Confiture de lait
Encyclopedia
Confiture de lait is a thick, sweet caramel
sauce
prepared from milk and sugar. It is a specialty of the Normandy
region of France, but it can be found throughout the country. It is very similar to spreadable types of dulce de leche
.
Preparation of confiture de lait involves the mixing of whole milk with one half its weight in sugar, followed by brief boiling of the mixture and several hours of cooking over low heat. The result is a smooth, caramelized sauce with a medium brown color, thick enough to be eaten with a spoon.
Confiture de lait is used as a sweet condiment or spread for bread or pastries, or as an accompaniment for various other foods. Sometimes additional flavoring such as vanilla
or brandy
is added to the sauce. The taste is very similar to that of the soft caramels used to coat apples during Halloween
in the United States, but the texture is much softer than that of caramel candies.
Caramel
Caramel is a beige to dark-brown confection made by heating any of a variety of sugars. It is used as a flavoring in puddings and desserts, as a filling in bonbons, and as a topping for ice cream, custard and coffee....
sauce
Sauce
In cooking, a sauce is liquid, creaming or semi-solid food served on or used in preparing other foods. Sauces are not normally consumed by themselves; they add flavor, moisture, and visual appeal to another dish. Sauce is a French word taken from the Latin salsus, meaning salted...
prepared from milk and sugar. It is a specialty of the Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
region of France, but it can be found throughout the country. It is very similar to spreadable types of dulce de leche
Dulce de leche
Dulce de leche is a thick,creamy, caramel-like milk-based sauce or spread.Literally translated, dulce de leche means "sweet from milk". It is prepared by slowly heating sweetened milk to create a product that derives its taste from caramelised sugar. It is a popular sweet in Latin America, where...
.
Preparation of confiture de lait involves the mixing of whole milk with one half its weight in sugar, followed by brief boiling of the mixture and several hours of cooking over low heat. The result is a smooth, caramelized sauce with a medium brown color, thick enough to be eaten with a spoon.
Confiture de lait is used as a sweet condiment or spread for bread or pastries, or as an accompaniment for various other foods. Sometimes additional flavoring such as vanilla
Vanilla
Vanilla is a flavoring derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla, primarily from the Mexican species, Flat-leaved Vanilla . The word vanilla derives from the Spanish word "", little pod...
or brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
is added to the sauce. The taste is very similar to that of the soft caramels used to coat apples during Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
in the United States, but the texture is much softer than that of caramel candies.
See also
- CaramelCaramelCaramel is a beige to dark-brown confection made by heating any of a variety of sugars. It is used as a flavoring in puddings and desserts, as a filling in bonbons, and as a topping for ice cream, custard and coffee....
- Maillard reactionMaillard reactionThe Maillard reaction is a form of nonenzymatic browning similar to caramelization. It results from a chemical reaction between an amino acid and a reducing sugar, usually requiring heat....
- Dulce de lecheDulce de lecheDulce de leche is a thick,creamy, caramel-like milk-based sauce or spread.Literally translated, dulce de leche means "sweet from milk". It is prepared by slowly heating sweetened milk to create a product that derives its taste from caramelised sugar. It is a popular sweet in Latin America, where...