dulce de leche

American  

[duhl-sey duh le-chey] / ˈdʌl seɪ də ˈlɛ tʃeɪ /

noun

Latin-American Cooking.

1. a thick, sweet sauce made by slowly cooking sweetened milk over low heat until it caramelizes and reduces.

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Etymology

Origin of dulce de leche

First recorded in 1875–80; from Spanish: literally, “sweet of milk”; dulce “sweet” (from Latin dulcis; see dulcet) + de de + leche “milk” (from Latin lac; cf. lacto-)

Example Sentences

"We give them chocolate, filled cookies, dulce de leche, condensed milk... In other words, the same type of food that many people consume on a daily basis," says Otton.

From Science Daily • Oct. 8, 2025

The cake contains a double chocolate ganache, dark chocolate sponge and a layer of dulce de leche - a caramel made of butter, milk and sugar with extra cream which is popular in Latin America.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2025

Another combo that I want to sneak in under the wire: Mexican Hot Chocolate Chip Cookies with dulce de leche ice cream.

From Washington Times • Aug. 7, 2023

And if you want to go one step further, swirling in a few tablespoons of chopped nuts, shredded coconut or chocolate chips along with the dulce de leche adds texture as well as flavor.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 24, 2023

To lick my fingers after enjoying sweet alfajores—the dulce de leche dancing on my tongue.

From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson