9 Ways to Use Dulce de Leche

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Dulce de leche is a Latin American caramelized milk confection that can be enjoyed in endless combinations.

<p>© Fredrika Stjärne</p>

© Fredrika Stjärne

Sweet, gooey dulce de leche is easy to make and have on hand in the fridge. Though it’s delicious on toast, there are lots of ways to use this incredible caramel. Here, what to do with dulce de leche, including a savory application.

Dulce de Leche Layer Cake

The version of Dominican cake that Scott Conant's friends introduced him to was a white cake layered with dulce de leche filling and frosted with a very sweet meringue. In his adaptation, Conant (along with his pastry chef Gerry Minos) lightened up on the sugar in the meringue and added a nutty liqueur to the filling and frosting, giving it an Italian flavor.

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Alfajores de Maizena (Sandwich Cookies filled with Dulce de Leche)

These popular sandwich cookies are found in various sizes at bakeries across Argentina. Extra-thick dulce de leche between two buttery cookies rolled in shredded coconut all add up to the perfect bite.

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Dulce de Leche Cheesecake

What’s fun here is the dulce de leche marbling. Earthy and less cloying than caramel, dulce de leche finds a gorgeous home in this creamy classic. Its no-frills, simple perfection with a nod to Marcela Valladolid's Mexican upbringing.

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Banoffee Pie

© Kamran Siddiqi
© Kamran Siddiqi

Dulce de leche, bananas, and a thin layer of chocolate make this decadent banoffee (banana-toffee) pie from baker and cookbook author Kamran Siddiqi a standout.

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Dulce de Leche, Coconut, and Chocolate Chip Magic Bars

The secret ingredients in these sophisticated magic bars? Bacon and technique. Browning the butter gives the crust a nutty flavor; cooking it in a metal baking dish makes it extra crisp.

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Dulce de Leche Bread Pudding

This gooey bread pudding from former F&W editor Grace Parisi is so much more than the sum of its five parts.

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Dulce de Leche Crêpes

Filled with dulce de leche and topped with whipped cream, these crêpes will satisfy the most intense sweet tooth.

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Dunked Dulce de Leche Doughnuts

Dulce de leche flavors both these gluten-free doughnuts and their glaze.

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Duck Breasts with Dulce de Leche Chile Sauce

The unconventional mix of orange juice, pureed dried chiles, and dulce de leche makes a rich and spicy sauce for seared duck breasts.

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