Making this delicious vegan dulce de leche recipe at home has never been easier. Made with sweetened condensed oat milk and no coconut products. Creamy, thick and delicious it goes perfectly with ice cream, cheesecake, apple crisp, and your favorite coffee latte.
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Traditionally Dulce de Leche, also known as caramelized milk is made from the simple ingredients of sugar and milk. It is a popular confection in Latin America. Traditionally, it’s made by simmering milk and sugar over low heat until it transforms into a thick, caramel sauce. Origins have been claimed by Argentina as well as Uruguay. Many Latin American countries have their own variations to the recipes for making Dulce de Leche.
Our vegan dulce de leche is inspired by the traditional Uruguayan recipe.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This vegan version of dulce de leche tastes just like the original only vegan and also dairy-free. This is one of the easiest recipes on this site. With only one ingredient!
- Only 1 Ingredient
- Creamy, Rich & Decadent
- Easy To Make Stove Top Method
- Great Vegan Alternative to Dulce de Leche & Caramel Made With Cow's Milk
- Made Without Dates Or No Coconut.
Key Ingredient
You'll need the following ingredient to make this vegan dulce de leche sauce.
- Vegan Sweetened Condensed Milk (Do not confuse with Coconut Cream): Different Brands are Nature’s Charm; Let’s Do Organic and Iberia all make sweetened condensed milk that can be found in the baking aisle at your local grocery store. Coconut Dulce De Leche is an alternative to this oat milk version. If you’re boiling the can it’s a best practice to use the type of can that doesn’t have a pop top.
See recipe card below for a full list of measurements and directions.
Variations & Substitutions
- Salted Dulce De Leche: You can stir-in anywhere from ¾ to 1 teaspoon of coarse salt /sea salt depending on your taste preference.
- Add-Ins: You can add vanilla extract , mocha or chocolate extract.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
Serving Suggestions
Where can you use dulce de leche?
Enjoy with a variety of desserts like cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, cookies, pound and bundt cakes and muffins.
- It can be used as fruit dip.
- Drizzled over chickpea waffles and pancakes or even chocolate cupcakes.
- Over vegan ice cream.
- Great in your morning latte too.
How To Make Vegan Dulce De Leche Sauce
Step-By-Step Instructions
Stove Top Cooking Instructions
Step 1: Start with one can of vegan sweetened condensed milk.
Step 2: Remove the label from your can and place can on its side in a large pot.
Step 3: Fill with water until the can is covered with 1-2 inches of water. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer.
Step 4: Boil the can for 3 hours. Keep an eye on your pot as you’ll need to add water to the pot to keep the can submerged.
Step 5: Carefully remove the can from hot water and allow to cool before opening.
Do not open the can while still hot; this can cause pressurized hot dulce de leche to spray onto you and burn your skin.
Step 6: Open and transfer sauce to a lidded container.
Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker Instructions
Step 1: Start with one can of unopened vegan sweetened condensed milk.
Step 2: Remove the label from your can.
Inspect the can to ensure it doesn't have any dents.
Step 3: Place can in instant pot and fill the pot with water up to the max fill line. The can should be completely covered with water.
Step 4: Lock the lid and set the vent to sealing.
Step 5: Set the pressure on high and cook for 35 minutes. It will take about 10 minutes for the instant pot to come up to pressure.
Step 6: After the 35 minutes has passed. Let the pot naturally release its pressure. Will take at least 15 minutes. Turn off the pot, allow water to cool. Unlock the lid. Carefully remove the can from hot water and allow to cool before opening.
Do not open the can while still hot; this can cause pressurized hot dulce de leche to spray onto you and burn your skin.
Step 7: Open and transfer sauce to a lidded container.
Cooking Tips
- Do not open the can until you've finished the cooking process. The can is acting as a pressure cooker and the water is keeping the temperature constant.
- Should the sauce be thin? It’s okay if it is. The sauce will thicken up much more upon cooling, and also upon placing it in the fridge, even if it doesn’t look very thick after removing it from the stove.
Recipe FAQ’s
No, vegan dulce de leche is not the same as caramel. Dulce de leche is made from simmering milk and sugar until it caramelizes. While caramel is made from simmering water and sugar until it caramelizes.
Storage
- To Store. Refrigerate your vegan dulce de leche in an airtight container for up to 7 days but ours always disappears way before that.
- To Freeze. Yes. You can freeze this caramel sauce for a month or so in a tightly-sealed jar, or airtight container.
More Vegan Desserts
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below & if you REALLY like it, consider a comment down below. Thanks!
📖 Recipe
Vegan Dulce De Leche (Oat Milk)
If you love this recipe as much as we do, let us know with a 5-star rating!
Ingredients
- 1 can (11.25oz) Vegan Sweetened Condensed Milk
Instructions
- Start with one can of vegan sweetened condensed milk.1 can (11.25oz) Vegan Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Remove the label from your can and place can on its side in a large pot. Fill with water until the cans are covered with 1-2 inches of water.1 can (11.25oz) Vegan Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer.
- Boil the can for 3 hours. Keep an eye on your pot as you’ll need to add water to the pot to keep the can submerged.
- Carefully remove the can from hot water and allow to cool before opening. (Do not open the can while still hot; this can cause pressurized hot dulce de leche to spray onto you and burn your skin.)
- Open and transfer sauce to a lidded container.
Notes
- Do not open the can until you've finished the cooking process. The can is acting as a pressure cooker and the water is keeping the temperature constant.
- Should the sauce be thin? It’s okay if it is. The sauce will thicken up much more upon cooling, and also upon placing it in the fridge, even if it doesn’t look very thick after removing it from the stove.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Ty
This dulce de leche was so good! Perfect for lattes and apple picking season! Thanks for this one!
Lindsay Lynn Reddy
My first time making dulce de leche. Easier than I thought it would be, and it worked so well in the instant pot too. This sauce is so good, now I'm looking for ways to use it without just eating it out of the jar.