Argentinian Dulce de Leche Yogurt Parfait

About This Recipe

Dulce de leche is Argentina's defining sweet ingredient, spooned onto everything from toast to pancakes and folded into countless desserts. This simple parfait layers thick yogurt with dulce de leche and toasted walnuts, echoing the flavor of postre vigilante, a classic Argentine dessert pairing sweet paste with cheese, but in a lighter, creamier format that needs no baking or special equipment. The key is using full-fat, thick yogurt (or straining a thinner one) so the layers hold their shape in the glass rather than turning soupy. Dulce de leche should be loosened slightly, either warmed briefly or stirred hard, so it swirls into the yogurt rather than sitting in a stiff clump. Assembled in glasses and chilled briefly, this makes an easy make-ahead dessert for a dinner party, needing only a few minutes of active work.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 3 cupsplain full-fat yogurt(Greek-style or strained)
• 1 cupdulce de leche
• 0.5 cupwalnuts(toasted and roughly chopped)
• 1 tspvanilla extract
• 2 tbsphoney(optional, for the yogurt)
• 1 pinchflaky sea salt(for garnish)

Instructions

1. 1

   Toast the walnuts

   Toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant. Let cool, then roughly chop.

2. 2

   Sweeten the yogurt

   Stir vanilla and honey (if using) into the yogurt until smooth.

3. 3

   Loosen the dulce de leche

   Warm the dulce de leche in the microwave for 15-20 seconds, or stir vigorously, until pourable and smooth.

   A stiff dulce de leche won't swirl properly into the yogurt — loosen it slightly first for the best layered effect.

4. 4

   Layer the parfaits

   In glasses, layer yogurt, a spoonful of dulce de leche, more yogurt, and repeat, ending with a swirl of dulce de leche on top.

5. 5

   Chill and finish

   Refrigerate at least 20 minutes. Top with toasted walnuts and a small pinch of flaky salt just before serving.

Variations

• •

  Add fruit: layer in sliced banana or berries for extra freshness against the rich dulce de leche.

• •

  Cookie crunch: crumble vanilla wafers or shortbread between the layers for texture.

• •

  Dairy-free: use a thick coconut yogurt and a dairy-free dulce de leche alternative.

Storage

Refrigerate assembled parfaits up to 2 days, covered. Add the nut topping just before serving so it stays crunchy instead of softening.

Frequently Asked Questions