Whey Caramel
Whey Caramel
Ingredients
For Quesillo/Queso Oaxaca Whey Caramel (from a whole gallon of milk)
- 1 gallon whey, from a whole gallon of milk
- 6 cups sugar
- 8 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- sprinkle salt
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
For Queso Fresco Whey Caramel (from a half gallon of milk)
- 1/2 gallon whey, from a half gallon of milk
- 3 cups sugar
- 4 tablespoons vanilla extract
- less than 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- small sprinkle salt
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Instructions
- 1
Choose the appropriate set of ingredients based on the amount of whey you have (from a whole gallon of milk for Quesillo/Queso Oaxaca, or a half gallon of milk for Queso Fresco).
⏱️ 1 min
- 2
Pour the whey into a large, heavy-bottomed pot.
⏱️ 1 min
- 3
Add the specified amount of sugar to the pot. For Quesillo/Queso Oaxaca whey, add 6 cups of sugar. For Queso Fresco whey, add 3 cups of sugar.
⏱️ 1 min
- 4
Squeeze the juice of half a lemon (for Quesillo/Queso Oaxaca whey) or less than half a lemon (for Queso Fresco whey) into the pot.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
Stir the mixture initially with a clean spoon to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
Place the pot on the stove over medium heat. It is crucial NOT to stir the caramel after this initial mixing. Stirring, especially with a spoon that has sugar crystals on it, can cause the caramel to crystallize upon cooling.
⏱️ 1 min
- 7
Allow the mixture to cook undisturbed for the full 2 1/2 hours (150 minutes). The deeper the brown color the caramel achieves, the richer and deeper its flavor will be.
⏱️ 150 min
- 8
Once the caramel has reached your desired color and consistency, remove it from the heat. Add the specified amount of vanilla extract (8 tablespoons for Quesillo/Queso Oaxaca whey, 4 tablespoons for Queso Fresco whey).
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Add the specified amount of heavy cream (1/2 cup for Quesillo/Queso Oaxaca whey, 1/4 cup for Queso Fresco whey).
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Add the specified amount of unsalted butter (2 tablespoons for Quesillo/Queso Oaxaca whey, 1 tablespoon for Queso Fresco whey).
⏱️ 1 min
- 11
Add a sprinkle of salt (a small sprinkle for Queso Fresco whey).
⏱️ 1 min
- 12
Stir in the newly added ingredients until well combined.
⏱️ 1 min
- 13
Carefully pour the finished caramel into clean containers for storage. Allow it to cool completely before sealing.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Whey Caramel
For Quesillo/Queso Oaxaca Whey Caramel (from a whole gallon of milk)
- 1 gallon whey, from a whole gallon of milk
- 6 cups sugar
- 8 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- sprinkle salt
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
For Queso Fresco Whey Caramel (from a half gallon of milk)
- 1/2 gallon whey, from a half gallon of milk
- 3 cups sugar
- 4 tablespoons vanilla extract
- less than 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- small sprinkle salt
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Instructions
- 1
Choose the appropriate set of ingredients based on the amount of whey you have (from a whole gallon of milk for Quesillo/Queso Oaxaca, or a half gallon of milk for Queso Fresco).
⏱️ 1 min - 2
Pour the whey into a large, heavy-bottomed pot.
⏱️ 1 min - 3
Add the specified amount of sugar to the pot. For Quesillo/Queso Oaxaca whey, add 6 cups of sugar. For Queso Fresco whey, add 3 cups of sugar.
⏱️ 1 min - 4
Squeeze the juice of half a lemon (for Quesillo/Queso Oaxaca whey) or less than half a lemon (for Queso Fresco whey) into the pot.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
Stir the mixture initially with a clean spoon to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
Place the pot on the stove over medium heat. It is crucial NOT to stir the caramel after this initial mixing. Stirring, especially with a spoon that has sugar crystals on it, can cause the caramel to crystallize upon cooling.
⏱️ 1 min - 7
Allow the mixture to cook undisturbed for the full 2 1/2 hours (150 minutes). The deeper the brown color the caramel achieves, the richer and deeper its flavor will be.
⏱️ 150 min - 8
Once the caramel has reached your desired color and consistency, remove it from the heat. Add the specified amount of vanilla extract (8 tablespoons for Quesillo/Queso Oaxaca whey, 4 tablespoons for Queso Fresco whey).
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Add the specified amount of heavy cream (1/2 cup for Quesillo/Queso Oaxaca whey, 1/4 cup for Queso Fresco whey).
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Add the specified amount of unsalted butter (2 tablespoons for Quesillo/Queso Oaxaca whey, 1 tablespoon for Queso Fresco whey).
⏱️ 1 min - 11
Add a sprinkle of salt (a small sprinkle for Queso Fresco whey).
⏱️ 1 min - 12
Stir in the newly added ingredients until well combined.
⏱️ 1 min - 13
Carefully pour the finished caramel into clean containers for storage. Allow it to cool completely before sealing.
⏱️ 1 min