Dulce de Leche Yoghurt with Cinnamon and Vanilla

Thick Greek yoghurt makes a simple no-cook dessert feel more composed when folded with dulce de leche, the Latin American caramelised milk spread prized for its deep, toffee-like sweetness. Rather than mixing it in completely, the dulce de leche is lightly swirled so each spoonful keeps ribbons of caramel against the tangy yoghurt. Vanilla softens the acidity, while cinnamon adds a warm finish without taking over. Served straight away or briefly chilled, it is creamy, quick and well suited to small desserts when you want something sweet without baking.
Cuisine style Latin American-inspired dessert
Cooking style No-cook preparation • Make-ahead friendly • Minimal cleanup
Time commitment Under 15 minutes

Why this recipe works

  • Ready in minutes: The dessert needs only whisking, dolloping and swirling, with no cooking required.
  • Thick, spoonable texture: Full-fat Greek yoghurt gives the dessert body and keeps the dulce de leche suspended in visible ribbons.
  • Balanced sweetness: The yoghurt’s tang offsets the richness of the dulce de leche, while vanilla and cinnamon round out the caramel flavour.

Get the most out of this recipe

Ingredient notes

  • Use full-fat Greek yoghurt: It gives the best thickness and a clean tang that balances the sweetness of the dulce de leche.
  • Keep the cinnamon restrained: A light finish of cinnamon adds warmth; too much can dominate the caramel flavour.
  • Choose a spoonable dulce de leche: If it is very firm, loosen it gently in warm water so it swirls without disappearing into the yoghurt.

Texture tips

  • Whisk briefly: Mix the yoghurt and vanilla only until smooth and glossy to keep the base thick.
  • Chill for a firmer spoonful: A short chill makes the yoghurt colder and slightly firmer while keeping the swirl distinct.
  • Preserve the marbling: Swirl once or twice only; too much mixing turns the dessert into plain caramel yoghurt.

Make-ahead tips

  • Make ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days if needed.
  • Best presentation: The swirl looks cleanest soon after assembling, so add a fresh spoonful of dulce de leche before serving if the marbling softens.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
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  1. Spoon the Greek yogurt into a bowl and whisk in the vanilla extract just until smooth and glossy.
  2. Divide the vanilla yogurt between two small serving bowls. Dollop the dulce de leche over the top, then use the tip of a spoon to gently swirl it through once or twice, keeping the marbling visible.
  3. Finish with a pinch of ground cinnamon. Serve straight away, or chill for 5 minutes for a colder, firmer spoonful.

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Recipe notes

Tips

  • For the cleanest swirl, warm the dulce de leche briefly by standing the jar in warm water so it loosens slightly, then dollop and swirl gently.
  • If you are serving to pregnant people, young children, older adults, or anyone immunocompromised, use pasteurised Greek yogurt.

Substitutions

  • Replace Vanilla extract with Vanilla bean paste for a more pronounced vanilla flavour.
  • Replace Ground cinnamon with Ground nutmeg for a warmer, spicier finish.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 2 days
  • Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Stir before serving if the swirl softens, or refresh with a small extra dollop of dulce de leche on top.

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Dulce de Leche Yoghurt with Cinnamon and Vanilla
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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 2 servings
  • Total time: 10min (10min active)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cuisine: Latin American
  • Allergens:
    Milk
Beginner friendly Kid friendly

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