Dulce De Leche Fruit Gratin Food

DULCE DE LECHE

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.

DULCE DE LECHE FRUIT GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Spread 1 1/2 tablespoons dulce de leche evenly on bottom of each gratin dish, then divide blueberries evenly among dishes. Arrange 4 plum quarters in each dish.
• Put gratin dishes on a baking sheet and broil 4 to 6 inches from heat until dulce de leche begins to bubble, about 4 minutes, then sprinkle evenly with nuts and broil until nuts are browned, 1 to 2 minutes more. Serve warm.
• *Available at some supermarkets and specialty foods stores.

DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• Use a can opener to poke 2 small holes in the top of can.
• Fill a small pot with 4 inches of water. Place can in water, then add or remove water so that the top of the can sits 1/4-inch above the waterline. Bring water to a simmer and let simmer for 6 hours. Top off water occasionally so that it remains at the same basic level. Don't worry if a small amount of the can's contents bubble up and cloud the water during the simmering process.
• Let can cool, then open and skim off top 1/4-inch of condensed milk. What remains below should be a thick creamy, delicious caramel sauce. Serve with fresh fruit such as bananas, berries, star fruit, etc.

DULCE DE LECHE CHOCOFLAN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Make the flan: In a blender, combine the dulce de leche, evaporated milk, cream cheese, vanilla extract and salt, and blend until smooth, 20 to 30 seconds. Pour in the eggs and blend for another 10 seconds until smooth.
• Make the chocolate cake: Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt directly into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on the lowest setting until just combined, then add the butter and continue mixing on low speed until the mixture resembles wet sand. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl if needed.
• In a liquid measuring cup, combine the coffee, buttermilk, egg and vanilla extract, then slowly pour it into the flour-butter mixture with the mixer running on low. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat the mixture on high for 1 full minute.
• Liberally coat a 10-cup Bundt pan with nonstick baking spray. Add the cake batter, smoothing the top with an offset spatula or spoon. Carefully ladle in the flan mixture so you disturb the cake batter as little as possible. Transfer the Bundt pan to a roasting pan or baking dish large enough to fit the Bundt pan. Grease a piece of foil and place it onto the Bundt pan, greased side down, folding it over the edges to loosely seal it. Transfer to the oven. Pour enough water into the roasting pan or baking dish to come up 2 to 3 inches (tap water is fine).
• Bake until a skewer inserted in the cake part comes out with few to no crumbs, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Carefully remove the Bundt pan from the roasting pan and uncover. Transfer to a rack and let cool to room temperature. Once fully cooled, cover the top with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled and set, at least 2 hours.
• Once you're ready to serve, carefully run a knife around any edges that are still sticking, then invert onto a serving platter, gently shaking it up and down if it's being difficult. (If it was greased properly, you shouldn't have any major issues.) The chocoflan can be covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days.

DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• Pierce the top of the can with a bottle opener and remove paper from can.
• Cover top of can tightly with aluminum foil.
• Place in a sauce pan, submerge in water to 1" from the top.
• Boil over med-low heat for 4 hours.
• Open lid of can and place contents in a bowl.
• EXCELLENT for dipping apples, pears, crackers and for spreading of bread and great on ice cream!