredient and less than a minute prep time and you have smooth and delicious caramel sauce.

Ingredients

  • 14 ounce sweetened condensed milk (1 can)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Fill a deep pot with hot water and bring to a boil. Immerse closed can in the pot. Make sure there are at least a couple of inches of water above the can. The label will come off at some point during boiling.
  • Let it boil or simmer on medium heat for about 3 hours. Check on it occasionally, and top with water as water will evaporate. Remove from heat and let it cool completely before opening the can.

Notes

  1. You must use sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk will not work.
  2. If you want your sauce to be smoother, place the can in hot water from the tap for a few minutes before opening.
  3. The longer you let the can boil in water, the darker the caramel sauce will be.
  4. Alternately, you can use a slow cooker on low heat for 8 hours, also making sure to top with water occasionally.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1servingCalories: 159kcal (8%)Carbohydrates: 27g (9%)Protein: 4g (8%)Fat: 4g (6%)Saturated Fat: 3g (19%)Cholesterol: 17mg (6%)Sodium: 63mg (3%)Potassium: 184mg (5%)Sugar: 27g (30%)Vitamin A: 132IU (3%)Vitamin C: 1mg (1%)Calcium: 141mg (14%)Iron: 1mg (6%)
© Author Joanna Cismaru

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

a spoon taking a scoop of caramel sauce from a jar

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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I'm Joanna Cismaru, home cook, recipe developer, and the person behind JoCooks since 2011. I test every recipe in my own kitchen, multiple times, until it's actually worth making. My goal is simple: recipes that work, written the way a real person cooks.

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Hey there!

I’m Joanna Cismaru, home cook, recipe developer, and the person behind JoCooks since 2011. I test every recipe in my own kitchen, multiple times, until it’s actually worth making. My goal is simple: recipes that work, written the way a real person cooks.

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