If you’ve ever been to Colombia, you’ve had the pleasure of eating a plethora of arequipe (basically Colombian dulce de leche) in every pastry at the panaderia. Croissants, lava cakes, cookies, and more bursting with the milky, sweet, caramel spread. This year, while making Christmas cookies and experiencing a wave of nostalgia for the streets of Medellín, I decided there was no better way to celebrate the flavor of dulce de leche. Unfortunately, I was unable to get arequipe in time, so I just used dulce de leche from the can. If you’re close to a Colombian grocery store or you have the pleasure of actually visiting Colombia, use arequipe for a classic touch.
These polvorones are soft, crumbly cookies with a simple, buttery base. Turning them into thumbprints keeps everything focused. You get that sandy, melt-away texture first, then a pocket of dulce de leche in the center that brings in depth and a gentle caramel sweetness without overpowering the cookie.
They’re understated and a little fragile, the kind of cookie you stack carefully and eat with coffee. The flavor stays clean—butter, flour, sugar—while the dulce de leche does just enough work to make them feel special.
Dulce de Leche Polvorones Recipe
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
14 min
Serves
15
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup thick dulce de leche (arequipe)
Steps
1
Prep
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2
Make the dough
Beat the butter and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy. Mix in the vanilla.
Add the flour and salt and mix just until a soft, crumbly dough forms.
3
Shape
Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
Gently press your thumb (or the back of a spoon) into the center of each to create a well.
4
Fill the indent with a spoonful of dulce de leche.
5
Bake
Bake for 12–14 minutes, until the bottoms are just lightly golden and the cookies are set but pale.
Notes
- If the dough cracks when you press it, just pinch it back together—polvorones are forgiving.
- Keep the dulce de leche thick so it stays put.
- These cookies are delicate; let them cool completely before moving or stacking.
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