FOOD NEWS
What's The Difference Between Caramel And Dulce De Leche?
By Haldan Kirsch
Caramel and dulce de leche are two classic sweeteners you can add to enhance your desserts, sweeten your morning cup of joe, or amp up your hot chocolate. These two spreadable brown goodies seem to have a lot in common, but they are actually very different.
Caramel is essentially cooked sugar, with the addition of water, butter, and even cream for consistency and color. Despite its sweetness, caramel is the result of sugar undergoing the Maillard reaction, in which simple sugars undergo a series of chemical reactions, and it’s very versatile as it can create darker and more bitter flavors when cooked for longer.
Dulce de leche is a Spanish term that translates to "sweet milk," and while you can add milk, cream, or other dairies to caramel, dulce de leche is defined by the presence of milk in the recipe. The ingredients are mixed in before cooking — or you can simply use sweetened condensed milk — and while the milk cooks, its proteins will alter, developing a deep, nutty flavor not found in caramel.