Salted Dulce de Leche Brownies
I’ve been writing this blog for several years now and I feel pretty comfortable around here. You guys let me share my favorite recipes, you let me ramble about pizza, ask rhetorical questions like a fictional writer on a popular HBO series, learn from my baking mistakes, and we all laugh together at my dating stories. In fact, I feel like I can be myself around you guys more than when I’m on a first date. Like I have no qualms sharing secrets here, but I don’t share my secrets (immediately) with my dates. Instead, I prefer to list them down on this blog for the whole world to know. Here are some of my secret shames:
1) I go to Chipotle after running at the gym.
2) When I order sushi for delivery, the restaurant puts in three pairs of chopsticks (not even two!)
3) When I make recipes that call for about 2/3 of a can of dulce de leche, I eat the remaining 1/3 plain and straight from the can while watching The Mindy Project.
If you’re a potential date and you’re still interested after reading this, sweet. Bonus points if you’re the guy who got my “low-key but I don’t mean Thor’s brother” reference. Thanks!
In general, dulce de leche is one of my secrets. It’s one of my go-to ingredients when I want to make something extra special.
When I first started baking and I was just a baby blogger, any time I needed something special, I would bust out the Nutella. Nutella Cake Balls. Nutella Banana Pudding. Nutella Fudge. (Those are all recipes from four years ago and if you click on any of them, you’ll see some vintage pre-DSLR photos.) I mean, don’t get me wrong, Nutella will always have a place in my heart and hips (Dark Nutella Cherry Truffles. Nutella Almond Butter Muddy Buddies. I could do this all day).
But dulce de leche – ah, mi amor. Dulce de leche is caramel’s more exotic, sensual cousin. Dulce de leche is milkier, silkier, thicker. I’m in love with it.
I love the thick, velvety, sticky texture. I love the sweet caramel taste. I love making treats that highlight it, like alfajores or dulce de leche cheesecake. The latest treats I made are these Salted Dulce de Leche Brownies which I gave away to some friends last month for Valentine’s Day.
I made my favorite fudgy brownies, dark and intense, dolloped spoonfulls of dulce de leche on top before baking, then finished with sprinkles of flaky smoked sea salt. Each bite of dark chocolate brownie, creamy dulce de leche, and crunchy salt was magnificent.
And that’s no secret.
I buy dulce de leche in a can or in a jar but you can make your own. Either way, I’m warning you that you might be tempted to eat whatever remaining dulce de leche you have straight up with a spoon.
Salted Dulce De Leche Brownies
Ingredients
1 1/4 sticks butter, softened
2 large eggs
3/4 cups dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon chocolate extract
1 teaspoon instant coffee powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup (8 oz) dulce de leche
2 teaspoons smoked sea salt (or any other flaky salt)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine softened butter, eggs, sugars, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, chocolate extract, and coffee.
- Mix well, then stir in flour and salt. Whisk together until smooth.
- Spread brownie batter in a foil-lined buttered 8x8 pan.
- Dollop spoonfulls of dulce de leche on top of brownie batter. Use a knife to make swirl patters, running knife perpendicularly.
- Bake 22-24 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in brownie comes out clean. (The dulce de leche will stick to the toothpick, but the brownie base should be set.)
- Sprinkle smoked sea salt on top. Let brownies cool to room temperature before serving. You can opt to chill or freeze first, and serve cold (which is how I prefer these brownies!)
I used Nestle La Lechera dulce de leche (in a can) which is very thick. If your dulce de leche is more liquidy, you can also try baking the brownie base first spreading the dulce de leche on top after baking, and then sprinkling with sea salt. I recommend serving the brownies chilled.
Recipe
These are some of the best brownies I’ve ever made, so I hope you give them a try! And please tell me you have secret shames, too!
Hi! I’m Bianca Garcia. I love food, running, yoga, sangria, and my job. I'm an advertising professional, social media enthusiast, blogger, freelance writer, and obsessive list-maker. I think about dessert constantly. 
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Oh my!
Yup :) Happy Monday, girlfriend!
Ah these look and sound amazing! And #3 makes you even more awesome:-)
Thank you Lauren :)
What guy wouldn’t want to date you after seeing treats like this?? Obviously, there are a million more reasons why you’re awesome, but this blog is the perfect dating ad :)
You’re the best, thank you! xo
I think you sound delightful and I don’t know who wouldn’t wanna date you! Lol and these brownies won’t hurt your chances with the fellas either….that gooooey dulce de leche and the salt and the brownies….mmmmmm irresistible!
Thanks girl!! Happy Monday!
The intro to this post is one of my favorites ever. Also, these brownies look incredible!
Haha thanks Molly! You and I can talk about dating stories all day long ;)
I don’t think anyone can blame you for having 1/3 of the dulce straight from the tin. I would for sure. I think these brownies would disappear pretty quickly around here too x
Thanks Mariana! I kinda wish I had a can lying around here right now ;) Enjoy the rest of the week!
haha I love the chopsticks thing! Amazing.
And these brownies! They look amazing! I’ll take one for dessert please!
Haha thanks girl! Enjoy the rest of the week!
What a fun read, Bianca. Now, I am on team Nutella all the way but you’ve got me thinking. : ) I just made cinnamon rolls with Nutella and maybe I should try it with dulce de leche next! My son and I have been talking about things like that lately because he’s learning about food in his Spanish class. I was thinking churros dipped in dulce de leche? Anyway, brownies look luscious!
Aw thanks Monica! Oh my gosh churros dipped in dulce de leche sound amazing. Si, por favor :)
Hahaha you are my hero girl! Love #1 and 3 :)
These brownies are epic, I am swooning over that thick layer of dulce de leche!
Thanks Kelly! The thick layer is key :)
I think that on you’re next date you should ask the guy “How do you feel about dulce de leche?”
If the answer is not enough enthusiastic, then you should dump the guy on the spot.
Liking dulce de leche is a make-it or break-it moment, right?
Oh btw, the brownies looks awesome! :)
Yes I like that idea! I will ask that question on all first dates from now on. I don’t care if guys start calling me that crazy dulce de leche chick.
Dulce- delicious it should be cuz thats exactly what they are!! :) HAPPY ST.PATTY’S DAY TO YOU!
I think we should def start calling it dulce de licous!
Now why didn’t I think of this when I was making my sister’s old fashioned brownie recipe?? I love this idea!
Thanks Maureen! Next time :)
I love that you called dulce de leche caramel’s sensual cousin! But it’s totally true. That stuff is magic! And I’m loving the brownie + dulce de leche combination you’ve got going on here. Those brownies would absolutely not be safe in my kitchen. I also feel like we bonded there for a moment over Chipotle. That place is amazing. True story: we went on vacation out of the country last year and Chipotle was both the last meal we ate before we left and the first meal we are when we got back. (It helps that it was located right next to our gate in the airport…but still…)
Chipotle is definitely worthy of a bonding moment! Those salad bowls…
These look so amazing. I have been craving dessert all day, and now I need these!
Wow Bianca, these brownies look great and I like the dulce de leche on it…and a touch of salt…beautiful pictures!
Have a great week :)
I love dulce de leche and as it is so easy to make, it can be a treat all on its own any time. However, these brownies look like a must try for the indulgence :)
Thanks, Tandy! I should def try making dulce de leche at home next time.
I have never made my own dulce de leche before but since brownies are my fav dessert I am tempted to make this from scratch for these sinfully delicious looking brownies!!
Thanks Ami! They would def be worth it ;)
I mean, what else are you supposed to do with the rest of the can of dulce de leche?! Keep in the fridge to let it get moldy?! Uhhhh no. Best eat up. :P I might make these brownies as an excuse just to eat part of a dulce jar. And also to have these brownies. WIN/WIN.
Leftover dulce de leche is just not meant to be on a shelf in a fridge! In fact, leftover dulce de leche should be eaten after Chipotle or sushi! Yeah?! :)
These brownies look fantastic Bianca – I so love that thick dulce de leche topping!
These brownies look super! Dulce de leche is such a perfect topping, especially with a touch of salt. Perfect!
i would totally seek out the brownie with the thickest portion of dulce de leche. :)
OMG.. that looks sooooooooo crazy good. I love sea salt and caramel on anything. Love the idea of baking the dulce de leche with the brownies. Keeper!
Yum! You definately couldn’t throw the remaining dulce de leche away! Waste not, want not :)
Oh, my! Bianca, these dulce de leche brownies are off…the…chain! They look beyond scrumptious and I cannot wait to try them. Thanks for sharing, girl. Wishing you a happy and meaningful Easter! xo
This. Yes. Just yes. There’s not much in the world that is better than a fudgy brownie smothered in dulce de leche and kissed with salt. This is the epitome of my comfort food!
I don’t understand this recipe. The dulce de leche melted straight into the brownie batter, and then (I’m guessing because if that) it took forever to cook and burned the bottom while trying. Looks nothing like the pic.
Hi Jo, sorry this didn’t turn out well for you. I’ve made this a couple of times and always used the same kind of thick dulce de leche (Nestle La Lechera in a can) and it stays on top.
I haven’t tried the recipe yet but I’m afraid that the caramel topping will melt and mix either the batter? Do you have this problem?
Hi Kim, thanks for the note. I always use the same kind of dulce de leche (Nestle La Lechera in a can) which is thick and spreadable, and I haven’t had this problem. If your dulce de leche is a little on the liquidy side, you can also bake the brownie batter first, and then dollop it on top after baking. Good luck!
This recipe sucks. What a waste of dulce de leche. The brownies never cooked.
I followed this recipe to a “T,” and these were not even STARTING to be done after 22 minutes! I added 10 more minutes, then 5 more, then 3 more, then 3 more, & finally 2 more! A total of 45 minutes in an 8” square pan at 350. My oven may be off, but it baked cupcakes just fine earlier today!?? Don’t know yet. They smell delicious! I can’t wait to try them! More later!
Hi, Barbara – how did the brownies turn out? Hope you enjouyed them!
Decided to try this to bring for Sunday dinner at my sister’s. Disastrous. I kind of thought that with 1 c cocoa and only 1/2 c flour it didn’t seem right, but was hoping it would work. It did not set, even after double the cooking time. Running to the grocery store now for a dessert to bring.
Sorry to hear that, Leanne. I’m not sure what happened as I’ve used this brownie base dozens of times.