Dulce de leche cupcakes are your favourite vanilla cupcakes with dulce de leche filling topped with creamy dulce de leche buttercream. So good! And very easy to make too. Check out the recipe with lots of tips, step-by-step photos, and FAQs for perfect dulce cupcakes every time.
(Love making cupcakes? Check out this collection of the best and the most unique cupcake recipes. And if you love dulce de leche, check out these dulce de leche brownies and dulce de leche flan.)
According to Wikipedia, dulce de leche (pronounced dool-seh deh leh-cheh) or caramelized milk or milk jam in English, is a confection from Latin America prepared by slowly heating sugar and milk over a period of several hours.
The simplest way to make it at home is to heat prepared sweetened condensed milk until brown and golden.
I usually just buy a jar from the store though and lemme tell you, it’s one of the most delicious things ever.
We spread it on bread, drizzle it on pancakes and waffles, I love baking with it too.
And these dulce de leche cupcakes are one of my favourite ways to get my dulce de leche fix. Let’s bake!
Why this recipe works
- Easy to make. While this recipe has 3 components, it’s really very easy to make: classic vanilla cupcakes, your favourite dulce de leche from the store, the easiest frosting ever.
- Not too sweet. What’s more, these cupcakes have just the right amount of sweetness with that delicious dulce de leche flavour shining through in every bite.
- Smooth, creamy buttercream. But I think the real star of this show is the dulce de leche frosting. With only 3 ingredients, it’s a breeze to make, velvety smooth, and a dream to pipe. It’s less finicky than cream cheese frosting, not as sweet as buttercream made with powdered sugar, delicious.
How to make
Ingredient notes and baking tools
This is a simple, no-fail recipe and it takes less than 10 ingredients to make both the cupcake and the frosting. A few things to remember:
- Milk — I use 1% or 2% skim milk
- Dulce de leche — you can make your own or just buy a jar from the supermarket. Just make sure it’s a brand you enjoy eating on its own.
I usually use my handheld electric mixer to make the cupcakes and my stand mixer to make the frosting. You’ll also need the following:
- 12-cavity cupcake pan
- Cupcake liners — I love these non-stick liners from Amazon
- Cookie scoop — very useful so you get even-sized cupcakes
I also always recommend using a kitchen scale and an oven thermometer.
Step-by-step photos
Vanilla cupcake
Preheat your oven to 350F and prepare you pan by lining with cupcake liners. Set aside.
In a medium-sized bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt.
Set aside.
Using a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed…
…until light and fluffy.
Switch to low speed and add an egg.
Beat until incorporated.
Once incorporated well, add vanilla extract and an egg white from a large egg.
Continue beating until incorporated.
Still on low speed, add a third of your flour mixture.
Mix until incorporated.
Add half of your milk and beat until combined.
Add another third of your flour, the rest of your milk and finally the rest of your flour. Do not over-beat; just mix until each addition is incorporated and no significant traces of flour can be seen. Remember to scrape the bottom and sides of your bowl.
Scoop the batter into your cupcake liners (no more than ¾ full) and bake for 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of a few cakes comes out clean.
Take out of the oven and let cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 5 minutes.
Then take out of the pan and cool the cupcakes on the wire rack completely.
In the meantime, you can make your frosting.
Dulce de leche frosting
In a large bowl using a handheld electric mixer or using a stand mixer fitter with the paddle attachment, beat softened butter on medium-high speed…
…until very light and fluffy (about 10 minutes).
Add dulce de leche and a pinch of salt.
Beat until incorporated. Scrape the bottom and sides of your bowl.
Continue to beat until the frosting is light, fluffy and you get the consistency you like.
At the last 2 minutes of beating, switch to high speed then chill the frosting if not using immediately.
Cupcake assembly
Once the cupcakes have completely cooled, you can begin assembly.
To fill cupcakes, you can use a cupcake corer or simply use a thin sharp knife to carve a small hole in the middle of your cupcakes about an inch in diameter.
Fill with a dollop of dulce de leche. Top with frosting and decorate as desired.
To frost, you can use a piping bag or simply transfer the frosting into a large Ziploc bag with a corner cut off.
For this batch of cupcakes I used a large Atteco French star pastry tip.
Expert baking tips
Easy and straightforward, right? Here are more tips for perfect cupcakes every time.
For light and fluffy cupcakes
- Use room temperature ingredients. They will be easier to beat and incorporate.
- Measure ingredients correctly. Too much flour will result to a dry cupcake. To make sure you’re always adding the right amount, I suggest using a kitchen scale. It’s an inexpensive but worthwhile addition to any kitchen.
- Don’t over mix the cupcake batter. Over-mixing can also result to a very dense cake. Mix just until incorporated.
- Bake at the correct temperature. We always hear and read about how each oven is different and it’s true! Some ovens run hot, others run cold. To make sure you’re baking at the correct temperature every time, best to buy an oven thermometer. I have 2 hanging in my oven at all times.
For creamy buttercream
- Ensure the butter is cool to the touch. While the butter needs to be softened, it must not get to the point where it gets to room temperature. When you gently press a finger on it, it must give easily but still feel cool.
- Cut the butter into portions. This makes beating them easier.
- Did your mixture curdle? Don’t worry, just keep beating and your frosting will come together.
- Chill if not using immediately. Best to chill your frosting if you’re not using it immediately. You may need to re-whip it if it’s gotten a little too hard.
Substitutions
This recipe is best made as described. However, if some of the ingredients are not available or you want to customize, here are some ideas:
- If you can’t find dulce de leche, you can use caramel or salted caramel for the cupcake filling and the frosting.
- Of if you want to make salted dulce de leche cupcakes, simply add more salt to your dulce de leche.
- This recipe can also be made into chocolate cupcakes instead of vanilla cupcakes.
Recipe FAQs
While they look a lot alike and taste similar, dulce de leche and caramel are different in that dulce de leche is made from condensed milk (milk and sugar) while caramel is made from sugar and water.
It’s thicker, richer and wonderfully creamier. It tastes closer to caramel than condensed milk.
Frosted cupcakes can be stored in a covered container in the fridge and will keep for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, best to allow the cupcakes to come down to room temperature.
Happy baking!
Did you make dulce de leche cupcakes?
I’d love to hear all about it! Leave a comment or a star rating below. You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook. I’d love to see your creations!
You can also find me on Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube.
Dulce de Leche Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the cupcakes
- 1¼ cups all purpose flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 piece large egg room temperature
- 1 piece egg white from a large egg room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk
For the frosting
- 1½ cups unsalted butter softened but still cool to the touch
- 12 oz dulce de leche room temperature
- pinch salt
Instructions
For the cupcakes
- Preheat your oven to 350F. Prepare your pan by lining with cupcake liners and set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- Using a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
- Switch to low speed and add the egg. Once incorporated well, add the egg white and the vanilla extract
- Still on low speed, add a third of your flour mixture then half of your milk. Add another third of your flour, the rest of your milk and finally the rest of your flour. Do not over-beat; just mix until each addition is incorporated and no significant traces of flour can be seen. Remember to scrape the bottom and sides of your bowl.
- Scoop the batter into your cupcake liners (no more than ¾ full) and bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of a few cupcakes comes out clean.
- Take out of the oven and let cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 5 minutes. Then take out of the pan and cool the cupcakes on the wire rack completely. In the meantime, you can make your frosting.
For the frosting
- In a large bowl using a handheld electric mixer or using a stand mixer fitter with the paddle attachment, beat softened butter until very light and fluffy (about 10 minutes).
- Add dulce de leche and a pinch of salt. Beat until incorporated. Scrape the bottom and sides of your bowl.
- Continue to beat until the frosting is light, fluffy and you get the consistency you like. At the last 2 minutes of beating, switch to high speed then chill the frosting if not using immediately.
Assembly
- To fill cupcakes, you can use a cupcake corer or simply use a thin sharp knife to carve a small hole in the middle of your cupcakes about an inch in diameter.
- Fill with a dollop of dulce de leche. Top with frosting and decorate as desired.
Video
Notes
- If your buttercream curdles, just keep beating and your frosting will eventually come together.
- Make sure your cupcakes have completely cooled before frosting.
- See post for lots of baking tips, complete step-by-step photos and FAQs.
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Dylan Cutler
Your frosting skills are so impressive. I have so much fun frosting cupcakes but it is harder than it looks! Also love the salted aspect, a little more interesting than caramel alone.
Jolina
Thanks Dylan! If you can only see behind-the-scenes…the kitchen is a compete disaster whenever frosting is involved.
Lauren
These look sooooo good! I’d love to try the frosting and salted caramel with a chocolate cupcake too. If I ever experiment I will definitely let you know how it comes out 🙂
Jolina
Oh absolutely. That would be fantastic. Thanks for stopping by Lauren!
Tess
These look so tasty! haven’t had anything salted caramel in a long time and after seeing these I have a craving!
Jolina
These will definitely satisfy your craving 🙂 It’s salted caramel in and out! Let me know how it goes if you ever try it out 🙂
Amanda
These look amazing, and I love salted caramel. I need to try these!
Jolina
Thank you Amanda! Let me know how it goes 🙂
Mamoona
Awesome recipe hoping to try this one soon for my kids!
Jolina
Sounds like a plan! Let me know how it goes 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Vicky
These look delicious! Practice makes perfect! Baking I find to be so much more complicated and unforgiving than regular cooking! With cooking I can always taste trest and adjust- with baking you have to wait until it’s ready and too late to change things up!
Jolina
Thanks Vicky! It’s funny that I’m totally the opposite. I cannot cook to save my life. I think I like the structured recipe and exactness of baking. Haha that says a lot about my personality eh?
Pamela
I can’t believe I am about to say this…..but I might even like salted caramel even more than chocolate! These look heavenly! I will be trying this recipe out for sure! Thank you for sharing!!
Jolina
Lol! No judgements here. I always say – are you ready? – that I like lemon desserts over chocolate ones. Eeeep! But salted caramel is just its own category. It’s so delicious. Hope you enjoy it! Let me know how it goes 🙂
Justine Howell
Great combo for cupcakes, sweet!!!
Jolina
Thanks Justine!
Mica
I can not wait to try this! I LOVE salted caramel!
Jolina
Hi Mica! Let me know how it goes 🙂
Matilda Togiai
Beautiful cupcakes!! Salted caramel is one of my most favorite flavors! I’ll be sure to try these one day!
Jolina
Thanks Matilda! Let me know how it goes 🙂
doran poma
Salted caramel sounds delicious! I can’t wait to give these a try.
Jolina
It’s become one of my favourites 🙂 Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Shanno
These look good can’t go wrong with salted carmel
Jolina
I agree. Thanks Shanno!
Kim
I LOVE salted caramel, I think salt on a sweet is just amazing!
Jolina
I agree! Hard to beat sweet-salty combination 🙂
Trish
Oh my gosh YUUUUUM! This looks so decadent and delicious!
Jolina
Thanks Trish!
Mark
I love that you have combined 3 of your favorites into 1 recipe. These look delicious and love the photos.
Jolina
It’s a small thing but a big deal for me 🙂 Thanks Mark!