Spiced Cajeta
- 2 gallons whole milk
- 9 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 2 tablespoons allspice berries
- 3 tablespoons star anise
- Sterilize all your equipment - spoons, jars, pots, etc, ahead of time.
- It's important all of your tools be absolutely clean.
- Assemble your spices, and using either a coffee filter or a bit of cheesecloth, make a sachet.
- In a very large pot (preferably one with slightly thicker sides that will distribute the heat better) combine the milk, sugar, and vanilla, and drop in the spice sachet.
- Put it on a low heat, and bring it just barely to a boil, occasionally stirring, and being careful not to scald the milk.
- Once you can see bubbles rising, remove the pot from heat.
- Combine the baking soda with a little water, and add it to the pot, stirring it no more than once to incorporate.
- Allow the bubbles to subside.
- Put the pot back over a low heat, and keep it just barely at a simmer, stirring occasionally (this step will take at least a couple of hours, and likely more), and ensuring the mixture does not burn.
- When the mixture turns a rich mocha color and becomes more difficult to stir, remove the sachet, and increase the heat (but not enough to burn it).
- At this point you will begin stirring more frequently, and you will have to keep a closer eye on the pot.
- The mixture will soon become viscous and develop a caramel color.
- At this point you can test it by letting a drop fall into a glass of cold water.
- If it coalesces into a solid ball, the cajeta is ready.
- Here, you can take the cajeta off the heat and it will flow as a gooey syrup, or if you want something more solid, keep it over the heat until you can almost "slap" the surface of the cajeta with a spoon.
- Allow the cajeta to cool, then pour into glass containers.
- Serve it warmed over ice cream, with fruit, in milk, on your greedy fingers, etc.
milk, powdered sugar, vanilla, baking soda, cinnamon sticks, berries, star anise
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/spiced-cajeta-445687 (may not work)