Dulce de Leche Ice Cream

// Dulce de Leche Ice Cream recipe: Easy no-churn! Creamy, caramel-flavored, and delicious with crunchy cookies. Perfect homemade dessert!



This easy Dulce de Leche Ice Cream recipe is a creamy, caramel-flavored delight made with whipping cream and dulce de leche.

If you love dulce de leche, you’re going to adore this dreamy, creamy ice cream.

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Two scoops of dulce de leche ice cream in a glass dish, drizzled with caramel and topped with crushed cookies, on a plate with orange flowers

About Dulce De Leche Ice Cream

This is a rich, creamy ice cream with the sweet caramel flavor of dulce de leche and the crunch of digestive cookies in every spoonful. You can enjoy it as an after-meal dessert or as a homemade treat for gatherings and special occasions.

This mouthwatering ice cream is made with chilled whipping cream, dulce de leche, crushed cookies, and vanilla extract. Not only is it super delicious, but it’s also a fantastic way to use up leftover dulce de leche.

Making this homemade ice cream is incredibly easy and fun. You just need a few main ingredients and about 10 minutes of hands-on time. Whip up the ingredients with a hand or stand mixer, pour them into a freezer-safe container, and freeze overnight. You’ll get ice cream that is smooth, super creamy, and so, so good.

If you’ve always wanted to try making homemade ice cream but don’t have an ice cream maker, there’s good news. This is a no-churn ice cream that doesn’t require any special equipment.

I love dulce de leche desserts, and if you do too, you can also try my dulce de leche burfi and dulce de leche modak recipes.

So, without further ado, let’s make some creamy and delicious Ice Cream with Dulce de Leche!

Glass dish with dulce de leche ice cream, caramel drizzle, and cookie crumbles on a silver tray with flowers

Why Will You Love This Recipe

This Ice Cream

✓ is simple and easy to make

✓ can also be made vegan and gluten-free

✓ is creamy and delicious

✓ is vegetarian and gluten-free

✓ is made without an ice cream maker

✓ has caramel notes

✓ is loved by all

✓ can be prepared without cookies

About Ingredients

  • Chilled Whipping Cream: It makes the creamy base for this ice cream recipe. To make it creamy, fluffy, and rich, I use 30% fat whipping cream. You need to whip the cream into fluffy peaks to give the ice cream its creamy texture. You can also use a combination of whipping cream and heavy cream.

  • Dulce de Leche: The star ingredient adds sweetness and a rich caramel flavor to the ice cream. Both store-bought and homemade dulce de leche work fine, with no need for additional sugar.

  • Vanilla Extract (Optional): A bit of vanilla extract enhances the dulce de leche flavor. If you prefer, you can omit it.

  • Crushed Cookies (Optional): Crushed digestive cookies add a delightful crunch. You can substitute them with toasted nuts or omit them entirely.

Person holding a glass dish of dulce de leche ice cream topped with caramel and cookies

How To Make Dulce de Leche Ice Cream

Making this ice cream is very easy:

  • Beat the whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Add the dulce de leche to the whipped cream to sweeten it up and whip again until you get a uniform color.

  • Lastly, add the cookies for crunch and vanilla extract for flavor. Fold gently using a spatula. 

  • Pour the mixture into a container, swirl in some dulce de leche and cookie crumbs. Cover the container and freeze overnight or until firm. That’s it! You’ve made yourself a creamy and incredibly delicious ice cream.

Variations

Nuts

Instead of cookie crumbs, you can add toasted nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, cashews, or walnuts. Homemade praline also works well.

Toffee

Add bits of toffee to the mixture before freezing.

Coffee 

Add about 1 tablespoon of instant coffee to the mixture along with the dulce de leche.

Chocolate

Add chocolate chips or chopped chocolate. White, milk, and dark chocolate all work fine.

Fruits & Berries

Add chopped strawberries or bananas for a fruity touch.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your ice cream in bowls or cones. For added texture and flavor, top it with more crushed digestive cookies and a drizzle of melted dulce de leche. It can also be enjoyed with brownies, blueberry pie, chocolate lava cake, vanilla crepes, or chocolate crepes.

Storage Suggestions

This ice cream keeps well for up to 1 month when stored in an airtight container in the freezer. Make sure to keep the surface covered with a tight lid or plastic wrap to prevent ice crystals from forming.

Metal container of dulce de leche ice cream with a scoop and cookie crumbles, alongside a pink-handled scoop and a flower

Important Tips and Tricks to make Dulce De Leche Ice Cream

  1. Chilled Ingredients: Use chilled whipping cream and dulce de leche for the best texture. Warm dulce de leche won’t give a perfect creamy texture. 

  2. Fold Gently: Fold the ice cream gently after adding cookie crumbs to avoid deflating it.

  3. Finding Dulce de Leche: You can find dulce de leche in the baking aisle near sweetened condensed milk.

  4. Create Swirls: Add some dulce de leche on top and use a knife or skewer to create swirls.

  5. Soften Before Serving: Let the ice cream sit at room temperature for a few minutes before scooping.

  6. Serving: Drizzle room-temperature dulce de leche on top before serving for extra sweetness.


Dulce de Leche Ice Cream (Step-by-step photo instructions)

How to Make Dulce de Leche Ice Cream

  1. Pour the chilled whipping cream into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer or a whisk, beat the cream until stiff peaks form. Add 1 cup of dulce de leche to the whipped cream. Whisk again until the dulce de leche is well combined with the cream.
  2. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-1 for Dulce de Leche Ice Cream
  3. Next, add the 3/4 cup of crushed digestive cookies and vanilla extract. Fold gently into the dulce de leche cream mixture. Transfer the ice cream mixture into a freezer-safe container and spread it evenly.
  4. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-2 for Dulce de Leche Ice Cream
  5. Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of dulce de leche over the layer and add some crushed cookies for crunch. Use a knife or skewer to create swirls. Gently tap the container to remove air bubbles. Cover the container with a lid or plastic wrap. Place it in the freezer and freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight.
  6. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-3 for Dulce de Leche Ice Cream
  7. When ready to serve, let the ice cream sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly. Scoop the ice cream into bowls or cones. Sprinkle with additional crushed digestive cookies. Drizzle with melted dulce de leche for an extra touch of sweetness. Enjoy your homemade dulce de leche ice cream!
  8. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-4 for Dulce de Leche Ice Cream

Recipe Card


Dulce de Leche Ice Cream [Recipe]

Recipe Image
Dulce de Leche Ice Cream recipe: Easy no-churn! Creamy, caramel-flavored, and delicious with crunchy cookies. Perfect homemade dessert!
★★★★★
(Rating: 5 from 6 reviews)

Prep time 🕐 Cook time 🕐 Total time 🕐
10 mins
Category ☶ Cuisine ♨ Serves ☺
Desserts American 5
Nutrition Info ⊛ Serving size ⊚
245 calories 1

INGREDIENTS

For Dulce de Leche Ice Cream
  • 2 cups chilled whipping cream
  • 1 cup dulce de leche, plus 2-3 tablespoons for swirling
  • 3/4 cup crushed digestive cookies, plus some more for swirling and serving
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Some melted dulce de leche for serving

INSTRUCTIONS:

How to Make Dulce de Leche Ice Cream
  1. Pour the chilled whipping cream into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer or a whisk, beat the cream until stiff peaks form. Add 1 cup of dulce de leche to the whipped cream. Whisk again until the dulce de leche is well combined with the cream.
  2. Next, add the 3/4 cup of crushed digestive cookies and vanilla extract. Fold gently into the dulce de leche cream mixture. Transfer the ice cream mixture into a freezer-safe container and spread it evenly.
  3. Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of dulce de leche over the layer and add some crushed cookies for crunch. Use a knife or skewer to create swirls. Gently tap the container to remove air bubbles. Cover the container with a lid or plastic wrap. Place it in the freezer and freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight.
  4. When ready to serve, let the ice cream sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly. Scoop the ice cream into bowls or cones. Sprinkle with additional crushed digestive cookies. Drizzle with melted dulce de leche for an extra touch of sweetness. Enjoy your homemade dulce de leche ice cream!

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NOTES:

  1. Use chilled whipping cream and dulce de leche for the best texture. Warm dulce de leche won't give a perfect creamy texture.
  2. Fold the ice cream gently after adding cookie crumbs to avoid deflating it.


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