Dulce de Leche Cupcakes Recipe

If you are looking to add a little South American flair to your desserts, you will love our dulce de leche cupcakes recipe. This popular and versatile flavor is threaded throughout this sweet and tempting cupcake recipe.

If you are searching for a new cupcake recipe that will be different from anything you’ve baked in the past or want to serve a fun Cinco de Mayo dessert, we are confident this dulce de leche cupcake recipe is it.

RELATED READING: The Best Vanilla Cupcake Recipe (The Internet Says So)

Easy Dulce de Leche Cupcakes

Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots, we not only love to share new recipes with our readers, but we especially enjoy sharing unique recipes like our dulce de leche cupcakes recipe. We don’t want to pass up a chance to share an international dessert with you.

In English, dulce de leche means “candy made from milk”. If you don’t know, dulce de leche has Argentinian roots and is used in many different ways. You can spread it on bread, use it as a sauce for sweet and savory dishes, drizzle over pancakes or waffles, and add to your morning coffee, just to name a few. It would be a great Argentina Day dessert idea.

If you need time to gather the ingredients for your cupcakes, bookmark this page so it’s easy to come back to when you are ready to create your delicious dessert.

As an Amazon Associate, I could earn from qualifying purchases. There could be affiliate links within this article.

Why These Cupcakes Make the Perfect Dessert

They are absolutely divine! The sweet flavor just adds a different level of flavor. If you have a sweet tooth, this recipe will let you indulge.

It is a great opportunity to share a recipe from another country with your family. This opens a door for a teaching opportunity.

This is an uncomplicated recipe! At first glance at this, you may think they are difficult to make because they look like they’re bakery-bought but they’re not.

They are cost-effective. Because they are made from scratch, you will most likely have the bulk of the ingredients in your fridge or pantry already. The few items you may have to purchase won’t run you much at all.

RELATED READING: Easy Chocolate Cupcake Recipe – Save This Favorite!

Tips for Making From Scratch Cupcakes

• Should you use cake flour or all-purpose flour when making cupcakes? The main difference is that the cake flour has less protein and gluten. It gives an airy texture to your cakes and cupcakes.
• What is baking soda and how do I use it in baking? Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate, which is a leavening agent. It gives cupcakes an airy texture from the bubbles it makes when it reacts to the other ingredients. It is fast-acting and much more potent than baking powder.
• Conversely, baking powder also contains sodium bicarbonate but it also has added acid or starch. With baking soda in your bake, you have more time to get your bake in the oven.
• Does it matter if I use eggs or egg whites in my cupcakes? Yes! Egg whites have a neutral flavor, and contain more water and less fat than a whole egg. They will have a drying effect on your overall bake. Whole eggs have more fat and will give your bake more flavor and texture.

Ingredients for Dulce de Leche Cupcakes

Below are the ingredients for the dulce de leche cupcakes and the delicious frosting we made. Before you head to the store, check your pantry and fridge to see what you have on hand. For information on using egg whites versus whole eggs in your recipe, read the tips section above.

NOTE: if you have a box of cake mix, use this recipe for easy cake mix cupcakes.

• Unsalted butter softened
• Sugar
• Egg whites
• Vegetable oil
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Vanilla
• Milk
• Flour
• 13.4-ounce can of dulce de leche

How to Make Dulce de Leche Cupcakes

Each step for this recipe is detailed below so it’s easy to follow. Keep this page open and follow along. If you would rather have a printable recipe, scroll down and select the print button.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare two 12-cavity cupcake pans by placing the liners for the 24 cupcakes. In the bowl of a stand mixer or using a hand-electric mixer and a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar.

Add in the egg whites, oil, baking powder, salt, vanilla and milk. Mix well.

Add in the flour and mix. Stop the mixer, scrape the sides and mix again.

Fold in 1/2 of the can of the dulce de leche and mix well.

Add the batter to the cupcake pans, filling each cavity 2/3 full.

Bake at 350 degrees for 14-16 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

Ingredients for the Dulce de Leche Frosting

• Unsalted butter softened
• Salt
• Vanilla
• Powdered sugar
• Milk
• Dulce de leche in a can

How to Make Dulce de Leche Frosting

In a large mixing bowl of a stand or using an electric hand mixer, combine the softened butter and powdered sugar.

Add in the milk until the frosting is smooth.

Add in the vanilla, and salt until the frosting is smooth and forms small, stiff peaks. Fold in the remaining dulce de leche, except for 2 tablespoons for the drizzle.

Add the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and frost the cupcakes.

Drizzle the remaining dulce de leche over the frosted cupcakes.

Notes for Making Dulce de Leche Cupcakes

• We found our can of dulce de leche at Walmart. If you have trouble finding this product, you can make your own by boiling a pot of water and adding a can of sweetened condensed milk (the actual can). Simmer for 2-3 hours depending on the light or dark caramel color you want to achieve. Store unopened for up to three weeks.
• You can use a standard teaspoon for drizzling the dulce de leche over your cupcakes or you can purchase this pack of two drizzle spoons for under $5 here.
• Our favorite frosting tip is the 1M open star tip. If you don’t have this particular tip, you can find it in the pack of 10 frosting tips.
• If you enjoy baking cupcakes on the regular, disposable piping bags can get expensive so consider reusable piping bags.

More Desserts You May Enjoy

• Butter Rum Cupcakes Recipe with a Surprise: Listen to me when I say that boozy cupcakes should be served everywhere.
• Homemade Lollipops Recipe (2 Flavors): Why purchase lollipops when you can easily make them at home?
• Homemade Lemon Ricotta Muffin Recipe: These easy lemon ricotta muffins are the perfect early-morning snack or are great for after school.
• Milk and Cookies Cupcake Recipe: These cupcakes, with a pipette of milk included, taste just like your childhood.

Please Save or Share

Your shares are how this site grows and I sincerely appreciate it. Please save this to your favorite cupcake or dessert pin board or share it on Facebook.