Dulce de Leche Bars 🍫👏 are soft, chewy, and loaded with rich dulce de leche and Rolo caramel candies. They’re EASY to make, guaranteed to be a FAVORITE, and perfect for your next fiesta!
The Best Dulce de Leche Dessert
- What’s dulce de leche? It is sweetened condensed milk that is slowly heated over low heat until it becomes thick, creamy, and deeply caramelized. It tastes similar to caramel sauce but is generally sweeter, creamier, and much thicker.
- These dulce de leche bars are soft, chewy, and packed with caramel flavor from both dulce de leche and Rolo caramel candies.
- The recipe starts with a blondie-style dough that is doubled and baked in a 9×13-inch pan, creating thick, rich bars that are perfect for sharing.
- Because the bars are so indulgent, you can easily cut the pan into about 18 servings without making the portions feel too small. They are a great make-ahead dessert for parties
Ingredients Needed To Make Dulce De Leche Bars
It’s a very simple ingredients list. To make the bars you’ll need:
- Butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla: These create a rich, chewy blondie-style base with plenty of warm caramel flavor. Brown sugar is especially important here because it keeps the bars soft and complements the dulce de leche.
- All-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt: This simple dry-ingredient mixture gives the bars enough structure while keeping them thick and tender. Be careful not to overmix once the flour is added.
- Rolo candies: Chopped Rolos add little pockets of chocolate and soft caramel throughout the bars. If you cannot find Rolos or do not have them on hand, you may omit them or use another soft, chocolate-covered caramel candy instead. Just be sure to use soft caramels, not hard candies.
- Dulce de leche: This is the star ingredient and gives the bars their creamy, deeply caramelized flavor. Store-bought dulce de leche works perfectly and is usually found near the sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk at most grocery stores.
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Dulce de Leche Bars
This dulce de leche dessert recipe couldn’t be simpler to make! They’re just a baby step up from making regular blondies, and you can whisk everything together in one bowl.
- Beat the butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
- Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt, then briefly fold in the (unwrapped) Rolo candies.
- Spread the thick batter into a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Spoon dollops of dulce de leche over the top and gently swirl it into the batter.
- Bake until set, then let the bars cool completely before slicing so they hold their soft, chewy texture.
Dulce de Leche Caramel Bars
🍫👏 are soft, chewy, and loaded with rich dulce de leche and Rolo caramel candies. They’re EASY to make, guaranteed to be a FAVORITE, and perfect for your next fiesta!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, 2 sticks, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 30 Rolo candies, unwrapped and halved
- half of one 13.4-ounce can dulce de leche
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 9×13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil for easier cleanup, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
- To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or large mixing bowl and hand mixer, add the butter and beat on high power to cream it, about 90 seconds.
- Add the eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, and beat until smooth and well incorporated.
- Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and mix until just combined, don’t overmix.
- Add the Rolos and beat momentarily to incorporate.
- Turn the batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula. It is a very thick batter and can be resistant to spreading easily, but take your time and smooth it out the best you can.
- Evenly dollop half of the jar of dulce de leche in ping pong ball-sized 'blobs' using a spoon over the surface of the pan. Using the back of a spoon, swirl the dulce de leche over the top. I just did a back-and-forth pattern that wasn't fancy and took about 10 seconds.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter. Bars firm up as they cool. Cool for about 2 hours before slicing and serving.
Notes
Storage: Bars will keep airtight at room temp for up to 1 week.
Nutrition
Serving: 1, Calories: 311cal, Carbohydrates: 44g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 52mg, Sodium: 135mg, Sugar: 32g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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These look awesome! I have some family members who love caramel. Will be trying once I purchase the Rolos,.
That’s great and hope you enjoy it!