Dulce de Leche Latte

When I have dulce de leche in the kitchen, it’s difficult for me to resist it. I’ll eat it by the spoonful, in addition to incorporating it into baked goods, but there are actually many different uses for it. One way that I’ve been enjoying dulce de leche lately is in homemade Dulce de Leche Lattes. These rich, caramel-flavored lattes are a great way to use up a jar of the milk caramel sauce when you have some on hand in your kitchen. The latte, like most, starts with both espresso and steamed milk. The dulce de leche is dissolved into the espresso, infusing the drink with its rich flavor. I also add in a tiny splash of vanilla extract to give the drink a vanilla flavor without adding additional sweetness. The combination is delicious, whether you’re making it as part of your morning routine or enjoying it alongside a chocolate dessert after dinner.

I used espresso in this drink, but if you don’t have an espresso machine, you can substitute strong coffee instead and simply cut back on the milk slightly. I would double the amount of coffee and reduce the milk slightly to get a similar flavor in the finished drink. There have been days when I want a little extra something sweet with my coffee, so if you like your drinks sweeter, feel free to increase the amount of dulce de leche, too. Sweet or not, I usually keep the whipped cream on this one.

Dulce de Leche Latte
2 oz espresso
1 oz/2 tbsp dulce de leche
6 drops vanilla extract
8 oz steamed milk
whipped cream, for topping.

In a large mug, stir together hot espresso and dulce de leche until caramel is completely dissolved. Stir in vanilla. Add steamed milk and top with whipped cream.

Serves 1.