We are on day number 6 and are halfway done in the 12 days of holiday baking! I hope you have been enjoying these recipes as much as I have. Yesterday we made Peppermint Pattie Brownies from America's Test Kitchen, and I saw another recipe for Salted Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies from them. I had never made these before, but I figured I'd give Dulce de Leche Cookies a try!
Homemade Dulce de Leche Cookies
"A little smile, a word of cheer, a bit of love from someone near, a little gift from one held dear, best wishes for the coming year...These make a Merry Christmas!" -John Greenleaf Whittier
This is the perfect cookie recipe for fans of the salty-sweet flavor combination. The cookies are buttery and flavorful soft shortbread cookies, and the sweet dulce de leche is irresistible. On top of that, the mixed in coarse sea salt into the dulce de leche is a delightful addition. The large salt granules gave it a slight crunch. This is an easy Dulce de Leche cookie recipe that is sure to be a hit over the holidays!
Ingredients
- All Purpose Flour
- Superfine Sugar
- Salt
- Unsalted Butter
- Cream Cheese
- Vanilla extract
- Dulce de Leche
- Coarse Sea Salt
- Confectioners' Sugar
Tools to Make Dulce De Leche Cookies
You don't need a lot of tools to make these cookies. I'd recommend a silicone baking mat or parchment paper on top of a half sheet pan. Use a 1 ¾ inch cookie cutter or whatever you have that is similar in size.
How to Make Dulce de Leche
You can easily make your own Dulce de Leche at home. All you need is a can of sweetened condensed milk and time to let it cook.
- Take the label off the can of sweetened condensed milk and place the can into a large pot. Fill the pot with water until the water is about 1 inch above the top of the can.
- Bring water to a simmer and continue to cook over low heat for about 4 hours. Continue to refill the water level as necessary. Don't let the water level go below the can, so keep watch!
- Once done, set aside to cool.
Don't have time or the desire to make Dulce de Leche yourself? No problem! You can buy canned Dulce de Leche at pretty much any grocery store.
How To Make Dulce de Leche Cookies
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, mix flour, superfine sugar, and salt on low speed until combined. You could also use a large bowl and an electric mixer to do this.
- Add butter, 1 piece at a time into the dry ingredients, and mix until crumbly.
- Add cream cheese and vanilla and beat until mixture begins to form large clumps.
- Knead dough by hand, until it forms a cohesive mass.
- Divide dough ball in half, form each half into disk, wrap disks in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375°.
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll each disk of dough ⅛ inch thick; refrigerate for 10 minutes.
- Using 1 ¾ inch cookie cutter, cut dough, gathering and rerolling scraps once.
- Space cookies 1 ½ inches apart on prepared sheets.
- Bake 1 sheet at a time, until light golden brown, about 10 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through baking.
- Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack and let cookies cool completely.
- Microwave dulce de leche in bowl at 50 percent power for 20 seconds. Stir in sea salt.
- Spread bottoms of half of cookies evenly with warm delicious dulce de leche, then top with remaining cookies, pressing lightly to adhere.
- Dust cookies with confectioners' sugar before serving
These cookies are great packaged in holiday cookie boxes, or if you have decorative pieces as we did, you can put a decorative plastic wrap around them and tie a big bow on top for an easy gift. They are always some of the best cookies for a cookie swap or just as an addition to any cookie tray.
If you have missed the other days of our holiday baking, you can find all the recipes here. I hope you enjoy these as much as we did and don't forget to save some for yourself.
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Dulce De Leche Sandwich Cookies
Ingredients
America's Test Kitchen - Dulce De Leche Cookies
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- ¾ cup superfine sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 16 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into 16 pieces and softened
- 1 ounce cream cheese softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¾ cup dulce de leche
- ¾ teaspoon coarse sea salt
- Confectioners' sugar
Instructions
- Using stand mixer fitted with paddle, mix flour, superfine sugar, and salt on low speed until combined.
- Add butter, 1 piece at a time, and mix until crumbly, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add cream cheese and vanilla and beat until mixture begins to form large clumps.
- Knead dough by hand, just until it forms cohesive mass. Divide dough in half, form each half into disk, wrap disks in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375° F.
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll each disk of dough ⅛ inch thick; refrigerate for 10 minutes.
- Using 1 ¾ inch round cookie cutter, cut dough, gathering and rerolling scraps once; space cookies 1 ½ inches apart on prepared sheets.
- Bake 1 sheet at a time, until light golden brown, about 10 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through baking.
- Let cookies cool on the cookie sheet for 3 minutes, then transfer to wire rack and let cool completely.
- Microwave dulce de leche in bowl at 50 percent power for 20 seconds. Stir in sea salt.
- Spread bottoms of half of cookies evenly with warm dulce de leche, then top with remaining cookies, pressing lightly to adhere.
- Dust cookies with confectioners sugar before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Here are a few of our favorite cookie recipes:
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Original post December 18, 2014; updated December 20, 2021
Heather says
These are beautiful and sound absolutely delicious. I'd love to make them over winter break with my daughters.
Tiffany Haywood says
Oh my Goodness!! I am nearly drooling over these cookies. They look delicious and I would love to give them a taste.
Cindy Ingalls says
I remember eating cookies like these when I was a kid. I just loved the powdered sugar and the rich creaminess of the center. They were a real holiday treat.
Nailil says
These cookies look so good. I love dulce de leche, it's such a tasty flavor.
brianne says
These cookies look super delicious. I'm taking recipes down now for my tomorrow baking!
BRITTANY GILES says
I really just need for you to mail me some because there is no way I can recreate this awesomeness!
serena says
Ha Ha Ha! Thanks so much 🙂
Erica says
This dulce de leche cookie looks like another great one. This appears like it would taste relatively light and would be something nice to eat at the end of a meal for a little sweet.
kimberly lewis says
your cookies look so good! I am a cookie fanatic and this looks like it needs to be part of my favorite cookie list!
Rachel says
These cookies sound delicious. My husband loves dulce de leche anything. I will have to try them.
Terri Steffes says
These cookies sound delicious. I am always looking for a new cookie recipe to try!
Jessica Joachim says
These look so delicious, and I think I have everything to make them already! I may have to try these out when my mom comes over tomorrow for Christmas eve.
Maria Katsulos says
I usually am wary of dulce de leche because it seems difficult and I'm definitely an amateur, but this recipe almost looks like I could do it!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Karen Morse says
Dulce de leche will always be one of my favorite flavors and I think this is awesome since it's sandwiched between two lovely cookies! I would love to keep the recipe!
Melissa Chapman says
That cookie is what the holidays are all about. I am not a baker except from a box but if I get the urge I will try this for my kids.
serena says
Thanks so much!
Alice says
A family friend of ours always brings us these cookies along with some homemade tamales around Christmas time, it's our FAVORITE. I might have to try to make my own!
serena says
I'm such a fan of homemade tamales. Love getting those this time of year. Enjoy 🙂
Angela Tolsma says
I have never heard of Delce De Leche but now that I've looked up how to make it you can bet I am going to and put it between cookies! Great recipe
serena says
Thanks so much! Enjoy 🙂
Krystal Butherus says
I'll have to see where I can get dulce de leche and make these. They look so delicious!
serena says
You could get a can of condensed milk and make your own. Super easy. Otherwise you should find this in the grocery stores.
Cara @ Street Smart Nutrition says
At first I thought this recipe would be really complicated, but I'm glad to see it's just a few ingredients and something I can definitely handle! Thanks for sharing
serena says
Thanks so much!
Lisa Rios says
These look delicious! We had some great dulce de leche cookies recently. They are so creamy and filling. I could have 20.
serena says
Thanks so much! I'm such a fan of these. Love dulce de leche
Cia Black says
All I have to do is get some dulce de leche, and I make this. I was surprised by how many of the ingredients I already had. I love the salty-sweet taste that it has.
serena says
Me too. I'm such a lover of the salty/sweet in my pastries.