1 or 2 cans sweetened condensed milk - check the ingredients on the label, make sure it is only milk and sugar.
1 large stock pot

Boiled cans of sweetened condensed milk..sounds like a scary prospect. At least for me it did. When my husband told me about this treat from his childhood, and that yes, it was perfectly safe* to put a sealed can of anything into boiling water for hours, I was skeptical. But, after “googling” it, I found that this is actually a very common way to achieve the perfect caramel AKA dulce de leche.
Enjoy this rich confection on ice cream, waffles, pancakes, drizzle on crepes or as it’s often done in my house, smeared on a piece of bread and gobbled up.
DIRECTIONS
Remove the labels and as much residual glue as possible without damaging the cans. Place the can(s) in the bottom of the stockpot and fill with water. Bring to a boil. Allow to boil for 3 1/2 hours, adding for water to the stockpot as needed. When complete, remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool gradually in the water. When the water has cooled, remove the can(s) and allow to cool for another 2 hours or so. Open the can(s) and try not to eat it all immediately with a spoon. Store in the fridge.