A Glug of Oil

Easy recipes for lovers of good and tasty food. Everyday cooking with instructions and top tips.

Dulce de Leche - Muffins

Caramel Muffins

The plan is to cram as much caramel into each muffin as possible!

Moist, fluffy muffins are ready in just 30 minutes.

Caramel muffins filled with dulce de leche.

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*Post updated January 2023

Now, there are muffins and then there are MUFFINS!

How to make muffins fluffy

The secret is to start with room-temperature ingredients.

Eggs, butter, and milk at room temperature helps them form a smooth mixture that traps air and expands when heated in the oven. It's this expansion that makes your muffins light and fluffy. 😉

Is dulce de leche the same as caramel?

As we know, caramel is simply water and sugar simmered until it caramelises.

Dulce de leche (Leche meaning milk if you know your Spanish) is made by slowly simmering milk and sugar or sweetened condensed milk.

What can I substitute for dulce de leche?

A good and cheaper substitute is to use a can of Carnation (brand) caramel.

Can you make dulce de leche at home?

Yes, you can. If you Google, you'll find numerous articles on how to make dulce de leche by boiling a can of regular sweetened condensed milk.

But I don't think I'll attempt it, because I have read that you must keep the can covered with water otherwise the can might explode!

Can you imagine the kitchen ceiling covered with Dulce de Leche? 😱

Also, it takes about 3 hours to become that lovely caramel colour. So I say forget it, for goodness sake just go out and buy a can instead!

I've used Dulce de Leche in a recipe before making Caramelita Ice Cream Sundae. 😋

What's the difference between vanilla extract and vanilla essence?

Use vanilla extract every time, because the difference is huge. Okay, there's a big price difference but there is no contest as it is far superior to vanilla essence. A bottle will last ages.

Vanilla extract is usually a natural product made by soaking vanilla pods in a mixture of ethyl alcohol and water.

Vanilla essence is usually synthetic, for example (chemically produced) vanilla flavouring and is far cheaper than the natural extract but tastes and smells nowhere near as good as the proper stuff.

Equipment

12-hole muffin tray

a wooden spoon

digital kitchen scales 

The easiest way to stuff muffins or apples etc, is to use this marvellous invention CoreStuff by Judge.

Or you can use a long, thin, sharp knife.

Muffin ingredients

  • 250g plain flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ a teaspoon of bicarbonate soda
  • 2 tablespoons best quality cocoa
  • 175g caster sugar
  • 250ml milk
  • 90ml vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract 

For the filling

  • 450g jar of Dulce de leche (you'll only use half the jar) or, you could use a 397g tin of Carnation Caramel

If you like muffins but aren't keen on Dulce de Leche you might prefer Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Chip Muffins.

Muffins filled with dulce de leche.


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caramel muffins, easy muffins recipe, dulce de leche,
baking, snack,
American
Yield: 12
Author: Jan Bennett
Caramel Muffins (Dulce de Leche)

Caramel Muffins (Dulce de Leche)

Always use vanilla extract rather than vanilla essence, you'll notice the difference in flavour.
Prep time: 6 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 26 Min

Ingredients

  • 250g plain flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ a teaspoon of bicarbonate soda
  • 2 tablespoons best quality cocoa
  • 175g golden caster sugar
  • 250ml milk
  • 90ml vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
For the filling
  • 450g jar of Dulce de leche (you'll only use half the jar) or, you could use a 397g tin of Carnation caramel instead.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F or Gas 6
  1. Put the muffin cases into a 12-hole muffin tray. Weigh out the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
  2. Pour all the liquid ingredients into a measuring jug.
  3. Now mix the liquids into the mixing bowl and mix it all together using a wooden spoon until you have a runny lump-free batter.
  4. Spoon the batter equally into the muffin cases.
  5. Put into a preheated oven to cook for 20 minutes or until the muffins are risen and springy - check after 18 minutes.
  6. It's best to put this filling in while the muffins are still hot as it will melt and get right into the middle of the muffins.
  7. Using a long thin sharp knife, carefully make a hole in each muffin and use a teaspoon to fill each muffin with Dulce de leche.
  8. After filling, put them onto a wire rack and leave them to cool, or be cheeky and eat one while it's still warm!
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4 comments

  1. I adore dulche de leche! These look so tempting!

    ReplyDelete
  2. My goodness, they look so indulgent and gorgeous. I must say that pic is perfect too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. These look delicious! Do you think I could try them using a gluten-free flour?

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a lovely recipe! I've always liked the taste of dulche de leche, yummm can't wait to try this! x

    ReplyDelete

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Cheers
Jan