‘Tis the season for caramel! Whether you’re making Caramel Apple Slices or Mini Apple Bites, a Chocolate Caramel Tart or Salted Caramel Pots De Creme, or just drizzling over ice cream, there’s nothing better to take you from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, through fall and all of winter. So it’s no wonder that we find ourselves running out of cans of caramel. Luckily, there’s an easy, DIY fix— and it makes everything cheaper, too!

Yes, it’s true— you CAN make canned caramel at home! Todd’s Kitchen figured it out. All you need are cans of sweetened condensed milk – one for each can of caramel you need – a big, deep pot of water, and time. All you need to do is:

1. Remove the label from the can and place it in the water. Make sure there is enough water to completely submerge the can.
2. Bring the water to a simmer, and let everything simmer for 3 hours, checking regularly to make sure the can is still covered.
3. Remove the can from the water and allow to cool overnight, or for at least 6 to 8 hours.
4. Open and enjoy!

That’s it! So why does this work? Well, caramel is essentially just slowly heated sugars. And what’s in sweetened condensed milk? Sugar!

It really couldn’t get easier than this method. The next time you want to enjoy some caramel, your can save almost $5 per container with this hack we found from Todd’s Kitchen. All you need is that cheap can of sweetened condensed milk, a large pot of boiling water, and some time. Watch Todd demonstrate how the magic is done! Be sure to watch, because he’s got even more tips for us.

So what do you think? Will you try your hand at making canned caramel this way? Have you ever tried anything similar? Do you enjoy making caramel at home? What are some of your favorite caramel desserts? Let us know if you give it a try and how it turns out for you!