{Cajeta Recipe} How to Make Goat Milk Caramel Sauce! (2024)

by Sarah Toney | Recipes | 5 comments

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In this article: Learn how to make goat milk caramel sauce with this easy cajeta recipe!

Do you have extra milk hanging around the house? Why not try making this delicious goat milk caramel sauce called cajeta?

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Cajeta is a traditional Mexican sauce made with goat milk. It is very similar to dulce de leche, which is traditionally made with cow’s milk. This cajeta recipe takes all day to cook down, but it is so, so good!

{Cajeta Recipe} How to Make Goat Milk Caramel Sauce! (1)

Make a Delicious Goat Milk Caramel Sauce with this Cajeta Recipe!

To make this cajeta recipe you will need the following:

1/2 gallon goat milk
2 cups sugar
Seeds of 1 vanilla bean
dash of cinnamon/ 1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp baking soda dissolved in 1 T water

You can make this on the stove top (quicker, but more hands-on) or in the crock pot (much longer, but does not require constant attention).

{Cajeta Recipe} How to Make Goat Milk Caramel Sauce! (2)

Crockpot Cajeta Recipe Directions:

Place the milk, vanilla, cinnamon and sugar in the crock pot and turn on to high. Stir every so often until the milk is hot and sugar is dissolved. Stir in the baking soda water.

Continue cooking on high stirring every so often. I just stirred as I came into the kitchen, maybe once an hour or so. Keep the lid off since the goal is for the milk to reduce and caramelize.

It took about 12 hours to thicken up to the consistency I wanted (like a sauce/topping) if you want it thicker just cook a little longer.

If you like this recipe, check out it and 24 other fabulous goat milk recipes in my Goat Milk Recipe e-Book! With recipes for cheeses, yogurt, kefir and treats like ice cream and fudge!

{Cajeta Recipe} How to Make Goat Milk Caramel Sauce! (3)

Stovetop Cajeta Directions:

Place the milk, vanilla, cinnamon and sugar in a large pot. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent a skin from forming on top.

Once the mixture begins to boil stir in the baking soda water. Remove from heat and stir until it no longer threatens to bubble over the top of the pot.

Return to heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins to thicken and turn golden. This should take about 1- 1 1/2 hours.

At this point start stirring more frequently so the bottom doesn’t stick or burn. Remove from heat when it has reached your desired consistency.

Remember it will also thicken up as it cools. Pour into a jar and keep in the refrigerator for up to a month. Makes a great apple dip or ice cream topping- here’s my favorite homemade soft serve recipe which is goes great with this cajeta recipe!

Related Goat Milk Recipes:

How to Make Goat Milk Mozzarella- Successfully!

How to Make Goat Milk Yogurt (with 3 incubation options!)

{Cajeta Recipe} How to Make Goat Milk Caramel Sauce! (4)

Cajeta- Goat Milk Caramel Sauce

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes

A sweet, caramel sauce made from goat milk- similar to dulce de leche

Ingredients

  • 1/2 gallon goat milk
  • 2 cups sugar
  • Seeds of 1 vanilla bean
  • dash of cinnamon/ 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tsp baking soda dissolved in 1 T water

Instructions

Crockpot Cajeta Directions:

  1. Place the milk, vanilla, cinnamon and sugar in the crock pot and turn on to high. Stir every so often until the milk is hot and sugar is dissolved. Stir in the baking soda water.
  2. Continue cooking on high stirring occasionally. Keep the lid off so the milk can reduce and caramelize.
  3. Cook until thick and at the desired consistency (up to 12 hours)

Cajeta Stovetop Directions:

  1. Place the milk, vanilla, cinnamon and sugar in a large pot. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent a skin from forming on top.
  2. Once the mixture begins to boil stir in the baking soda water. Remove from heat and stir until it no longer threatens to bubble over the top of the pot.
  3. Return to heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins to thicken and turn golden. This should take about 1- 1 1/2 hours.
  4. At this point start stirring more frequently so the bottom doesn’t stick or burn. Remove from heat when it has reached your desired consistency.
  1. Alannaon March 8, 2018 at 4:00 pm

    Hope much caramel sauce does this recipe yield?

    Reply

    • Alannaon March 9, 2018 at 4:58 pm

      *How

      Reply

  2. Leslie Holdenon July 9, 2018 at 10:42 pm

    Mine keeps forming a skin that later develops into a strange texture! What am I doing wrong?!

    Reply

    • KimQon September 30, 2021 at 5:21 pm

      I would say, like with pudding, when you take it off the heat lay a piece of saran wrap touching it, over it. When it is all cooled and you pull it off, any skin will come away with it.

      Reply

  3. Dessire FOWLERon April 17, 2021 at 10:06 am

    How would you be about canning this?

    Reply

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{Cajeta Recipe} How to Make Goat Milk Caramel Sauce! (2024)

FAQs

Is there a difference between caramel and cajeta? ›

What is the difference between cajeta, caramel, and dulce de leche? The difference between cajeta and other caramel sauces such as caramel and dulce de leche is that cajeta is made out of goat's milk whereas most others are usually made out of cow's milk.

Why add baking soda to cajeta? ›

The baking soda neutralizes the milk's pH levels and makes cajeta smooth. It also assists with the Maillard reaction, the browning of amino acids with sugars to create caramel. The cajeta can be refrigerated for up to 1 month; after that it starts to crystallize.

How long does goat milk caramel last? ›

You should plan to eat all of the caramels within 1 week of purchasing them. We recommend this because we like to enjoy them fresh, but the ingredients in the caramels are not going to go bad or spoil.

Is all cajeta made of goat milk? ›

What Is Cajeta? Just like dulce de leche, cajeta is a thick, sweet confection made from boiled milk—goat's milk in the case of cajeta, and cow's milk in the case of dulce.

What are the three types of caramel? ›

Caramel can be produced in so many forms such as, sauce, a chewy candy, or a hard candy because of how much of an ingredient is added and the temperature it is being prepared at.

Can I use dulce de leche instead of cajeta? ›

Cajeta is a Mexican version of “dulce de leche”. The only real difference between the two is that cajeta is made from goat's milk rather than cow's milk. Since goat's milk has a tangier flavor than cow's milk, I find that the cooked down sugary version is less cloyingly sweet and has a more interesting aftertaste.

Why do you put vinegar in caramel? ›

This wee amount of acid prevents any crystallization—from subtle graininess to total disasters. In other words, it leads you toward the smoothest, shiniest, silkiest caramel sauce.

Does cajeta need to be refrigerated after opening? ›

The heat from the caramel sauce will seal the jar. Cajeta keeps in the pantry for approximately 3 months unopened; refrigerate after opening. Learn more about the American Dairy Goat Association and goat milk products!

Why does my goat milk taste bad? ›

They could be consuming plants that are giving your goat's milk that off-flavor. Carefully check your pasture and any area where they might be eating to see if that is the case. Common causes are wild garlic and onions, but other plants that can leave undesirable flavors in your milk include: Elderflower.

Does goat milk go bad? ›

Once the bottle is opened, we recommend that you finish it within a few days. The best way to keep Summerhill Goat milk fresh is to always keep it cold. Like cow milk, goat milk will smell and taste bad if it has spoiled.

Does goats milk need to be refrigerated? ›

Not only can bacteria grow very quickly in room-temperature unpasteurized milk, the milk itself develops a very “goaty” flavor if it is not immediately chilled.

What is the difference between caramel and cajeta? ›

Dulce de leche made with goat milk is known as cajeta. They're cooked at a lower temperature than caramel, and their golden color comes not from the caramelization of sugar, but from the browning of the lactose and lysine in the milk (also known as the Maillard reaction).

Why is my cajeta grainy? ›

Cajeta is specifically a goat milk caramel which is what makes it unique to other caramels. Why is my cajeta grainy? If your sauce is grainy, it's mostly likely due to it being overheated. It's important to cook it on the proper heat setting and stir often to keep it from getting too hot.

How to thin out cajeta? ›

If it's too thin, continue cooking; if it's too thick, stir in a little water. Strain into a storage container.

Are caramel and dulce de leche the same thing? ›

Caramel and dulce de leche might look and taste somewhat similar, but they are actually pretty different. While caramel is made from slowly simmering water and sugar until it caramelizes, dulce de leche is made from simmering milk and sugar super slowly until it turns into a creamy, caramelized substance.

Are Carmel and caramel the same thing? ›

Carmel and caramel are not different spellings of the same word. Caramel is the correct spelling if you're talking about food or colors. Carmel is a misspelling when used in those contexts, but it is a word that can be used as a name for people or places.

What is a substitute for cajeta? ›

Cajeta is a thick, sweet caramel spread made from caramelized sugar and goat's milk. Cajeta is available at well-stocked grocery stores and at Mexican markets. If unable to locate cajeta, substitute 3/4 cup dulce de leche spread from a 13.4-oz can.

What does cajeta mean in Mexico? ›

English translation of 'cajeta'

1. (Latin America) (= dulce de leche) fudge ⧫ soft toffee. (Mexico) (= dulce de jalea) jelly. (Central America, Mexico) (= caramelo) sweet (esp Brit) ⧫ candy (US)

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