Dulce de Leche is the ultimate indulgent ingredient.

Literally translated to “sweet made of milk”, this caramelized concoction is so sugary, creamy, and gooey, it’s a favorite of many for a reason!

This delightful dairy sauce is great on its own for dipping or drizzling (or eating with a spoon, no judgment here), but it’s even better incorporated into Dulce de Leche recipes.

I’ve compiled all my favorite Dulce de Leche desserts in this list, including a range of:

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• Cakes & Cheesecakes
• Brownies
• Cookies
• Tarts
• Pies
• Frozen Desserts
• Confections
• Puddings
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Cakes & Cheesecakes

1. Decadent Dulce de Leche Cheesecake

The first of our Dulce de Leche dessert recipes.

It’s so warm, creamy, and caramelly, and I just love that you get two uses for Dulce de Leche here as well: in the cake, and as a topping. Make sure to use rich, full-fat cream cheese for the best result!

Add a sprinkle of chunky sea salt to cut through the richness. Mmm, which slice do you choose? That's the best part - every single one is a winner!

2. Molten Dulce de Leche Cakes for Two!

These cakes for two are super scrumptious, and only take twenty minutes and 5 ingredients to whip up!

Dulce de Leche, eggs, a smidge of flour, salt, and vanilla extract. That's it!

I love these cakes topped with fresh berries to complement the rich sweetness of the molten Dulce de Leche!

3. Dulce de Leche Flan

Is there anything better than a jiggly, silky, flan?

While flan always has a caramel component, adding the Dulce de Leche to the base just compounds the amazing flavor!

Indulgent, smooth, and luxurious – it’s sure to wow any guest at your table!

4. Easy Dulce de Leche Bread Pudding

Bread pudding is one of those dishes that will fill just about everyone with warmth and happiness! It’s such a great use for stale or excess bread as well.

This recipe takes so little actual prep time – just 15 minutes – so you can spend less of your day cooking and more of it digging into this treat!

Enjoy it with a cup of coffee or a scoop of ice cream.

5. Dulce de Leche Cupcakes

Cupcakes are a classic for a reason. They’re so easy to make, and much, much easier to serve than normal cake (not to mention how much easier they are to clean up).

This recipe pairs Dulce de Leche with a simple vanilla cupcake recipe and a creamy and delicately sweet buttercream – resulting in the ultimate party snack!

This recipe is as simple as pie (or should I say cupcake?)

For even more impressive results, top off these cloud-like cakes with an addicting, easy-to-make Dulce de Leche buttercream.

Your kitchen will become the neighborhood's envy!

6. Dulce de Leche Crepes

Whether you’re after a unique dessert or a super indulgent breakfast, make sure to try out these crepes!

Whisk together all-purpose flour, milk, eggs, a pinch of salt, melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Once smooth, let it sit for 30 minutes. Your crepe batter is ready.

For best results (which means getting all of the air bubbles out), make sure to leave your batter to rest for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight in the fridge.

7. Dulce de Leche Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

If you’re a fan of pecans but don’t feel like pie, check out these cinnamon rolls!

While they’re great for dessert, I really like them as an indulgent weekend breakfast.

Now, I'll be honest here, you will need a little patience for the dough to rise, but trust me, the taste is well worth the wait!

Fresh from the oven, paired with your favorite cup of coffee, these cinnamon rolls are nothing less than a slice of heaven.

Honestly, if you serve them with some fruit (and maybe an egg or bacon for a little protein) it’s a pretty well-rounded start to your day!

8. Tres Leches Cake with Dulce de Leche Glaze

This rum-spiked cake will leave all your guests jealous, impressed, and longing for more all at the same time!

It’s the ultimate Dulce de Leche indulgence, in my very humble opinion. Once you have just one bite of this tres leches cake, you’ll understand why!

Brownies

9. Irresistible Dulce de Leche Brownies

This fudgy brownie recipe is to die for! The swirls of Dulce de Leche are also really visually appealing (as well as delicious).

It's simple to make. It's incredibly forgiving, and versatile enough to welcome any add-ins you fancy.

Care to throw in some chocolate chips?

How about walnuts or M&Ms?

If you’re really short on time, you can even use this topping method on boxed brownie mix.

Cookies

10. Alfajores

These South American sandwich cookies are a classic treat!

The sweet, lemony flavor of the cookies goes amazingly with the Dulce de Leche, and the shredded coconut really ties everything together.

Now here comes the best part—fill the cookies with a teaspoon of Dulce de Leche, sandwich them together, and roll it in coconut. Tada! You got yourself a plate of delicious alfajores!

11. Dulce de Leche Macarons

So, have you ever tried a macaron that made you forget all about your diet, winked at the calorie counter and kept munching on?

The rich Dulce de Leche goes so perfectly with the light, delicate, and airy macaron shells – you really can’t go wrong!

12. Air Fryer Churros Filled With Dulce de Leche

Churros are a classic Dulce de Leche dessert!

This recipe is so easy, plus you make it in your air fryer – which means healthier churros and no hot oil splatter to clean up!

Can you smell the warm cinnamon mingling with the sweet caramel yet?

The gooey warm caramel, chewy, moist churros, and succulent cinnamon sugar coating are a combination to die for.

13. Dulce de Leche Thumbprint Cookies

These adorable cookies are soft, crumbly, and so easy to pop into your mouth!

Plus, the recipe is super easy and you don’t need any specialized equipment – just your hands.

With a sprinkle of sea salt on top, you’ll find yourself unable to stop once you start munching on these snacks!

Are these Dulce de Leche Thumbprint Cookies calling your name yet?

14. Dulce de Leche Stuffed Mexican Chocolate Cookies

If you’re wanting to stick with Dulce de Leches' authentic origins, try out these spiced Mexican chocolate cookies!

Dark chocolate cocoa powder creates a rich color, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper provide a delightful heat, spending an invigorating depth of flavors that enhances the creaminess of Dulce de Leche.

Tarts

15. Coconut and Dulce de Leche Tart

Coconut is traditionally served alongside Dulce de Leche in many cultures, so it’s no surprise they go so well together!

This tart also looks gourmet while being super easy to make in the kitchen, no matter your skill level.

Easy to make, delicious to eat and even better to share.

Pies

16. Dulce de Leche Chocolate Pecan Pie

Pecan pie is already a rich and satiating indulgence. Why not go the extra mile and add chocolate and Dulce de Leche into the mix?

The dulce adds to the stickiness and cohesiveness of the filling, adding a firmer bite. In combination with the crispy pecans, it's a texture and flavor explosion!

Can you smell that heavenly blend of caramel, chocolate and pecan melting together?

Lo and behold, in less than an hour, you've got a pie so robust yet dainty it would be a sin not to have seconds!

17. Dulce de Leche Banana Cream Pie

Banana cream pie can’t be beaten…unless you add in Dulce de Leche, that is!

This decadent dessert is pretty much a caramelized banana in a cake! Creamy, gooey, and fragrant, it’s a guarantee that you’ll be coming for seconds of this pie!

It's a no-bake, super-speedy recipe - perfect for when you want a slice of heaven without spending eternity in the kitchen.

Just remember to let the pie chill in the fridge for a couple of hours (or overnight if you can resist the temptation that long!).

Frozen Desserts

18. Homemade Dulce de Leche Ice Cream

Ever had one of those childhood dreams of driving an ice cream truck around the neighborhood? No, just me? Okay, moving on then!

This recipe requires 5 simple ingredients and only takes fifteen minutes of active time to make it (more to chill and freeze fully).

The sweetest things in life are made with love (and a whole lot of caramel!).

19. Dulce de Leche Coffee Milkshake

After a sugary milkshake, I sometimes get quite the crash afterward.

However, this milkshake solves that problem by adding a delicious caffeine element as well.

Did I mention it takes just 5 minutes to prepare? Plus, it's best served immediately; no chance of it languishing in your fridge.

Confections

20. Dulce de Leche Chocolate Cups

If you’re after a Reece’s cup but prefer Dulce de Leche to peanut butter, give these chocolate cups a try!

It’s as simple as do-re-mi. All you need is dark chocolate, butter and of course, Dulce de Leche.

The hardest part is waiting for the chocolate cups to chill in the freezer, but they're absolutely worth every second.

Can you battle the temptation?

21. Dulce de Leche Chocolate Mousse

As a kid, my father and I would often spend our weekends making homemade caramel, it was pure heaven, and adding this caramel to chocolate mousse simply takes you to cloud nine!

This creamy and rich mousse is so pretty to serve, and is sure to be magic in your mouth!

I personally enjoy it with a generous dollop of whipped cream and a little bit of shaved chocolate on top.

You can also heat your Dulce de Leche to make it a tad runnier – ideal for drizzling on top!

So, to answer that burning question, "what's for dessert during the next holiday (or any day of the year for that matter)?" - it's definitely Dulce de Leche Chocolate Mousse for the win!

22. Dulce de Leche Magic Bars with Chocolate & Almonds

If you’re looking for a dessert that leaves you energized as well as satisfied, look no further!

This recipe is jam-packed with protein and fiber – as well as scrumptious Dulce de Leche, of course.

Added to a combination of almonds, chocolate chips, and graham cracker crumbs, the result truly is magical!

Puddings

23. Dulce de Leche Rice Pudding

If you’re looking for the ultimate silky, creamy, and satisfying dessert, look no further than this rice pudding!

It has decadent layers of caramelly goodness and warm, spiced rice pudding. It’s so pretty to serve in a high glass, but I like casual leftovers in any vessel as well.

It's as delightful served warm as it is cold, making it a year-round treat.

📖 Recipe