Dairy & Eggs

Dulce de Leche Rocca in gelato

Dulce de Leche Rocca is a caramelized sweetened-milk paste (Brazilian doce de leite from Minas Gerais). In gelato it acts as a dairy-based flavor and variegate, delivering deep caramel notes, high sugar, milk solids and a small amount of milk fat.

Balancing parameters

Per 100 g of product, verified against independent food-science sources (listed below).

ParameterValue
Total Solids57%
Water43%
Sugars28%
Fat8.9%
MSNF20%
Protein7.5%
POD (sweetening power)30
PAC (anti-freezing power)39

Typical use: 6-12% of the mix as a base flavor; up to ~15-20% when used mainly as a swirl or variegate.

Balance dulce de leche rocca in a real recipe

Free balancer · no signup wall · watch PAC, POD and Total Solids update live as you add it.

Open the balancer

How to use it in gelato

Dulce de leche is roughly 70% solids and 49% sugar, so it raises total solids, sugar and PAC (~49) sharply while adding MSNF (~15-18) and modest fat (~6.5%). Its POD (~41) sits below sucrose because part of its sugar is low-sweetness lactose. Balance the mix by counting its sugar in the total sugar load, otherwise the gelato turns over-soft and too sweet. Fold it in as a base flavor, or ripple it at room temperature as a variegate. Its lactose also adds to the MSNF ceiling, so watch total dairy solids to avoid sandiness.

Origin & background

Dulce de leche is a South American confection of milk slowly reduced with sugar; a widely repeated legend dates it to 1829 in Cañuelas, Argentina, though sweetened milk-reduction sweets are far older. USDA classifies dulce de leche under 'Dairy and Egg Products'. The Rocca brand is produced traditionally in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil, long-cooked to a dark, creamy paste.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

More dairy & eggs ingredients

Substitutes for Dulce de Leche Rocca