This creamy, milky candy has always been my favorite since childhood.
I was so addicted to it, whenever I have extra money, I would ran to the store and buy it.

This is a simpler version of yema balls. It’s cooked condensed milk, sometime with ground peanuts added. This is also more commonly found here in the Philippines wrapped in plastic in so many different bright colors, the most common of which is golden yellow. Dulce de leche candies or yema is easy to make too; wish I had known this when I first tried making it.

I was about 12 when I decided to make my own instead of spending my school money on yema. Someone told me: you simply open a can of condensed milk and cook it on a pan so I tried making it but my yema was hard and sticky at the same time and most of it got stuck in the pan.

I tried once or twice more hoping I would get it right eventually but to no avail. Finally, I got tired of scraping the pan and licking my yema from the spoon and went back to buying it from the store which was much, much easier.

But several years back I tried making this again and found out that the trick is to add egg yolk/s to condensed milk to make the consistency like the ones sold in stores. Some even add butter but I find that egg yolk is enough at least in my experience.

I’d like to keep these in a jar for my kids and of course me to have anytime.

RECIPE FOR YEMA (DULCE DE LECHE CANDIES)

You will need:
a can of sweetened condensed milk
an egg yolk
2 tablespoons -1/3 cup peanuts, roasted and ground, optional (the amount depends on how much you like peanuts; don’t add it at all if you don’t like it or if you have an allergy)

Here’s how:

Put condensed milk and egg yolk together in a non-stick pan or pot, cook over medium heat with constant stirring until thick; add peanuts and cook for a few minutes more or until it is nicely browned. Take the pan off of the heat and let stand until the yema (dulce de leche) cools to the touch. Wrap about a teaspoon-tablespoon each in plastic wrap.

Here’s how to wrap the yema (I‘m not that good, but just to give you an idea)

Cut a small square of plastic (about 3×3 inches, the size depends on how big or small you want your candy) put a small amount of yema/dulce de leche in the center; bring opposite corners together and press to form mini triangles. Make sure that the seams or sides are sealed.

Store these in a jar at room temperature. I’m not sure for how long these keep but I have been told it’s good for about two weeks; I can’t guarantee that though, because these yummies don’t last that long in our house.

Thanks for reading, Have a nice day! :)

Olive

You may also want to see these:

• Coconut Bread Thu 05 Nov 2009
• Yema Balls (Caramel Coated Custard Candy Balls) Tue 01 Sep 2009