Fluffy and moist muffins fully flavored with dulce de leche and topped with crunchy pecans. Beating dulce de leche into the batter results in a caramel-y and perfectly sweet muffin.
If there’s one thing I really appreciate in baking, it’s an easy recipe. I mean, I do like all those gorgeous tiered cakes that take 4 days to make, but I like eating them a lot more than making them. It’s just not for me. That’s probably why you’ll find a generous amount of muffin recipes on my blog—they’re so easy to prepare, and just as good to me. I could easily snack on 3 of these dulce de leche muffins with my morning coffee.
The Muffins
On the first day after making these muffins, they have a subtle taste that deepens more and more within the first 24 hours. They taste best a day after making them, so they’re great to make a night before you need them and keep in the fridge. Plus, they’re so moist that they don’t dry out quickly like some other muffins.
Method
Classic muffins are simple to make, and are usually made by putting the wet ingredients in one bowl, the dry in another, then mixing them both together. While this used to be the method I used to make these muffins, I found that they were quite dense because of the addition of dulce de leche. To make them more light and airy, I start beating the eggs with the sugar, which incorporates air into the batter, then gently mixing in the other ingredients.
Dulce de Leche
Store-bought dulce de leche is sold in cans or jars. If you’re unable to find it, then you can make a homemade version. The classic way calls for cooking milk and sugar together. While another popular option is to cook a can of condensed milk until it turns into a thick, golden dulce de leche. You can easily find tutorials about it online. Personally, I like to use the canned stuff because it tastes so good.
More Dulce de Leche recipes!
- Dulce de Leche Cinnamon Bars: Cinnamon bars swirled with dulce de leche. Soft, sweet, salty, nutty, spicy and caramel-y.
- Chocolate, Dulce de Leche, Vanilla Marble Cake: A trio of flavors! Chocolate, dulce de leche and vanilla combine in this stunning marble cake. Each slice reveals a swirled pattern of all these delicious flavors.
- Dulce de Leche Cookie Sandwiches: Classic, South American alfajores recipe. Filled with melt-in-your-mouth dulce de leche and rolled in shredded coconut. They are so soft, delicate, decadent, and so easy to make!
- Banoffee Pie (Banana/Toffee): This insanely delicious banoffee pie is made of 4 simple layers: cookie crust, dulce de leche, fresh bananas, and whipped cream. It’s the easiest, quickest, most superb no-bake pie you’ll ever make!
Dulce de Leche Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (200 g/7 oz) all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup (150 g/5.3 oz) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (60 ml) canola/vegetable oil
- 1 cup (240 ml) sour cream or heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 200 g/7 oz (approximately ½ cup) canned or homemade dulce de leche
- ¾ cup pecans , finely chopped
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350F/175C. Grease 16 muffin cups or line them with liner papers.
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In a large bowl mix together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
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In a mixer bowl fitted with paddle attachment, beat together eggs and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. On low speed and with the mixer running, add oil slowly and beat until combined. Beat in sour cream and vanilla extract, then beat in dulce de leche until combined and turn off mixer. Add flour mixture, then beat just until combined. Don’t overmix.
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Divide the mixture between the muffin cups, filling them ¾ of the way, and sprinkle with pecans. Bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean. Allow pan to cool for 10 minutes, then move muffins to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.
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Muffins will keep for 3 days in the fridge. They can also be frozen for up to 2 months. To thaw, leave them overnight in the fridge.
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* For another delicious variation, fold in ½ cup shredded coconut to the batter, and add 2 tablespoons coconut liqueur along with the sour cream.
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Emma {Emma's Little Kitchen says
Yummmmmmm! Great tip on beating the eggs and sugar for some extra air- nothing worse than a dense or dry muffin!! Absolutely gorgeous photos too- so cosy and warm 🙂
Shiran says
Thank you so much, Emma!
AiPing | Curious Nut says
These look absolutely beautiful. 🙂
Shiran says
Thank you so much 🙂
Jennifer | Bake or Break says
These look amazing! I adore dulce de leche but never thought to incorporate it into muffins. Pinning!
Shiran says
Thank you so much, Jennifer! 🙂
Khadija says
Hello,
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I made a cake instead of muffins and it was so good.
You can see it here: http://khadijaisinthekitchen.blogspot.ca/2016/07/gateau-la-confiture-de-lait-et-au.html
By the way, your photos are beautiful…
All the Best,
Khadija
Shiran says
Hi Khadija! Thank you so much for your sweet comment 🙂 The cake looks great!
Liz says
These look delicious! I definitely want to give these a try soon!
Noreen says
can a hand held mixer be used instead?
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
Hi Noreen, Yes you can!
Noreen says
thx!