What Is Dulce de Leche? Here's Everything to Know About This Caramel-Like Sauce (2024)

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Homemade dulce de leche is one of the Drummond family's favorite sweet treats—and for good reason! It is a caramel-like substance that is common in many Latin American desserts. However, it's super delicious in so many things, from stirring a spoonful into coffee to drizzling some on an ice cream sundae to whipping it into a homemade buttercream frosting.

Dulce de leche is sold in jars or cans at the grocery store, but if you have a recipe that calls for it and can't seem to find a storebought version, Ree makes a deliciously easy homemade dulce de leche with just one simple ingredient: sweetened condensed milk! Plus there are a few other easy ways to make dulce de leche at home. Once you are stocked with dulce de leche you can start whipping up some sweet treats like gingerbread thumbprint cookies with dulce de leche and these impressive dulce de leche lava cakes (you can even top them with homemade coffee-dulce de leche ice cream). Otherwise, you can start your weekend brunch on a sweet (and boozy!) note with Ree's spiked dulce de leche coffee.

What does dulce de leche taste like?

Dulce de leche tastes a lot like caramel, but has a creamier consistency since it is made from gently simmering milk and sugar together (or sweetened condensed milk for a shortcut).

Are caramel and dulce de leche the same thing?

Caramel and dulce de leche might look and taste somewhat similar, but they are actually pretty different. While caramel is made from slowly simmering water and sugar until it caramelizes, dulce de leche is made from simmering milk and sugar super slowly until it turns into a creamy, caramelized substance. Be careful, once you start experimenting with dulce de leche it might just become your favorite sweet treat, too!