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These dulce de leche macarons are filled with rich caramelized milk and sandwiched between two perfectly cooked shells. Worthy of the fanciest French bakery!
Macarons with dulce de leche are one of my favorite renditions of this beloved French sandwich cookie. The combination of rich caramelized milk and the delicate, chewy almond flour cookie shells is to die for. Over the years, I’ve shared hundreds of these little morsels with friends and family and am constantly asked to share the recipe. Today, I’m stoked to pass it along to you…
Obsessed with macarons? We have a variety of different flavors for every single palate, including chocolate, cranberry white chocolate, and coffee. Try one at a time or make an impressive dessert platter for your next party!
While we’re here, thank you to all of you who’ve been tagging Momsdish on Instagram with all of your amazing macaron creations. They look amazing!
What exactly is dulce de leche? Despite popular belief, it’s not the same as caramel. While caramel is made by slow cooking granulated sugar down with a bit of water, dulce de leche is made by slow cooking sweetened condensed milk or a combination of cow’s milk and sugar.
How to Make Foolproof Macaron
You may have heard a lot of chatter surrounding how hard macarons are to make. While they can be challenging without the right direction, all you to do is follow this recipe step-by-step and you’ll be golden. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself jumping for joy when you assemble your first, perfect macaron! Below, find a quick hitter overview of the recipe before you dive in.
- Make the Meringue: In a stand mixer, beat the egg whites and sugar until the mixture forms stiff peaks. Carefully fold in the food coloring until well distributed.
- Sift the Dry Ingredients: With a fine mesh sieve or flour sifter, sift the powdered sugar and almond flour together to remove any lumps.
- Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients: Fold the dry ingredients into the meringue with a spatula. Be extra careful not to over mix or the shells will turn out flat!
- Pip the Shells: Place a pastry bag or plastic storage bag with the tip cut off into a cup so it holds upright and transfer the batter inside it. Next, twist the bottom to secure the batter within the bag. Pipe even-sized shells onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Tap the sides of the pan to remove any air bubbles and allow the shells to harden at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- Bake the Shells: Bake the macaron shells at 300°F for 13-20 minutes.
- Make and Pipe the Filling: Beat the softened butter with the dulce de leche until combined. Place the filling inside a piping bag and pipe it onto a cooled shell. Next, place another shell directly on top. Repeat until your run out of shells and filling.
- Refrigerate the Macarons: Place the macarons into an airtight container and store in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
Below, find out top tips and tricks to help you nail this macarons recipe on the first dry.
- Allow the egg whites to rest overnight at room temperature. Allow the egg whites to rest at room temperature for 24-48 hours before baking. This helps the egg proteins relax and makes for super fluffy meringue.
- Tap the pan to remove any air bubbles. After piping the shell batter onto the baking sheet, tap each side of the pan 3-4 times to remove any air bubbles. This will prevent your delicate shells from cracking in the oven!
- Let the macaron batter rest and harden. After piping the shell batter and tapping the pan, dive your shells at least 20 minutes to rest at room temperature. This will allow them to harden, prevents cracking, and also creates that signature macaron shell sheen.
- Let the cooked macaron shells cool. After baking, allow the shells to completely cool at room temperature before piping the dulce de leche filling. This will prevent the filling from melting and creating a sticky mess.
Storing Macarons
- Refrigerator (Assembled Cookies): Keep your macaroons stored in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to serve them. They have such a long shelf life and should keep fresh for up to three weeks!
- Refrigerator (Shells): If you want to prep the cookies ahead of time, make the shells and store them in an airtight container for up to two weeks before piping them with filling.
- Freezer: To freeze assembled macarons, allow them to fully cool at room temperature. Next, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and pop the sheet in the freezer uncovered. After the cookies are completely frozen, place them in a freezer-safe plastic bag and store them for up to a month. To defrost the cookies, place them on a wire rack at room temperature for a couple of hours or allow them to thaw overnight in the fridge. You can also freeze the shells in the same fashion!
FAQ
How do I make dulce de leche from scratch?
You can make your own dulce de leche with a single can of sweetened condensed milk. To do so, bring a large pot of water to boil and place the entire unopened can in the water. Allow the can to simmer on low heat for 2-3 hours (2 hours = lighter dulce de leche, 3 hours = darker dulce de leche), flipping the can halfway through carefully with tongs. Pull the can out of the water and allow it to cool at room temperature. Open the can and you’ll have perfect dulce de leche!
Can you use normal flour to make macarons?
You can not use normal flour to make macarons. You must use almond flour to create the signature shell.
Should macarons be chewy?
Macarons should be chewy on the inside with a nice crispy outer shell.
Why did my shells crack?
Your macaron shells likely if you didn’t tap the air bubbles out of the piped macaron batter and allow the raw shells to harden at room temperature for at least 20 minutes.
Is it a bad idea to make macarons on a rainy day?
It’s not necessarily a bad idea to make macarons on a rainy day. However, you will want to refrain from making macarons in ultra-humid weather or environments, as moist air will prevent the batter from properly drying out before you bake the shells.
Other Recipes Using Dulce De Leche
- Dulce De Leche Cake – Caramel cake roll
- Golden Key Cake – Classic Ukrainian cake
- Dulce De Leche Sandwich Cookies – Chocolate-dipped sandwich cookies
- Dulce De Leche Waffle Cake – Mini caramel cake wafers
Recipe
Dulce De Leche Macarons Recipe
Print Pin
Servings
24 Units
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 17 minutes mins
Total Time 37 minutes mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
These dulce de leche macarons are filled with rich caramelized milk and sandwiched between two perfectly cooked shells. Worthy of the fanciest French bakery!
Ingredients
- 3 egg whites kept at room temperature for 24-48 hours
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 cup confectioner's sugar
- 1 cup almond flour
- peach or red and yellow food coloring
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 12 oz dulce de leche canned or homemade
US Units – Metric
Instructions
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg whites with granulated sugar until the mixture begins to form stiff peaks.
Add peach food coloring (or two drops of red coloring and one drop of yellow) to the meringue. Mix only until the color is distributed.
Using a fine mesh sieve or flour sifter, sift the powdered sugar and almond flour to get rid of any lumps.
Carefully fold the dry ingredients into the meringue. Be extra cautious not to overmix the batter.
Place a plastic bag with the tip cut off or a pastry bag into a cup to hold it upright. Transfer the batter into the bag, remove the bag from the cup, and twist the bottom to secure the batter inside.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Carefully pipe equal-sized circles onto the baking sheet, making them fairly thick. Tap the baking sheet 3-4 times on each side to remove any air bubbles and prevent your shells from cracking. Allow the macarons to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes, or until they create a bit of a hard outer shell.
Depending on the strength of your oven, bake the macaron shells at 300°F for 13-20 minutes. You'll know they're ready to be removed from the oven when you can easily lift them off the baking sheet. Avoid over baking the shells, as they will turn out dry.
Whisk the softened butter with the dulce de leche until well-combined.
Place another plastic bag with the tip cut off or pastry bag into a cup to hold it upright. Fill the bag with the butter and dulce de leche filling.
Pipe the dulce de leche filling onto one of the macaroon shells and immediately top it with another shell to create a sandwich. Repeat until you run out of shells and batter.
Store the macarons in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve them. They will stay fresh for up to a week. If you wish to prepare them in advance, the cookie shells can be made up to two weeks in advance so long as they are stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
Nutrition Facts
Dulce De Leche Macarons Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 109 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 3g15%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 10mg3%
Sodium 7mg0%
Potassium 7mg0%
Carbohydrates 13g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 118IU2%
Calcium 11mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted October 13, 2021
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KeeganJun 30, 2023 Do we have to buy a baking mat or can I use parchment paper to cook them on?
Natalya DrozhzhinJul 1, 2023 Hi Keegan, you can definitely use parchment paper for this recipe. It works just as well.
Jan GridleyNov 3, 2022 I'm playing it safe. I will only comfortably leave egg whites out for 2 hrs. Eggs straight from the hen house is different from store eggs. Please be careful in suggesting this.
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 3, 2022 Hi Jan. I appreciate your tips and feedback. I hope you get a chance to try this recipe. It's quite delicious.
Vivian OakesOct 14, 2021 Words can't describe how incredible these are! OMG!
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 14, 2021 Thanks, Vivian!! They are so good, we love them too 😊
AllyssaOct 14, 2021 Thank you so much for this amazing and really delicious macarons recipe! It's super easy to make! Will surely have this again, Highly recommended!
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 14, 2021 Hello Allyssa, they really are an amazing sweet treat. I am glad you loved the recipe, thank you for taking the time to comment!
StephanieOct 14, 2021 What a great idea! Such a great flavor for these macarons!
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 14, 2021 Hi Stephanie, I am so glad you loved the recipe, thank you for your feedback!
JillAug 17, 2020 Hello! I love the idea of using dulce de leche for the filling. Does the filling set when you put them in the fridge like a buttercream would, Or does the dulce de leche remain sticky?
Natalya DrozhzhinAug 17, 2020 Hey Jill, it should set, it would also depend on a brand of dulce de leche. You can also mix it up with some butter and this would give it that buttercream flavors.
Georgeta SwartzNov 23, 2016 I love to make the Macarons but I have hard time finding the Macaron Baking Sheet, anybody can command one that is good a good quality and don't stick? Thank you soo much,
Georgeta.
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 23, 2016 I would recommend getting partchment poet or baking mats. That's the best option as far as I know.
Luba GannotskiyJul 22, 2016 Would it be okay if I double the recipe, will they still turn out?
Natalya DrozhzhinJul 22, 2016 I always make them separately. I know they have the best results that way.
MarinaFeb 27, 2015 Can you freeze macarons?
Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 27, 2015 Yes you can, the taste may change a bit but they would still be wonderful.
VitaDec 13, 2014 I just made for the first time and they turned out awesome! Am so excited to make them again for Christmas and share them with my family! Thank you for the recipe! ?
Natalya DrozhzhinDec 13, 2014 Oh my!!! It's always a good news when someone makes them for the first time and they are perfect! I am happy for you. I bet your family will love them!
YelenaJun 28, 2014 Is it okay if my egg whites were refrigerated for 24-48 hours, rather than be in room temperature?
Natalya DrozhzhinJun 28, 2014 The reason why they are kept in a room temperature is to get rid of moisture that way they come out perfectly. What you can do is microwave egg whites for 5-7 seconds, it should help with getting rid of extra moisture.
LanaJun 4, 2014 How many minutes does step 1 usually take?
Natalya DrozhzhinJun 4, 2014 It depends on a mixer, I leave mine in Kitchenaid mixer for about 10 minutes.
Patti ProulxMay 23, 2014 Is it safe to leave the whites out at room temp. for that long?
Natalya DrozhzhinMay 23, 2014 Yes it is. In Europe eggs in store aren't refrigerated.
ViktoriyaMay 5, 2014 Thank you for the recipe, these are so good and addicting ? made them for the first time, not as perfect as yours but still good. Is there any other way to make them different colors without adding food coloring?
Natalya DrozhzhinMay 5, 2014 You can skip the food coloring and they would just be white in color. But I don't know of any other way to color them. I know organic stores sell healthier food coloring, if you are looking for that.
Ella-HomeCookingAdventureApr 18, 2014 I love how they turned for you.. love the idea of using dulce de leche - I am sure they were amazing
Natalya DrozhzhinApr 19, 2014 Thank you Ella! Dulce de leche is such an amazing pair with macarons, I would have never thought so! I am looking forward to testing some of the real Macarons in Paris! btw, thanks for all the tips!
MariaApr 17, 2014 Can i use the egg white from the carton not an actual eggs? That's all i have on hand right now and it says 100% egg whites? Have you ever done that?
Natalya DrozhzhinApr 17, 2014 I would have no clue how you would measure the right amount of egg whites.
MariaApr 18, 2014 It has measurements on the side. 3 tbsp is 1 egg.
Natalya DrozhzhinApr 18, 2014 Oh ok, I think it would work. I have only used whole eggs that I had to separate.
luba fApr 16, 2014 If you make meringue and do a design from the pastry bag so they are little like the macarons and u can dip the whole thing even. Probably need to make the cream a little runner though.
luba fApr 16, 2014 Sorry I meant the meringue is what I've dipped into it before 🙂 got the dessert mixed up lol:) I don't this was years and years ago..
Natalya DrozhzhinApr 16, 2014 oh, I see 🙂
luba fApr 15, 2014 Have you ever tried dipping the macarons into the butter/dulce de Leche. They are also delicious that way and gives it a different look. You could dip the sides or if you make the star design you can dip the tops:)
Natalya DrozhzhinApr 15, 2014 Oh, that's a wonderful idea. Do you have a picture to share? If would be interesting to see. So I dont mess up 😉
IrinaApr 15, 2014 Hi Natasha,
I tried this recipe today but for some reason my macarons are excessively sliding off the shell and the feet are too wide and spread too much. Do you know any remedy for this?Natalya DrozhzhinApr 15, 2014 So they may spread too much if they are over-mixed. See video in this recipe, maybe it would give you an idea what went wrong http://momsdish.com/r256
MarinaApr 14, 2014 Hi,
I'm just curious if the macaroons will turn out if I keep the egg whites at room temp a little less than 24 hours? For about 19-20 hours. Is it better if I wait?Natalya DrozhzhinApr 15, 2014 They definitely would turn out if they dont stand exactly 24 hours.
ZhemchuzenaApr 12, 2014 Just wondering can sugar be only 1/2 cups instead of 2cups? thats little way too much sugar ;). and can white sugar be substituted with coconut sugar or honey? Thanks
Looks Very Delish 🙂
Natalya DrozhzhinApr 12, 2014 Sorry to disappoint you but you can't substitute any ingredients in this recipe. It's a very sensitive recipe, has to be followed exactly by recipe. Just have one macaron, instead of two 😉
Natasha (@Natasha's Kitchen)Apr 11, 2014 Your macarons sure are pretty! Maybe one of these days you could teach me in person 🙂
Natalya DrozhzhinApr 11, 2014 Hey, thank you dear! I love that idea! 🙂
elenaApr 11, 2014 Hello, I notice that you are using mats in your cookie pans. How is it working out? just asking cause I was thinking of getting something like that. Thanks.
The Macarons look very nice, i should give them a try. Where do you get your Almond Flour at? thanks
Natalya DrozhzhinApr 11, 2014 I am in love with those mats. I use them for everything, from baking vegetables to pastries. Especially for macarons, they are perfect.
I like almond meal from Trader Joes or almond flour from Costco. 🙂
elenaApr 13, 2014 ok, thanks for your reply. Where did you get your mats? thanks
Natalya DrozhzhinApr 13, 2014 I got mine from Costco but they are also sold on amazon.
elenaApr 14, 2014 Ok, Thanks i will have to look at my Costco.
Julia K.Apr 11, 2014 Just wondering what you would change to make the cookie coffee flavored?
Also, making macarons before they looked perfect but when you bite into them the shell was brittle and would break into a million prices. Did I overbake?
Thank you for sharing!
Natalya DrozhzhinApr 11, 2014 I am working on coffee flavored macaron recipe 😉
They can break because of too high of a temperature or over baking. Last few min are important to keep on checking to macarons. As soon as you can lift them off the baking sheet, remove them from the oven.Julia K.Apr 11, 2014 Great thank you! Looking forward to coffee flavor!
ReApr 10, 2014 Hi how do I store egg white at room temp for this recipe?
Natalya DrozhzhinApr 11, 2014 Separate egg yolks from egg whites and leave white in a bowl on a counter. Use plastic wrap to cover it but don't seal it all tight.
TanyaApr 10, 2014 Take egg out of the fridge and leave out on the countertop:)
JannaApr 10, 2014 Love it!!! ?
Natalya DrozhzhinApr 11, 2014 Thank you dear! ?
