This dulce de leche cookies recipe is a delicious treat everyone loves. A simple, sweet, soft cookie is topped with dulce de leche to create an absolutely divine caramel cookie treat.
Dulce de leche is the most decadent caramel you’ll ever have, and if you love it as much as I do, you’ll really enjoy this recipe. Dulce de leche is the star of the show!
Dulce de Leche Cookies Recipe
This was inspired by my other dulce de leche cupcake recipe on this site and pairs well with this amazing dalgona cloud coffee recipe.
Ingredients
It only takes a few basic baking ingredients to make this recipe. Outside of the dulce de leche, you probably have all of the ingredients in your kitchen already.
- butter
- vanilla extract
- powdered sugar
- all-purpose flour
- salt
- dulce de leche
See the recipe card at the end of the post for exact quantities.
Instructions
Making these cookies couldn’t be simpler. It only takes a few minutes and a few simple steps.
Step 1: Make the Cookie Dough
Cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla together. Then, add the powdered sugar and beat again until combined. Finally, add the flour and salt and beat until a smooth dough forms.
Step 2: Prepare the Cookies for Baking
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on a greased cookie sheet. Slightly flatten each ball and create a small divot in the center of each cookie with a teaspoon. Finally, fill the divots with dulce de leche.
Step 3: Bake the Cookies
Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 11 to 13 minutes until the bottoms are slightly browned. Then removes the cookies and place them on a wire rack to cool. Enjoy!
Hint: Don’t overfill your divot when adding the dulce de leche. You don’t want it to ooze over the edges while the cookies bake.
Substitutions
Don’t have the correct ingredients on hand or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this dulce de leche cookies recipe.
- Caramel Sauce – If you don’t have dulce de leche, you can use caramel sauce.
- Butterscotch Sauce – You can use butterscotch in place of dulce de leche, as well.
Variations
Want to personalize this dulce de leche cookies recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.
- Cayenne – Add a touch of cayenne to the dulce de leche to really set off the sweetness of the caramel. Don’t add too much!
- Chocolate Cookies – Add a ¼ cup of cocoa powder insead of flour to the cookie dough to make chocolate dulce de leche cookies.
- Chocolate Sauce – Add a little chocolate sauce to the dulce de leche or a drizzle on top
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy these Boston Cream Pie Cookie Bites, Stuffed Chocolate Cookie Cups or our easy no-bake cookies.
Equipment
You only need a handful of basic equipment to make these easy cookies.
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Hand mixer
- Spoon
- Baking sheet
- Wire rack
Storage
Store these cookies at room temperature in a tightly covered container for up to a week or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Tips
I have a couple of tips to help you make these cookies as delicious as they can possibly be and save you some unwanted cleanup, as well.
- Don’t overcook these cookies. Remove them as soon as the bottoms start to brown and place them on a rack to cool immediately.
- Add just enough dulce de leche to mostly – MOSTLY – fill your cookie divot. If you overfill the divot, you’ll be cleaning burned caramel off of the bottom of your pan.
FAQ
Do you have questions about this dulce de leche cookies recipe? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about dulce de leche cookies.
Sort of. Both caramel and dulce de leche are caramelized. Caramel, however, is made mostly of sugar, while dulce de leche is made mostly with milk and some sugar added.
They’ll last for about a week at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can freeze them for up to 3 months, as well.
Place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and open-air freeze them. Then place them in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Dulce de Leche Cookies Video
More Caramel Recipes
I know caramel isn’t exactly dulce de leche, but it is similar. So here are some tasty caramel recipes that I think you’re going to like.
- Salted Caramel Milkshake
- Air Fryer Apple Crisp with Caramel
- Crock Pot Carrot Cake with Caramel Frosting
Dulce de Leche Cookies
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Dulce de Leche Cookies
Equipment
- rimmed baking sheet
Ingredients
- 10 tablespoon butter softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup dulce de leche
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Get out and measure your ingredients.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and vanilla together.
- Add powdered sugar and beat again.
- Add flour and salt.
- Beat until smooth dough forms.
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place them on a greased cookie sheet.
- Slightly flatten each ball of dough. I usually use a glass with a flat bottom to do this.
- Using a teaspoon measuring spoon press into the center of each cookie.
- Create a small divot in the center of each cookie.
- Using a spoon, fill the divot with dulce de leche. Do not overfill.
- Fill each cookie.
- Bake cookies for 11-13 minutes
- or until bottoms are slightly browned.
- Dulce de Leche is melted flat. Rest cookies on pan for 5 minutes.
- Remove from pan and serve.
- Enjoy!
- Every bite!
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