What is "cajeta"

Cajeta is a Mexican confection of thickened syrup usually made of sweetened caramelised goat's milk.

Mexican cajeta is considered a specialty of the city of Celaya in the state of Guanajuato, although it is also produced with the traditional method in several towns of the state of Jalisco, such as Mazamitla, Sayula, and Atotonilco el Alto.

Cajeta is made by simmering goat's milk, or occasionally a sweetened liquid, stirring frequently, until it becomes very viscous due to evaporation of water, and caramelized. While goat milk is the most usual base, other liquids or juices may be used.

In Celaya, and eventually the rest of Mexico, the confection of half goat's milk and half cow's milk became known by the name cajeta, but elsewhere, the milk candy became known as leche quemada, dulce de leche, etc. It has cousins in the many Indian milk-based sweets like pera and the milk fudge burfi, and in the opera fudge of the United States. Cajeta is eaten on its own as a sweet, as a spread or filling for breads and pastries, such as churros, and as a topping for ice cream. Certain liquors are added to special recipes called cajeta envinada. In addition, cajeta envinada especial is enriched with raisins, almonds, pecans or nuts. Often it is used as a topping for crêpes, as a sweet sauce boiled and softened down with milk to soak the crepes, resulting in a tasty dessert. In Mexico many brands make cajeta but the most common brand is Coronado. It is also very common to place cajeta between obleas to make a traditional Mexican candy.