Dulce De Leche Pastry Cream (2024)

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You will love Dule de Leche Pastry Cream!! Pastry Cream (Creme Patissiere) is a delicious creamy filling for napoleons, profiteroles, tarts, cakes and more! This easy recipe for dulce de leche pastry cream has step-by-step photos so you can succeed in cooking pastry cream!

Dulce De Leche Pastry Cream (1)

I was always scared of pastry cream, the thought of making it made me stay away. Now you can't get me to stop making it. Check out my recipes for coffee pastry cream, chocolate pastry cream, and classic vanilla bean pastry cream.

Let's get to the recipe.

Jump to:
  • What is pastry cream
  • What ingredients do you need to make dulce de leche pastry cream
  • How do you make Dulce de Leche Pastry Cream
  • Craving more Dulce de Leche? Try my:

What is pastry cream

Pastry cream is just a thick creamy custard. Made by cooking egg yolks and milk. It is commonly used to fill cakes, tarts, and French pastries such profiteroles, eclairs, napoleons.

What ingredients do you need to make dulce de leche pastry cream

  • Large Egg, yolks only save the egg whites for meringue cookies
  • Granulated Sugar or Caster Sugar
  • Cornstarch/ Cornflour
  • Whole Milk
  • Salt
  • Butter, cold
  • Pure Vanilla Extract
  • Dulce de Leche

How do you make Dulce de Leche Pastry Cream

In a medium bowl add the egg yolks, corn starch and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Whisk for two minutes, the mixture should be much lighter in color.

If you want a thicker/ sturdier pastry cream use the full 3 tablespoons of cornstarch/ cornflour. If you prefer a looser/ runnier pastry cream use 1 ½ Tablespoons.

Dulce De Leche Pastry Cream (2)
Dulce De Leche Pastry Cream (3)

Over low-medium heat cook whole milk, salt, and remaining 1 Tablespoon of sugar in a medium saucepan. Let the mixture cook for a couple of minutes to warm it up - do not boil the milk.

Dulce De Leche Pastry Cream (4)

Once the milk mixture is warmed slowly add a little bit to the egg mixture and whisk to combine. This is tempering the eggs, which prevents them from scrambling! Once the eggs have been warmed by the small addition of milk add all of the milk slowly and whisk to combine.

Dulce De Leche Pastry Cream (5)
Dulce De Leche Pastry Cream (6)

Add the whole mixture back to the pot. Whisking constantly cook over low-medium heat for another couple of minutes. The mixture will slowly, then quickly thicken up. Watch for the mixture to "burp" bubbles- they will pop on the surface. Once this happens take the pot off the heat immediately.

Dulce De Leche Pastry Cream (7)

Add the cold cubed butter to help cool the mixture and stop the cooking process. Next, add the vanilla extract and dulce de leche, whisk vigorously to combine.

Dulce De Leche Pastry Cream (8)

Let the mixture cool then pour into an air-tight container and place plastic wrap on top and push directly on top of the cream- this helps prevent a thick skin from forming. Place the container in the fridge to chill for at least two hours or up to three days.

Dulce De Leche Pastry Cream (9)

Craving more Dulce de Leche? Try my:

  • Banoffee Pie
  • Dulce de Leche Napoleon
  • Banoffee Pie Cupcakes

★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!

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Dulce De Leche Pastry Cream (10)

Dulce De Leche Pastry Cream

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

Print Recipe

You will love Dule de Leche Pastry Cream!! Pastry Cream (Creme Patissiere) is a delicious creamy filling for napoleons, profiteroles, tarts, cakes and more! This easy recipe for dulce de leche pastry cream has step-by-step photos so you can succeed in cooking pastry cream!

  • Total Time: 2 Hours 20 Minutes
  • Yield: 10oz (1 ¼ Cups) 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale

  • 3 Large Egg yolks
  • 3 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar + 1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar
  • 3 Tablespoon Cornstarch/ Cornflour
  • 8oz (1 Cup) Whole Milk
  • ¼ Teaspoon Salt
  • 2 Tablespoons Butter, cold and diced
  • 1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 2oz Dulce de Leche, store-bought is fine

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl whisk together the egg yolks, corn starch and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Whisk for two minutes, the mixture should be much lighter in color.
  2. In a medium saucepan over low-medium heat add the whole milk, salt, and remaining 1 Tablespoon of sugar. Let cook for a couple of minutes to warm it up - do not boil the milk.
  3. Once the milk mixture is warmed slowly add a little bit to the egg mixture and whisk to combine. Then add all of the milk slowly and whisk to combine.
  4. Add mixture back to the pot and cook over low-medium heat for another couple of minutes, whisking constantly. The mixture will thicken up. You want it quite thick, the mixture will "burp" bubbles will pop on the surface- this shows it is done.
  5. Take off the heat and immediately add the cold butter to help cool the mixture and stop cooking. Add vanilla extract and dulce de leche. Then pour into an air-tight container, place plastic wrap on top and push directly on top this helps prevent a thick skin from forming. Let chill in the fridge for at least two hours or up to three days.

Notes

If you want a thicker/ sturdier pastry cream use the full 3 tablespoons of cornstarch/ cornflour. If you prefer a looser/ runnier pastry cream use 1 ½ Tablespoons.

  • Author: Elizabeth Waterson I Confessions of a Baking Queen
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 10
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Cook
  • Cuisine: French

Recipe Card powered byDulce De Leche Pastry Cream (12)

More Custard and Creams

  • Chocolate Whipped Cream
  • How to Make Custard
  • Chocolate Pastry Cream
  • Coffee Pastry Cream Recipe

Reader Interactions

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  1. Aja Anderson says

    Well this was probably one of the most delicious things I’ve ever made or eaten. Wow! It was so easy and I can’t wait to force everyone to try it 🙂 I did add probably whole cup of dulce de leche. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

    • Elizabeth Waterson says

      Thanks for the feedback Aja, this is probably my favorite flavor pastry cream I use it in eclairs and napoleons! So happy you loved it as much as me!

      Reply

      • Connie Knapp says

        Where do you purchase dulce de Leche? Is it caned or a solid? I’ve heard of it, but I’ve only seen it in the caned milk section of the store.

        Reply

        • Elizabeth Waterson says

          Hi Connie, thanks for reaching out. I buy it at most major supermarkets- Ralphs, Walmart, Target, Stater Brothers. You could also make it from a can of sweetened condensed milk as I do in my Banoffee Pie Recipe. Please let me know if I can help with anything else!! XX Liz

          Reply

  2. Bola says

    Thank you

    Reply

  3. Bles says

    Hi i would like to make this as a filling for a boston pie cake for a potluck.Do you think it will be fine to keep it for a few hours outside. thanx

    Reply

    • Elizabeth Waterson says

      Hi Bles, thank you for reaching out. It depends, if it's hot outside I probably wouldn't but if it is cool that should be okay for an hour or two, I would make sure the ckae has been properly chilled before tho, if it hasn't the custard, will slide. Make sure you make the pastry cream thick, you might want to increase the cornstarch by 1/2-1 more tablespoons, you can always add a bit of milk to thin it out if it's too thick but you can't thicken it after it's made. I've never made a Boston cream cake but I know it usually doesn't have frosting holding the filling in-so assuming you would need a thicker pastry cream/ custard filling. Sorry, I don't have a better answer for you. Please let me know how you get on! XX Liz

      Reply

  4. Marierose Acero says

    How long is the shelf life once made? Is it just really three days? Specially when you use it to fill breads?

    Reply

Dulce De Leche Pastry Cream (2024)

FAQs

Is dulce de leche just sweetened condensed milk? ›

The difference between condensed milk and dulce de leche is the caramelization of the sugars that are both added and part of milk,” Sibley says. “Typically, condensed milk remains white and has a lighter consistency and taste than dulce de leche.

What is the difference between pastry cream and whipped cream? ›

Pastry cream delivers in flavor — sweet and custard-like — but lacks lightness. Whipped cream is as light as it comes but doesn't have much flavor or stability.

Can you whip dulce de leche? ›

Making the whipped cream:

Get 150g of this dulce de leche and add this into your cream. Now whip this until it thickens and firm peaks form. Leave this in the fridge until you're ready to use it.

Is there a difference between caramel and dulce de leche? ›

Caramel and dulce de leche might look and taste somewhat similar, but they are actually pretty different. While caramel is made from slowly simmering water and sugar until it caramelizes, dulce de leche is made from simmering milk and sugar super slowly until it turns into a creamy, caramelized substance.

Is Nestle La Lechera the same as sweetened condensed milk? ›

LA LECHERA Fat-Free Sweetened Condensed Milk has the same creamy, sweet taste as the original product without the fat. Also, containing half the sugar and half the calories of sweetened condensed milks, LA LECHERA 50% Less Sugar is the condensed milk category's only reduced sugar item.

What is a good substitute for dulce de leche? ›

Technically, if you see dulce de leche in a recipe, you can instead use caramel, and vice-versa. However, there will be a slight variance in taste and texture, and the recipe will no longer be authentic to the specified region.

Are bavarian cream and pastry cream the same thing? ›

Bavarian Cream is made from a Crème Anglaise base (milk, vanilla, egg yolks and sugar), thickened with Gelatine and lightened with Whipped Cream. Pastry Cream (or Crème Pâtissière) is relatively similar to a Crème Anglaise but is thickened on the stove with Cornstarch (or sometimes flour).

What is the purpose of pastry cream? ›

Function. Pastry cream is the most commonly used type of filling in French patisseries due to its rich, creamy texture and the versatility of potential flavor combinations. It can also be used as a filling in pies, particularly in the boston cream pie.

What's the difference between vanilla pudding and pastry cream? ›

Pastry cream is basically glorified vanilla pudding, but the best, richest vanilla pudding you've ever had. The texture is thicker and more luxurious, while the flavor is softer and tastes like real vanilla instead of something artificial.

Why do you put baking soda in dulce de leche? ›

Why add baking soda to the sauce? The baking soda will help with the reactions necessary to make the sauce thick and dark, with a rich taste. As you cook the milk and sugar together, water will evaporate, making the solution more acidic, and proteins will begin to coagulate.

Does dulce de leche firm up? ›

It will firm up as it cools. The dulce de leche can be stored in a jar in the fridge and will keep for up to a month. If not storing in a jar ensure it's covered so a skin doesn't form.

How can I thicken my dulce de leche? ›

Tip: To thicken stovetop dulce de leche, make a slurry of 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 1/4 teaspoons milk. Bring it to a very slow boil over medium heat, whisk this slurry into the dulce de leche, and continue to boil slowly for five minutes before removing from heat and cooling.

Is butterscotch the same as dulce de leche? ›

Butterscotch is made from cooking down brown sugar with butter, and its flavor is sweeter and softer than that of caramel. Dulce de leche is made from slowly cooking cow milk and sugar together. Dulce de leche made with goat milk is known as cajeta.

Is La Lechera the same as caramel? ›

While it is often likened to caramel, dulce de leche possesses its own unique flavor profile produced by the Maillard reaction, a chemical reaction and transformation of sugars and proteins via heat. Caramelization does not actually take place when you make dulce de leche.

Is dulce de leche Italian or Mexican? ›

Spanish dulce de leche and Portuguese doce de leite mean "sweet [made] of milk". Other names in Spanish include manjar ("delicacy"), arequipe and leche quemada ("burnt milk", a term popular in Mexico); also in Mexico and some Central American countries dulce de leche made with goat's milk is called 'cajeta'.

Is evaporated milk the same as dulce de leche? ›

Sweetened condensed milk has sugar in it whereas evaporated milk does not. The process of turning sweetened condensed milk into dulce de leche is simply to extract the water from the milk leaving behind the fat and sugar to caramelize.

What is the closest thing to sweetened condensed milk? ›

Because sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk are very similar, evaporated milk can serve as a substitute for condensed milk.

Is Carnation caramel dulce de leche? ›

Carnation Caramel

Caramel is a ready-made authentic Dulce de Leche caramel that is easy to use in baking and as a topping.

Is there a difference between sweetened condensed milk and condensed milk? ›

Condensed milk is evaporated milk that typically has sweetener added, so much so that the terms 'condensed milk' and 'sweetened condensed milk' are used interchangeably. Sugar is added before canning; condensed milk is very sweet and contains about 40 to 45 percent sugar.

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