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Baked, Brewed, Beautiful

Dulce De Leche Latte: A Valentine’s Day Treat

in Beautiful, Brewed on 01/11/21

Try this decadent dulce de leche latte with homemade dulce de leche. Enjoy this latte warm or iced for the perfect Valentine’s Day treat.

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dulce de leche latte on a bed or pink leaves on moss
  • Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to go a little over the top with an extra sweet treat such as this dulce de leche latte.
  • You can make the dulce de leche yourself or choose to buy a high-quality store brand. 
  • For best results, top this decadent latte with dark chocolate whipped cream and a dusting of ground cinnamon. 

There’s no need for a heart-shaped box of chocolates to celebrate Valentine’s Day whether with the gals or with a special someone. This year, just head to your pantry for a decadent latte that will melt just about anyone’s heart (as well as quench that sweet tooth). 

This dulce de leche latte combines coffee with sweetened condensed milk (and dark chocolate whipped cream to make it extra indulgent!). Enjoy this dulce de leche latte hot or iced. Whichever way you choose, your Valentine will certainly love you a latte. 

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Make the dulce de leche first and foremost if you’re going the homemade route. 

Dulce de leche is similar to caramel in both texture and color. However, it differs slightly in terms of flavor and ingredients. Caramel is made from sugar whereas dulce de leche is made from sweetened condensed milk. In heating the condensed milk, it creates a luscious liquid gold substance that’s similar in flavor to toffee. It’s Spanish translation actually means “candy made of milk.” 

dulce de leche latte on a bed or pink leaves on moss

It’s important to make the dulce de leche before doing anything else in this recipe because it requires the most time. You will need to set aside about 2 hours to make the dulce de leche. But don’t worry, it’s a very simple process.

I prefer organic whenever possible, which is why I went with 365 by Whole Foods Market Sweetened Condensed Milk. It tasted amazing, and it worked flawlessly for this recipe, so I highly recommend.

To save time, you can buy a jar of high-quality dulce de leche.

Though I prefer going the homemade route, I understand that not everyone has the time. If you want a quick-fix, there are high-quality store-bought options such as Stonewall Kitchen’s Dulce de Leche, Los Nietitos Dulce de Leche, and San Ignacio’s Dulce de Leche. 

Pour one can of sweetened condensed milk into a small glass baking dish and stick in the oven.

This is the easy part. Just pour an entire 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk into a small square glass baking dish, cover it, and bake it for two hours at 425°F. 

Check in every 30 minutes or so to see if it’s starting to brown properly. You’ll know it’s done when it reaches a caramel color. This is why I use a glass baking dish because I am able to see through the sides of the glass without having to open the aluminum cover each time. 

Whisk the sauce after about 5 minutes after it’s come out of the oven to smooth out any lumps. 

After you’ve pulled out the dulce de leche out of the oven, let it cool for about 5 to 10 minutes, then whisk it smooth. I recommend doing this while it’s still warm because otherwise, you won’t be able to fully get rid of the lumps.

Note: it doesn’t really matter if it’s lumpy. It still will taste the same as it will dissolve in the latte either way. 

dulce de leche latte on a bed or pink leaves on moss

Store the dulce de leche inside an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. 

After the dulce de leche has cooled, store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. I kept mine in the baking dish it was baked in and covered it tightly with foil. It worked very well, and saved me from cleaning an extra dish. 

If you’re making an iced dulce de leche latte, make sure the dulce de leche is at room temperature prior to making your latte.

At this stage, if you’re going to make an iced dulce de leche latte, pull the dulce de leche out of the fridge and allow it to reach room temperature before proceeding on to the next steps. 

The reason being that it may not fully dissolve in the hot espresso you will make in the next step if you add COLD dulce de leche. No one wants lumps in their latte — yuck. 

 

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For a warm latte, you will need an electric frother, a steam wand, or use a glass mason jar to foam your milk. 

If you’re making a warm latte, you will need the right tools to foam your milk properly. You can use either an electric milk frother, a steam wand (connected to an espresso machine), or you can also use a mason jar and a microwave. See this post for further instructions on foaming milk without a fancy machine! 

Steam your milk prior to pulling your espresso shot.

This step is for warm lattes. Froth your milk before brewing the espresso in the next step because the espresso suffers with every second it sits out after being pulled. The crema will begin to degrade and it will also cool down, which isn’t ideal for a warm beverage. 

dulce de leche latte on a bed or pink leaves on moss

Make 2 shots of espresso or about 4 ounces of highly concentrated coffee. 

Whether you’re making an iced latte or a regular latte, you will need to make about 2 shots of espresso or 4 ounces of highly concentrated coffee. I offer this substitution of coffee for those who don’t have an espresso machine and because it doesn’t make a huge difference in flavor since the dulce de leche is the star of the show in this coffee drink. 

To make an espresso, see my step-by-step espresso-making tutorial here. For highly concentrated coffee, there are a few ways to go about it. One way is to use an AeroPress, as this produces a clean, smooth concentrated cup. See my AeroPress tutorial here.

Some coffee machines have the option to make a concentrated cup of coffee sometimes labeled as “Specialty” or “Espresso Style.” Another option is to adjust the ratio so your coffee to water ratio is 1:4 or 1:3 instead of the normal 1:12. You can change the ratio for just about any brew method. 

dulce de leche latte on a bed or pink leaves on moss

Add the dulce de leche to the espresso glass prior to pulling the espresso. 

For best results, add the desired amount of dulce de leche to your espresso cup prior to pulling your shot. This will help to melt down the dulce de leche, as the espresso will be hottest as it’s being pulled through the machine. 

This is especially important if you’re making an iced latte. You want to melt that dulce de leche  down, and this step will help you get there quicker! 

Stir the dulce de leche and espresso thoroughly. 

After you’ve brewed the espresso (highly concentrated coffee), stir the mixture thoroughly. Ultimately, you should continue to stir until the dulce de leche and espresso mixture is completely smooth and without any lumps. 

Then, get your serving glass ready. Pour the espresso in first followed by the foamed milk (or cold milk) and stir gently.  

dulce de leche latte on a bed or pink leaves on moss

If serving over ice, add the ice cubes after you’ve poured in your milk of choice. This will help to keep the at a higher temperature for as long as possible, which in turn, helps to break down the dulce de leche (just in case there are any remaining lumps left). 

Top with freshly whipped cream and ground cinnamon.

Garnish this Valentine’s Day beverage with freshly whipped cream and sprinkle a dash of ground cinnamon or cocoa powder over the top. 

For the ultimate Valentine’s Day treat, add homemade chocolate whipped cream instead. See my dark chocolate whipped cream recipe here.

Use the left over dulce de leche for other Valentine’s Day desserts such as a cheesecake, brownies, fudge, or add it over the top of ice cream!  

You will likely have a ton of dulce de leche left over even if you make a few of these addicting dulce de leche lattes. Luckily, there are tons of lovely desserts you can make with dulce de leche including dulce de leche cheesecake, dulce de leche fudge, dulce de leche crepes, and you can even drizzle it over the top of ice cream! 

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After you’ve finished brewing your latte, take a snapshot and let me know how your drink turned out! Tag me on Instagram @bakedbrewedbeautiful or use the hashtag #bakedbrewedbeautiful, so I can see your beautiful creations — happy brewing.

 

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Dulce de Leche Latte

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dulce de leche latte on a bed or pink leaves on moss

Dulce de Leche:
 14 oz organic condensed milk
Dulce de Leche Latte:
 1 tbsp dulce de leche
 2 espresso shots (or 4 oz of highly concentrated coffee)
 1 cup milk of choice
 ½ cup freshly whipped cream
 dash of ground cinnamon

Dulce de Leche (skip if buying dulce de leche):
1

Preheat oven to 425°F.

2

Pour entire can of condensed milk into a square glass baking dish and cover with foil. Place in oven and bake for 1.5 hours to 2 hours or until it reaches a caramel color.

3

Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. After cool period, whisk dulce de leche until lumps disappear. Store in airtight container in fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Dulce de Leche Latte:
4

Scoop 1 to 2 tbsp of dulce de leche into a bowl. Allow to rest on kitchen counter until it reaches room temperature (2 to 3 hours). Note: Skip this step if your dulce de leche is already at room temperature.

5

Begin by frothing 1/2 cup of desired milk and set aside while you prepare the espresso.

6

Scoop 1 tbsp of dulce de leche into espresso cup. Brew espresso into the cup with the dulce de leche. Stir the dulce de leche mixture and espresso thoroughly until completely smooth. Stirring quickly helps.

7

Pour the espresso mixture into your choice of serving mug or glass following by the frothed milk and stir gently. For iced lattes, you'll pour cold milk over the espresso mixture followed by 2 to 3 ice cubes.

8

Lastly, top with dark chocolate whipped cream (see link above in post) or freshly whipped creamed and dust lightly with ground cinnamon for color.

Ingredients

Dulce de Leche:
 14 oz organic condensed milk
Dulce de Leche Latte:
 1 tbsp dulce de leche
 2 espresso shots (or 4 oz of highly concentrated coffee)
 1 cup milk of choice
 ½ cup freshly whipped cream
 dash of ground cinnamon

Directions

Dulce de Leche (skip if buying dulce de leche):
1

Preheat oven to 425°F.

2

Pour entire can of condensed milk into a square glass baking dish and cover with foil. Place in oven and bake for 1.5 hours to 2 hours or until it reaches a caramel color.

3

Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. After cool period, whisk dulce de leche until lumps disappear. Store in airtight container in fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Dulce de Leche Latte:
4

Scoop 1 to 2 tbsp of dulce de leche into a bowl. Allow to rest on kitchen counter until it reaches room temperature (2 to 3 hours). Note: Skip this step if your dulce de leche is already at room temperature.

5

Begin by frothing 1/2 cup of desired milk and set aside while you prepare the espresso.

6

Scoop 1 tbsp of dulce de leche into espresso cup. Brew espresso into the cup with the dulce de leche. Stir the dulce de leche mixture and espresso thoroughly until completely smooth. Stirring quickly helps.

7

Pour the espresso mixture into your choice of serving mug or glass following by the frothed milk and stir gently. For iced lattes, you'll pour cold milk over the espresso mixture followed by 2 to 3 ice cubes.

8

Lastly, top with dark chocolate whipped cream (see link above in post) or freshly whipped creamed and dust lightly with ground cinnamon for color.

Dulce de Leche Latte Recipe
IngredientsDirections
 

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1 Comment

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  1. Chocoviv says

    January 14, 2021 at 9:16 pm

    This looks delicious!

    Reply

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I'm Cheyenne — freelance writer & coffee lover. On this blog, you'll find coffee hacks, how-to’s, common mistakes, espresso dessert & drink recipes, home coffee bar design ideas, and reviews on the latest coffee machines, grinders, and other coffee-related products.

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Awesome. Welcome to all things coffee, my friend. 

bakedbrewedbeautiful

A fun way to spice up your coffee routine is by li A fun way to spice up your coffee routine is by literally adding spice to it. A dirty chai is just a latte with a splash of chai concentrate.  

Chai concentrate consists of a number of spices including ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, star anise, black peppercorns, and cinnamon (with a few other ingredients as well). To make this dirty chai recipe much simpler, I recommend just buying some high-quality chai concentrate from the store. Swipe right to see my choice of store-bought chai. It works just as well as making your own, and saves you loads of time because it’s a fairly intensive process to DIY! 

Another tip I have for this recipe is to feel free to replace the espresso with a strong coffee concentrate, if you don’t have a way to make espresso at home. You can either reduce your coffee to water ratio in your usual brew method or use an AeroPress or Moka pot to get a strong enough coffee concentrate for this dirty chai. 

After you’ve gotten a hold of these ingredients, you’re ready for a new take on your coffee. In combining the chai concentrate with a normal latte, you’re left with a warm and spicy espresso drink that is sure to keep you perked up all throughout the day. Read on to make this super easy 3-ingredient dirty chai latte. 

𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒-𝐼𝑛𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐷𝑖𝑟𝑡𝑦 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑖 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑒

Ingredients: 
•¼ cup chai concentrate (store-bought or homemade)
 
•2 shots of espresso or 4 ounces of highly-concentrated coffee
 
•¾ cup milk of your choice

Instructions: 

1. For a warm chai, foam your milk first and have it on deck. 

2. Next, pull your espresso or coffee-concentrate and pour into a server. Add chai concentrate to espresso and stir gently.

3. Pour foamed milk over chai-espresso mixture. Serve immediately. 

4. For an iced chai, combine all three ingredients in a tall glass. Add more concentrate if desired.

5. Finish the drink off with a couple of ice cubes (or even better — throw in a few cold brew coffee ice cubes!).
An affogato is an Italian dessert consisting of va An affogato is an Italian dessert consisting of vanilla ice cream that is covered by freshly prepared espresso. Enjoy it for breakfast or as an after-dinner dessert.

Though it seems pretty basic in theory, there are a few things to know before going about it to save yourself a few easy-to-make mistakes. Read on for the best affogato-making secrets.

1. The quality of the espresso doesn’t have to be top-tier.

2. The vanilla bean ice cream, on the other hand, does need to taste good…REALLY good. Since an affogato is mostly ice cream, it needs to be high-quality ice cream. It will make or break your final result.
(Try Salt & Straw if you haven’t already!) 

3. Pour the espresso over the scooped ice cream as soon as you can after the shot has been pulled.

4. Garnish the finished product with chocolate shavings and a one-inch square of prepared salted brownies.

Full recipe on the blog. Click the link in bio to view in full🍦
Coffee Pairing of the Week: Wisconsin’s Famous K Coffee Pairing of the Week: Wisconsin’s Famous Kringle with Gesha Coffee 

While some of us are familiar with wine and cheese pairings, most of us are not as familiar with coffee and food pairings (and I don’t know about you, but I tend to enjoy this combo much more frequently than the former). 

As a tribute to my home state, I attempted to make kringle, and I’ve discovered it’s a lot harder than it looks. The one pictured is actually a kringle from an authentic Danish bakery in WI because my first attempts have yet to be successful. And while kringle is good on its own, it’s even better when perfectly paired with a Gesha coffee. 

The reason I went with this choice is because Gesha coffee is almost like a tea. The flavors are complex and boast of sweet, floral notes. Gesha coffee also has a much lighter body than most other coffees. This mild quality works to delicately compliment the buttery and fruity flavors of this pastry, but it won’t entirely overtake the wonderful flavors of the kringle.

Do you have a favorite Gesha coffee? I’ve shared my favorite in the comments below!
A day without coffee leaves a latte to be desired. A day without coffee leaves a latte to be desired...apologies — couldn’t resist the double pun here🙈

Dulce de Leche Latte Recipe just went up on the blog today — link in bio ☕️
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