Argentine Cappuccino with Dulce de Leche

I was at a cafe in Buenos Aires for merienda (an afternoon snack, usually consisting of coffee and pastries) a few weeks back when I spotted a drink the cafe called a “capuchino porteño.” Porteño is an adjective used for the natives here (literally meaning of/from the port, referring to Buenos Aires being a port city), and once I read the description of this cappuccino, I knew I had to order it. The key ingredient, unsurprising given its great popularity here, was dulce de leche. The drink was right up my alley, since I prefer my coffee drinks sweet and milky. When I found that our apartment in Uruguay (another dulce de leche loving country, by the by) included an espresso machine, I was determined to recreate this drink. It’s not a traditional cappuccino, although it does have the usual base of espresso and steamed milk; this is more of a dessert than anything, and in the Argentine style of desserts, it’s quite sweet. Dulce de leche is drizzled down the side of the glass and whipped into some cream on the top (this recipes makes extra dulce de leche whipped cream, but I’m sure you’ll find a use for it), and a sprinkle of cinnamon (cocoa powder would also work well) is a great complement to the caramel flavor.

Argentine Cappuccino with Dulce de Leche
Yield: 1 cappuccino

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 Tbsp + 1 Tbsp dulce de leche
• 3 ounces prepared espresso*
• 3 ounces milk, steamed*
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

*If you don’t have an espresso machine, I think you could get away with using coffee prepared in another method and gently heated milk.

Method:

1. In a small bowl, whip 1/4 cup heavy cream until soft peaks form. Gently stir in 1 Tbsp dulce de leche, then set aside.
2. Drizzle 1 Tbsp dulce de leche on the inside of a glass (heating the dulce de leche slightly will make this easier).
3. Pour 3 ounces prepared espresso into the glass, then pour in 3 ounces milk, steamed (holding back the foam with a knife, then topping with the foam, if desired – although standard for a usual cappuccino, this is less necessary here).
4. Top with a big spoonful of the dulce de leche whipped cream (save the rest for another purpose), then drizzle with a little extra dulce de leche, and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon. Serve immediately.