Slow Cooker Sweetened Condensed Milk Caramel

Directions:

1. Remove the label from the unopened can of sweetened condensed milk, ensuring no paper remnants remain. Keep the can intact.
2. Place the can on its side in the slow cooker. You can fit multiple cans for larger batches.
3. Fill the slow cooker with water, ensuring the cans are submerged by at least 2 inches to prevent any risk of the cans exploding due to pressure.
4. Set the slow cooker to ‘Low’ and let it gently simmer for 8 hours. Use tongs to carefully retrieve the can—it will be hot.
5. Allow the can to cool completely before opening to reveal the thickened, spoonable caramel.
6. Once cooled, open the can to enjoy your homemade caramel, ready to enhance any dessert or be savored on its own.

Variations & Tips:

• For a lighter caramel, reduce the cooking time to around 6 hours.
• Never open the can while it is hot, as the contents can be dangerous and cause burns.
• Prepare a batch in advance by cooking several cans and storing them unopened in the pantry; they keep well.
• For an added twist, mix in a pinch of sea salt or half a teaspoon of vanilla extract after the caramel has cooled.

Bonus Tip:

For those with a pressure cooker, you can expedite the process to approximately 40 minutes using the pressure cooking setting. Always refer to the pressure cooker manual for safety instructions!

Enjoy your caramel creation and its delightful possibilities!