Dulce de Leche Cream Cheese Frosting

Rich and creamy Dulce de Leche Cream Cheese Frosting with a smooth caramel flavor, perfect for cakes, cupcakes, and desserts.

Course Cake, Dessert, Frosting

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword dulce-de-leche-cream-cheese-frosting, dulce-de-leche-cream-cheese-icing

Prep Time 15

Total Time 15

Servings cups

Calories 795kcal

Author Melissa Sperka

In the large bowl of a stand mixer, whip together cream cheese and butter on medium-high speed until fluffy and combined, around 1-2 minutes.
To the cream cheese mixture add the dulce de leche, vanilla extract and salt. Whip on medium-high speed for 2 minutes or until well blended and smooth.
Lower the mixer to medium speed and gradually add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time with 1-2 tablespoons of cream. Continue adding the powdered sugar and cream stopping to scrape the side of bowl as needed.
After all of the sugar has been added increase the speed of the mixer to medium-high and whip for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. (You can add additional cream to thin until your desired consistency is reached.)
Use frosting for one 2 or 3 layer (8 or 9) inch cake, one 1/2 sheet cake, 30-36 cupcakes or 100 mini cupcakes.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Dulce de Leche - Dulce de leche is readily available with the sweetened condensed milk products or in the Hispanic foods section of most grocery stores including places like Walmart, Target, World Market and Williams Sonoma. It comes in a can that looks like sweetened condensed milk, but read the label carefully, it's not the same.
Caramel - You could use a thick caramel ice cream topping as a substitute for the dulce in a pinch.
Flavorings - You could use rum extract in addition to vanilla extract.
Additions - You could stir in toasted chopped pecans, walnuts or almonds for crunch, or mix-in sweetened flaked coconut to change the flavor profile.
Heavy Cream - You can adapt the amount of cream to suit your personal taste. Add 1 tablespoon at a time until your desired consistency is reached.
Cakes Flavors - What flavor cake is best? This frosting is a delicious for pumpkin cake, banana cake, vanilla cake, carrot cake, chocolate cake, caramel cake, pineapple cake or cupcakes.
How Much Will this Recipe Make? You can use this icing as desired to frost one 2 or 3 layer (8 or 9) inch cake, one 1/2 sheet cake, 30-36 cupcakes or 100 mini cupcakes.
See how to make Homemade Dulce de Leche in you crockpot here.