Time 4h5m Yield about 1 1/4 cups Number Of Ingredients 1 Steps:
For the stovetop method: Remove the label from the can of sweetened condensed milk. Place 3 to 4 forks upside down on the bottom of a large 6- to 8-quart pot. Place the unopened can on top of the forks and cover with water by a few inches. (The forks help to prevent a vacuum between the bottom of the can and the pot.) Place the pot over high heat until it reaches a simmer, then lower the heat to medium-low or low to maintain a steady simmer for about 3 hours. Add more water to the pot if necessary to ensure that the can is submerged at all times. Let the can cool to room temperature in the water before removing. Open the can and scoop out the contents. The dulce de leche should be dark and caramelized. For the oven method: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place a shallow baking dish in a roasting pan. Pour the sweetened condensed milk into the baking dish and cover the dish with foil. Transfer the roasting pan to the oven and add enough hot water to reach halfway up the sides of the baking dish. Bake until the dulce de leche is dark and caramelized, 60 to 75 minutes, checking the water level occasionally and adding more if needed. Let cool, then whisk until smooth. Transfer the dulce de leche to an airtight container, put plastic wrap directly on the surface and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Time 3h5m Yield about 1 cup Number Of Ingredients 4 Steps:
Combine the milk, sugar, vanilla bean and seeds in a large, 4-quart saucepan and place over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Once the sugar has dissolved, add the baking soda and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to low and cook uncovered at a bare simmer. Stir occasionally, but do not re-incorporate the foam that appears on the top of the mixture. Continue to cook for 1 hour. Remove the vanilla bean after 1 hour and continue to cook until the mixture is a dark caramel color and has reduced to about 1 cup, approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer. Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to a month.
Yield Makes 2 cups Number Of Ingredients 4 Steps:
In a medium saucepan, bring milk, sugar, and salt to a simmer over medium. Remove from heat and whisk in baking soda (mixture will foam). Return to a simmer and cook over low, stirring occasionally and skimming off any foam, until sauce is deep golden brown and lightly coats a spoon, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl. To store, let cool and refrigerate in an airtight container, up to 2 weeks.
Time 35m Yield 9 cupcakes Number Of Ingredients 12 Steps:
To prepare cupcakes: preheat oven to 350°F Line 9 muffin cups with paper liners. Beat butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until light and creamy. Add eggs and milk, then beat on medium-high speed for two minutes. Add flour, baking soda and salt; beat for an additional minute. Stir in toffee bits. Spoon into prepared tins and bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from tins while still slightly warm. Frosting: While cupcakes are baking, combine brown sugar, cream and butter in a heavy saucepan to prepare frosting. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Continue boiling without stirring for one minute. Transfer to a mixing bowl and let cool for about 20 minutes. Beat in powdered sugar with an electric mixer until smooth; spread onto cooled cupcakes.
Time 3h5m Yield 8 Number Of Ingredients 3 Steps:
Wash the nail and pound it into the top of can of sweetened condensed milk to make 2 small holes on opposite sides of the top. Remove nail. Place the can of condensed milk into a small saucepan and pour in water to reach high up the side of the can. Bring water to a boil; reduce heat to low. Simmer milk in the can for 3 to 4 hours. Milk will slowly turn light to medium brown and become thicker as it cooks. Add more water as it boils down. Remove lid from can and pour dulce de leche into a bowl. Whisk to break up any lumps and mix thicker caramel from the bottom into the rest of the syrup.
Yield Makes 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups Number Of Ingredients 7 Steps:
Classic menthod: Stir together 4 cups milk, 1 1/4 cups sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until caramelized and thickened, about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours. (After about an hour, stir more often as milk caramelizes, to avoid burning.) Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Transfer to a bowl to cool. Makes about 1 1/2 cups. Sweetened condensed milk method: Heat oven to 425°F with rack in middle. Pour the contents of 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate and cover tightly with foil. Set plate in a roasting pan and add enough hot water to pan to reach halfway up pie plate. Bake milk in middle of oven 45 minutes. Check water level and add additional, if necessary, then continue to bake 45 minutes more, or until milk is thick and brown. Remove pie plate from water bath and cool, uncovered. Makes about 1 1/4 cups.
