This delightfully sweet and strong iced dulce de leche latte recipe is the perfect antidote for hot Summer days.
Inspired by a simple Spanish iced coffee, this dulce de leche iced coffee has a creamy, caramel flavor. So if you enjoy making flavored iced lattes, you have to try this delicious dulce de leche iced latte recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Iced Dulce De Leche Latte
My iced dulce de leche latte is an iced latte coffee drink made by combining espresso with milk, dulce de leche, sweetened condensed milk and ice cubes.
Also known as a dulce de leche iced coffee, my version is an espresso based drink that also contains brewed iced coffee ice cubes for an extra caffeine boost.
The taste is similar to an iced caramel latte or a Spanish iced coffee and has a lovely creamy, sweet flavor that’s perfect for Summer drinking.
If you love caramel coffee drinks, you might like to try this iced caramel macchiato, a caramel frappuccino, or this salted caramel cream cold brew.
What Is Dulce De Leche?
Dulce de leche is a sweet, spreadable treat made by slowly simmering milk and sugar together until it thickens and browns.
Most commonly used in desserts and baking to top cakes, pastries and biscuits, it is also a popular breakfast spread in Latin America.
Dulce de leche is becoming easier to find in supermarkets. But if you can’t find it at your local store, you can also make dulce de leche from sweetened condensed milk or even from scratch.
What Does Dulce De Leche Taste Like?
Dulce de leche has a caramelized, thick and sweet flavor, similar to caramel.
However if you compare caramel vs dulce de leche, dulce de leche has a richer and creamier texture and slightly less sugary sweet taste than regular caramel.
Dulce De Leche Iced Latte Ingredients
You’ll need just a handful of ingredients to make this dulce de leche coffee recipe.
The specific quantities and steps are listed in the recipe card below, so here I just want to touch on each of the ingredients that make this iced latte so delicious!
- Espresso
- Milk – whole milk or your milk of choice.
- Dulce de leche: Thick and sweet – this ingredient is what gives the drink a gorgeous rich caramel flavor. If you can’t find it at your supermarket, try a specialty Spanish grocer or online at Amazon.
- Sweetened condensed milk: A few tablespoons of sweet milk offsets the strong coffee component and pairs beautifully with the dulce de leche. It’s often sold in a can, but if you can find it in a tube, it’s much easier to store in the fridge ready to use for recipes like this one.
- Coffee ice cubes: These give the drink an extra caffeinated boost, but are optional. They are simple to make and easy to store in the freezer – I explain how below.
- Peppermint candies: Just for fun, this recipe includes a teaspoon of crushed peppermint candies. These are completely optional and are a fun way to convert this drink into a festive Christmas coffee drink. Skip if you don’t have on hand or don’t like peppermint.
Substitutions
Dulce de leche: If you can’t find this ingredient, caramel sauce is a possible dulce de leche substitute, but note the drink will have a sweeter and less creamy texture. Use the best quality caramel sauce (and don’t use syrup).
Espresso: the definition of a latte is a coffee drink made with espresso from an espresso machine. If you don’t have an espresso machine, the best alternatives are a coffee pod machine or a moka pot.
Coffee ice cubes: If you don’t have coffee ice cubes in the freezer or don’t want to make them, simply substitute with regular ice cubes. I would then double the espresso – but this is optional too!
How To Dulce De Leche Iced Coffee At Home
Here’s a quick overview of how to make an iced dulce de leche latte at home. For the full recipe and ingredient list, scroll down to the printable recipe card.
Step 1 (optional): Prepare coffee ice cubes. If using coffee ice cubes, brew a batch of coffee in your coffee maker. Leave to cool then pour into an ice cube tray.
I like to use an ice cube tray with a lid to reduce the chance of spilling. Place the ice cube tray in the freezer overnight or until firm.
Step 2: Combine the ingredients. I recommend using a tall glass so you have enough room for all the ingredients.
First add your dulce de leche to the glass. Then add 3-4 ice cubes (coffee or regular) to the glass.
Then pour the milk over the ice cubes and give a little stir to combine the caramel dulce de leche with the milk.
Next pour your shot of espresso over the milk.
Tip: If you’re using regular ice cubes, consider doubling the espresso to 2 shots for a strong iced coffee.
Step 3: Add the toppings. Finally, for a bit of extra sweetness, we are going to top the drink with some sweetened condensed milk.
If you are using the crushed peppermint candies, mix them with your sweetened condensed milk first. Otherwise simply add the sweet milk to the glass and stir to combine.
The peppermint candies are ideal if you love mint flavored coffee or want to make the drink a little festive at Christmas time. But they are optional and the drink is still amazing without them!
Serve and enjoy your caramel iced coffee!
Recipe Tips For Success
- Mix the dulce de leche: Make sure to give the drink a good stir before adding the espresso and sweetened condensed milk. This ensures the caramel is well combined with the milk. You could combine the dulce de leche and milk in a separate bowl before adding to the drink – but who wants extra dirty dishes!
- Store coffee ice cubes: Always having coffee ice cubes in the freezer is one of my best iced coffee tips for lovers of strong coffee. They are a great way to use up leftover brewed coffee and can be stored in the freezer for months in a sealed container.
Your Iced Dulce De Leche Coffee Questions Answered
Where Can I Buy Dulce De Leche?
Dulce de leche can be found in some supermarkets and online. The best dulce de leche brands come from Central and South America and can be found at Spanish speciality grocers.
What Is Dulce De Leche In English?
The literal translation of dulce de leche in English is sweet from milk. Dulce de leche is a Spanish term for the sweet treat that originates from Latin America.
What Flavor Is Dulce De Leche?
Dulce de leche has a sweet, creamy and slightly nutty caramel flavor. It is the perfect pairing for milk based coffee drinks, desserts and baking recipes.
What Is The Difference Between Caramel vs Dulce De Leche?
Caramel is made by heating water and sugar together until caramelized. Whereas dulce de leche is made by heating sweetened milk. As a result dulce de leche has a creamier texture than caramel and is slightly less sweet than caramel.
More Iced Latte Recipes To Try
- Find more latte ideas in this collection of flavored latte recipes.
- Summer coffee drinks recipe ideas
- Easy brown sugar latte
- Iced vanilla latte
Find more iced coffee recipes here or browse all our coffee recipes.
Loved this recipe? Leave a review, and join me on Facebook and Pinterest for more tasty coffee recipe ideas.
Iced Dulce De Leche Latte
Ingredients
Coffee Ice Cubes (Optional)
- 2 cups brewed coffee
Dulce De Leche Iced Latte
- 3-4 coffee ice cubes optional (note 1)
- 1-2 tablespoons dulce de leche
- ½ cup milk
- 1 shot espresso
- 1-2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon peppermint candies crushed, optional
Instructions
Coffee Ice Cubes (optional)
- Brew a pot of coffee in your coffee maker. Leave to cool then pour the coffee into an ice cube tray.
- Place tray in the freezer to freeze overnight.
Iced Dulce De Leche Latte
- Add dulce de leche to your glass and place coffee ice cubes (or regular ice cubes) on top to half fill the glass.
- Pour milk into the glass, give it a good stir and then add your shot(s) of espresso on top.
- Mix sweetened condensed milk with crushed peppermint candies (if using) and drizzle over the top of the iced coffee (note 2).
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Coffee ice cubes make this drink stronger, but they are not essential. If you don’t have any on hand, simply substitute regular ice cubes, and increase the espresso quantity to 2 shots.
- The peppermint candies give this drink a subtle peppermint flavor and a festive twist – but they are not essential. At Christmas time you could use crushed candy canes. If not using, simply add the sweetened condensed milk on its own.
- If you don’t have an espresso machine, good machine substitutes are a moka pot or a coffee pod machine.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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