Dulce de Leche Tartlets are easy tartlets that will blow your guests socks off! Are you looking for a dulce de leche dessert idea but also want a basic dessert that doesn't require elbow grease? Then this ducle de leche tartlets recipe is for you!
Dulce de Leche is one of the most magically recipes to make using your slow cooker. For a no fuss dessert, check the Microwave Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding.
Popular treats like my Nutella Puff Pastry and Peanut Butter Pinwheels are worth taking a look at. For festive desserts your go to recipes are our Chocolate Ripple Wreath, Christmas Wreath Pavlova and 8 Egg Pavlova.
Recipes using Dulce de Leche
There is a refined elegance about dulce de leche desserts. They tick a lot of boxes as they taste and look fantastic. If you haven't heard of them, don't worry, cause I am going to fill you in.
Mini tartlets are the type of dessert you can take places. These easy tartlets will impress and they are effortlessly pulled together!
Dulce de leche Desserts
Today's recipe is one that I wanted to shared with you as not only is it delicious but there is a funny kind of magic in the method. Guys, listen up, get real close to me so I can whisper this trick in your ear. We don't want anyone else to hear it though because our kind of magic and their kindof magic might not be the same trickery. Ok, are you ready. We make our dulce de leche in the slow cooker. Say what I hear you think. Yup, uh-huh, you heard me. We actually make it in the slow cooker!
There is often some mystery about desserts with dulce de leche. They have an usual name and seem as if they must take hours and hours to produce. On some level that is true for this recipe in that the cook time for the dulce de leche is 8 hrs in the slow cooker. But given that 8 hrs is hands off time and it literally takes about 2 mins of prep work to get it cooking then you will come to realise how handy it is to know how to make these dulce de leche tartlets.
What is dulce de leche?
Ducle de leche is a thick caramel like sauce that is sweet. It is made from milk and sugar and is most commonly used in desserts. (Think cakes, pies and tarts). As much as you might want to stand at the stove and stir for the hrs it takes to make it, quite frankly ain't nobody got time for that!
We do, however, have time to throw these bad boys (the sweetened condensed milk tins) into the slow cooker with a butt load of water and wait for the magic to happen!
The magic will be spoonfuls looking exactly like this:
Is dulce de leche the same as caramel?
The answer to this in one quick word is no. Dulce de leche and caramel are different. Different as they use different ingredients, albeit having a strikingly similar taste and visual appearance.
Dulce de leche is a mix of milk and sugar, whereas caramel is a mix of butter and sugar. (Then we have butterscotch, which we won't go into too much detail about, other than to say, it too is delicious and is made from adding cream to the butter and sugar).
They are both a light brown colour and they are both commonly used in sweets.
What is the difference between a tart and tartlet?
A tartlet is a miniature version of a tart. A tart is often the size of a family pie and is sweet, commonly used for desserts. However, you can also find savoury tart recipes.
Tarlets are good as they can be one person serves and easily passed around for finger food at parties.
A tart being larger is better suited to a sit down dessert, as it needs to be cut and portioned out between many people.
Tartlets recipes are perfect for dessert as they often don't take a long time to prepare or cook. Plus there are so many combinations, you can be creative and play around with different combinations.
How to make dulce de leche tartlets?
To make dulce de leche tartlets, you need a few key ingredients. These ingredients are:
- pastry tart shells
- dulce de leche sauce
- dark chocolate melts
- flaked almonds
- cocoa powder
The steps are super easy to follow. They are:
- set out empty tart shells on bench
- spoon dulce de leche into tart shells
- drizzle melted dark chocolate back and forth on top
- dust with cocoa powder
- top with toasted flaked almonds
- place in fridge to set
How to make easy tartlets?
It is my intention with this recipe to share with you an easy tartlets recipe that you can rely on.
For that reason, we are not making the pastry from scratch. There is a time and a place for that, but it is not here in this recipe.
You can grab a pack of 6 small shells (they are mini, but not miniature) easily in the bakery section of the supermarket. They will have a few days shelf life which is another added bonus!
Whilst you can scoop the dulce de leche into the tartlets in a thick format, I like to whip it (using beaters) for about 3 mins. This changes the consistency into an easy to scoop format. It is also thinner which will appeal to many.
The photo below shows you the basic steps to bring these tartlets together.
Dulce de leche questions answered:
About the recipe:
- we use store bought pastry shells
- the slow cooker is used to make the dulce de leche sauce
- Dark chocolate contrasts better with the sauce than milk chocolate
- it will only take 2-3 mins to toast your nuts
- you can melt the chocolate in the microwave
- the inside if the tart will be soft, not as hard as custard
Your quick questions answered:
- this recipe makes 6 tartlets
- use can use cacao powder instead of cocoa powder
- toasting the nuts brings flavour and texture to them
- the chocolate will set quickly so work fast if you want the nuts to stick
- scoop or whip and scoop dulce de leche into tartlets
- This is an EASY recipe
The dulce de leche tarts won't set the same way caramel does. These will still be soft centre, ooey, gooey, dreamy sweet tarts.
When you are decorating your tarts, it is a good idea to keep in mind that the cocoa powder will harden the chocolate quickly. If you want your flaked almonds to stick to the top of the tart, then layer them straight onto the chocolate. If you want to sprinkle them on top loosely, then layer them on top of the cocoa powder for a pretty visual effect.
With this recipe in mind, you will no doubt want to create some more dulce de leche desserts. Go for it I say! You only live once.
Below are some ideas for desserts using this sauce.
Easy Tart Recipes
I love making easy tart recipes and I have a few more than I want to share with you.
These desserts are perfect for when you want visual delight, great taste and minimal fuss. Below are a combination of fruit tart recipes as well as sweet tart recipes.
The key to succeeding with this is to keep them simple. Puff pastry doesn't take long to cook, so it is perfect for tarts as is an option like the ones used in this recipe which are ready made.
Some of my favourite easy tart recipes are:
- Passionfruit Tart
- Banoffee Tart (perfect for using dulce de leche)
- Blueberry Lemon Curd Tart
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📖 Recipe
Dulce de Leche Tartlets
Ingredients
Dulce de Leche Tartlets
- 395 grams dulce de leche Note 1, 2
- 6 small tart shells
- ¼ cup dark chocolate
- ¼ cup almond flakes
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder Note 3
Instructions
Dulce de Leche Tartlets
- Toast almond flakes on no stick pan for 2 mins, using a wooden spoon to move around so they don't burn
- Lay empty pastry shells on the bench
- Whip dulce de leche for 3-4 mins using electric beaters
- Spoon into tart shells
- Melt chocolate in heat proof microwave jug
- Use a small fork to drizzle chocolate in all directions over tarts
- Dust with cocoa powder
- Top with toasted flakes almonds
- Place in fridge until ready to serve
Notes
- Note 1, I recommend you make your dulce de leche in the slow cooker. Essentially you need a tin of sweetened condensed milk, some water and 8 hrs up your sleeve. You can also prepare this in advance. It is handy to have on hand so when you need a go to dessert recipe you are 1/d way there already. It will also keep in the fridge for at least 2 weeks so make it one day when you 5 mins to set and forget.
- Note 2 the slow cooker is needed for the cooking of the dulce de leche but not actually making the tarts. You can do the sauce a couple of days ahead and store in the fridge until ready to use
- Note 3 if you absolutely cannot make the sauce yourself, you can use regular caramel top and fill from the supermarket. It will have the same look, similar taste and consistency. If using this, also whip with the beaters for a couple of mins before spooning into pastry shells.
- Note 4 for 6 tarts, you only need ½ of one tin of sauce. So if the tin is 395 grams, whip it all, then scoop to fill your tarts and save the rest in the fridge for other occasion
- Note 5 you can use cacao powder instead of cocoa powder, try and stick with the colour them. White icing sugar will take the recipe in a different direction. Either use the brown ingredient or leave it off as opposed to looking for a substitute
Helen @ family-freinds-food.com says
These look stunning and I bet they taste divine! Great tip about using the slow cooker to make the dulce de leche 🙂
Adrianne says
Thanks for your feedback Helen! Slow Cookers make life easy I say! Cheers
Brenda Sickles says
I love dulce de leche. And these tartlets look outstanding! I can't wait to dig in and try them!
Adrianne says
Cheers Brenda! Hope you enjoy them. Thanks