Dulce de leche seems simple. It’s made up of just two ingredients: milk and sugar. The milk and sugar are slowly cooked so the sugar caramelizes, creating an intense, complex sweetness that is the best flavor on earth. The birthplace of dulce de leche is South America. During our time in Buenos Aires, our mission was to sample as many products with dulce de leche as possible. It’s a tough job but, well you know.
These cakes are decorated with dulce de leche frosting with even more between the layers inside.
A tasty twist on the New York black-and-white cookie. Take one of each and sandwich them around a layer of dulce de leche.
Here’s a simple recipe you can try at home: take a croissant, slice it open, slather the inside with dulce de leche, sprinkle powdered sugar on it. Done.
These supermarket shelves are stacked with so many varieties of dulce de leche that we couldn’t try them all.
Larissa’s in control as she selects some treats at a Buenos Aires bakery.
Dulce de leche gelato
Not only is dulce de leche the best flavor on earth, it also makes the very best gelato.
It’s hard to believe, but gelato is less fattening than ice cream. So eat up.
In America, an ice cream store may have one flavor of dulce de leche. In Buenos Aires they have up to a dozen.
The gelato in Argentina is spun around, not scooped, before being placed on the cone.
Mario and Jimmy are the gelato spinners at Volta, and huge Rocky fans.
Torta Miloja
Possibly the sweetest concoction we have ever tasted is Torta Miloja, sometimes called Torta Rogel. It’s made up of many layers of crepes with dulce de leche slathered between each layer. The whole thing is topped off with a baked meringue. Our initial excitement when the cake was brought to our table faded away though; we met our match in the Torta Miloja and couldn’t finish it.
The Torte Miloja in all its glory. Count the layers.
Even sharing this cake between us we just couldn’t finish it. Afterwards we were a bit hepped up on all the sugar.
La Salamandra Cafe
A restaurant devoted to dulce de leche? That’s one of the things that makes Buenos Aires so special.
We just had to try this place.
You know a restaurant is good when dulce de leche is the 3rd condiment, right after salt and pepper.
For dessert try the dulce de leche three ways: a tart , a cookie and a spoonful of pure bliss.
Can a good thing be ruined?
Even McDonalds is into it. Their dulce de leche sundae is quite popular. Funny thing though, when you meet Americans overseas they will only grudgingly admit to going to McDonalds. It’s like admitting they watch porn or something.
What are some of your favorite dulce de leche memories?
With Little Rocky's help, Larissa stops traffic in Saigon.
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m usually not a huge fan of posts about food, but this one was amazing. As far as I’m concerned, dulce de leche IS the best flavor on the world, and I had no idea it could be in so many different things.
Note to self: Go to Buenos Aires.
Thanks Tristan. Maybe we’ll turn you into a lover of food posts.
Michael recently posted..Strolling the mosaic sidewalks of Lisbon in search of pastel de nata
Love this post! I only wish I had seen it before our trip to BA–I mean of course we tried the sweet delicacy a few ways but nothing like you guys did! Guess that is one more reaosn to go back !! On the bright side, I thank you for all of the calories you saved me.
Another place to find all this is in the Elmhurst section of Queens in New York City. When Michael’s grandfather lived there a few Argentinean bakeries had opened up. Our favorite was churros with dulce de leche.
Michael recently posted..The 11 best sandwiches in the world, which one costs only 35 cents?
Buenos Aires seems like a great place to open up a dental practice.
My favorite dulce du leche memory….at home actually. If you can find a small container of it in a local international or specialty food store, buy some and store it in the fridge. I like sneaking spoonful in the morning before anyone else is up. Its self leveling so no one really notices the spoon shaped crater that my indulgence leaves behind. YUM!
And I am proud to say I was responsible for putting that stuff in your fridge in the first place
Larissa recently posted..The 11 best sandwiches in the world, which one costs only 35 cents?
OMG. food cue!!! guess what i’ll be looking for, at the store?
wandering educators recently posted..The 5 Best Gastronomic Reasons to Visit Paris: Paris by Food
Yep–puts marshmallow fluff to shame!
Larissa recently posted..Strolling the mosaic sidewalks of Lisbon in search of pastel de nata
I would argue that the best flavor in the world is salted caramel with sea salt on dark chocolate…you say tomato, I say tomahto, I guess.
Jennifer recently posted..Dog Sledding in Banff National Park, Canada
You know Jennifer, that is probably a close second.
Oh my gosh– I am licking the screen…
Lillie – @WorldLillie recently posted..Unexpected International Flair in Newport, Rhode Island
Watch out, that can be habit forming.
I need to find a vegan version of that ice-cream! I love that it is spun and not scooped. Did you see any dairy-free gelato options in Argentina? Italy is pretty good for dairy free gelato.
Kate @30Traveler recently posted..How to Find an Inexpensive Apartment in New York
Hi Kate,
There were dairy-free options. As a side note, we often found dairy-free options in Israel too for kosher dining reasons.
I don’t love dulce de leche (my Argentinian friend in Spain once got us a cake specially made, and it turned me off forever), though I’m always willing to give things a second try!
Cat of Sunshine and Siestas recently posted..Seville Snapshots: The Life, Death and Rebirth of an Orange Tree
Sorry to hear that Cat. And we really trusted your opinions until now.
Maybe the cake was like that torta we had that was really too sweet.
Michael recently posted..Is dulce de leche the best flavor in the world?
My wedding cake (I was married in Buenos Aires) was made of a mixture of chocolates and dulce de leche. Best cake I’ve ever had in my life! I’m a HUGE fan of the stuff. Dulce de leche liquor is incredible too!
Andi of My Beautiful Adventures recently posted..Andi’s Pick: Cotton Tree
Those were some lucky wedding guests.
wow, I’m drooling! Great post
Christina Gmyr recently posted..Hunting for Acai in Rio de Janeiro
Thanks Christina. The acai looks good too.
Michael recently posted..There’s no place like Earth: The world as home
Loved this post, Larissa…
Thanks, Theodora. But in all fairness, Michael wrote this one (someone had to take the photos while I ate all the goodies)
Larissa recently posted..Free things to do in Cairns, Australia; even free scuba
Awww, man… this is when you really need to be able to smell over the internet! I am so salivating right now! WANT.
Linda @EcoTraveller recently posted..Earth Hour: Do You Embrace or Ignore It?
Linda, I promise I won’t tell anyone if you lick the screen
Larissa recently posted..The 11 best sandwiches in the world, which one costs only 35 cents?
I have to admit, I found the dulce de leche ice cream a bit too much. but i did buy one of the jars on my first visit to a grocery store in BA cause there was an entire isle for it! my favorite was dipping apples in it…. yumm. But one question, is it any different to caramel ?
Robin Lee recently posted..Manaus, Brazil
Hi Robin! Good to hear from you
According to our research (makes us sound smart, don’t you think?), the literal translation is “sweetness of milk”, and it is also known as “milk caramel”. So in answer to your question, dulce de leche is the same as caramel–the Argentines have simply raised it to an art form!
And agree with dipping the apples!
Larissa recently posted..How to travel: 14 Travel Myths Debunked (Part 2)
One thing I learned in Buenos Aires is that a little dulce de leche goes a long way. Did you try panqueque con dulce de leche — basically a dulce de leche crepe?
Just One Boomer (Suzanne) recently posted..Philadelphia Phriday* — Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market
We didn’t try the crepe but that Torte Miloja had about a dozen crepes stacked up in it.
Loved this post. We’ve actually planned a trip to Turkey this year to try their stretchy ice cream (dondurma), and I’m thinking you may have just inspired us to visit Argentina too
Micki recently posted..Backpacking in Search of Paradise
Hi Micki, We missed that when we were in Istanbul. An excuse to go back!
I never tried dulce de leche, but if I can find some, I will. It looks so delicious in these photos.
Claudine recently posted..Don’t Travel Without These Beauty Must-Haves
Hi Claudine,
Check your local market, they may have some.
Michael recently posted..The 11 best sandwiches in the world, which one costs only 35 cents?
It’s upt there as one of my favourites. But you have to come to the Canary Islands and try helado to gofio. Now that’s taking taste sensations to another level.
Matthew Hirtes recently posted..Guia
I’ve never heard of that Matthew. There’s always something new to discover.
Wow, looks like they put that stuff on everything down there. Same in Spain too
Michael Hodson recently posted..Ice swimming in Finland. Ice swimming??!!
Hi Michael,
Perhaps it started in Spain.