Dulce De Leche {Guest Post: Bits of Sunshine}

Thanks for being patient with me while I am getting back on my feet (and enjoying some time in Sydney) I am taking this entire week off, and I have my sweet friend Heidi helping me out. She has a two part post, so I am letting her have the whole week. :) I really wanted to be back here on Friday to do Fresh Friday, but in the chaos of the week, I just didn't find the time to cook for it. I am leaving for Sydney today, but make sure to keep in touch with me through Instagram and Twitter. I will be sharing my adventures with you guys when I get back! I am so excited about it! Thanks for bearing with me guys! Without further ado, here is Heidi!

Hey everyone - its Heidi from Bits of Sunshine again! Its so nice to be back here at Carla's Confections! I had the wonderful chance of sharing these lemon meringue cupcakes here a while back, and today I am going to share a really yummy treat with you. Part of the reason for me being here today is it is one way I can help my sweet friend Carla out. If you have been following this blog for while you would have noticed that the Walkers are going through some really big changes! They have been busy packing, and cleaning and shipping boxes and then packing more....aaaannnd I am too far away to be of any real help! I have had ants in my pants, wishing that I could somehow help them out (I couldn't even make her dinner on the nights she has been exhausted!!) SO Carla came up with the idea of letting me post today! On that note - this post in not my typical short cut method of doing things - but rather the longer, more tasty route....

I have always known this as Caramel Treat, it was only in the last couple years that I have been an avid baking blog follower that I have learnt it has a real name : Dulce De Leche! Anyways - a rose by any other name is still a rose - and the same applies for caramel treat. I have also come to the conclusion that there is a VAST difference between store bought caramel treat and homemade caramel treat - yes you heard right - home made. How, you ask - well its actually REALLY simple (but not as simple as buying it off the shelf - ready to use!)

1. Take a can of CONDENSED MILK and peel the label off.
2. Place the tin in a pot and cover it entirely in hot water.
3. Place the pot on the stove and let the water boil for about 2 hours, check on the water every once in awhile to make sure there is enough to cover the tin.
4. After about 2 hours, take the tin out of the water and let it cool before opening it.

TA DAAA!


Caramel Treat from condensed milk! It has a MUCH nicer taste and texture than the store bought kind. To save electricity, I usually make two tins at a time.

I like to have a tin of this handy, it takes the effort out of desserts. My go-to-last-minute dessert is this Peppermint Crisp Dessert - its a real South African classic, and it can be made up in 10 minutes if you have all the ingredients on hand!

Our standard birthday cake my gran used to make us for our birthdays was a vanilla cake topped with caramel treat and layer of whipped cream on the top - it is still my ultimate cake today! Talking of cakes and caramel treat - I will be later this week to share these banana and chocolate caramel surprise muffins with you! So you better get those stove tops warming and that water boiling!!!!

Thanks Heidi! See you back here Friday :)