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    Serena Lissy Β» Recipes Β» Cookies

    Published: Dec 20, 2021 Β· Modified: Jan 7, 2022 by serena Β· This post may contain affiliate links.

    Dulce De Leche Sandwich Cookies (Alfajores)

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    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!

    Dulce De Leche Cookie

    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

    Dulce De Leche Cookies 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 ΒΎ 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. 

    1. 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.
    2. 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!
    3. 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

    Dulce De Leche Cookies Process Collage
    1. 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.
    2. Add butter, 1 piece at a time into the dry ingredients, and mix until crumbly. 
    3. Add cream cheese and vanilla and beat until mixture begins to form large clumps.
    4. Knead dough by hand, until it forms a cohesive mass. 
    5. Divide dough ball in half, form each half into disk, wrap disks in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
    6. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375Β°.
    7. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll each disk of dough β…› inch thick; refrigerate for 10 minutes.
    8. Using 1 ΒΎ inch cookie cutter, cut dough, gathering and rerolling scraps once.
    9. Space cookies 1 Β½ inches apart on prepared sheets.
    10. Bake 1 sheet at a time, until light golden brown, about 10 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through baking.
    11. Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack and let cookies cool completely.
    12. Microwave dulce de leche in bowl at 50 percent power for 20 seconds. Stir in sea salt.
    13. Spread bottoms of half of cookies evenly with warm delicious dulce de leche, then top with remaining cookies, pressing lightly to adhere.
    14. 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.

    Salted Dulce De Leche Cookies

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    Dulce De Leche Cookies

    Dulce De Leche Sandwich Cookies

    A buttery shortbread cookie sandwiched with a creamy layer of Dulce de Leche with a sea salt crunch.
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Cooling Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 24 Cookies
    Calories: 144kcal
    Author: Serena

    Ingredients

    America's Test Kitchen - Dulce De Leche Cookies

    • 2 Β½ cups all purpose flour
    • ΒΎ cup superfine sugar
    • ΒΌ teaspoon salt
    • 16 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into 16 pieces and softened
    • 1 ounce cream cheese softened
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • ΒΎ cup dulce de leche
    • ΒΎ 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 375Β° F.
    • Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll each disk of dough β…› inch thick; refrigerate for 10 minutes.
    • Using 1 ΒΎ inch round cookie cutter, cut dough, gathering and rerolling scraps once; space cookies 1 Β½ 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

    Recipe Source: SerenaLissy.com
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only.Β Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database via Spoonacular, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
    All images and content are copyright protected. Do not use our images without prior permission.
    Β 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 102mg | Potassium: 18mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 249IU | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @SerenaLissy or tag #serenalissy!

    Here are a few of our favorite cookie recipes:

    • Holiday Sugar Cookies
    • Red Velvet Cookies
    • Mexican Wedding Cookies

    As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. What that means is if you click on one of our affiliate links, they may toss a few pennies our way for a commission.

    Original post December 18, 2014; updated December 20, 2021

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Heather says

      December 26, 2017 at 6:54 am

      These are beautiful and sound absolutely delicious. I'd love to make them over winter break with my daughters.

      Reply
    2. Tiffany Haywood says

      December 24, 2017 at 8:26 pm

      Oh my Goodness!! I am nearly drooling over these cookies. They look delicious and I would love to give them a taste.

      Reply
    3. Cindy Ingalls says

      December 24, 2017 at 7:21 pm

      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.

      Reply
    4. Nailil says

      December 23, 2017 at 7:12 pm

      These cookies look so good. I love dulce de leche, it's such a tasty flavor.

      Reply
    5. brianne says

      December 23, 2017 at 6:59 pm

      These cookies look super delicious. I'm taking recipes down now for my tomorrow baking!

      Reply
    6. BRITTANY GILES says

      December 23, 2017 at 1:09 pm

      I really just need for you to mail me some because there is no way I can recreate this awesomeness!

      Reply
      • serena says

        December 24, 2017 at 10:19 am

        Ha Ha Ha! Thanks so much πŸ™‚

        Reply
    7. Erica says

      December 23, 2017 at 12:30 pm

      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.

      Reply
    8. kimberly lewis says

      December 23, 2017 at 11:14 am

      your cookies look so good! I am a cookie fanatic and this looks like it needs to be part of my favorite cookie list!

      Reply
    9. Rachel says

      December 23, 2017 at 10:36 am

      These cookies sound delicious. My husband loves dulce de leche anything. I will have to try them.

      Reply
    10. Terri Steffes says

      December 23, 2017 at 9:38 am

      These cookies sound delicious. I am always looking for a new cookie recipe to try!

      Reply
    11. Jessica Joachim says

      December 23, 2017 at 9:10 am

      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.

      Reply
    12. Maria Katsulos says

      December 22, 2017 at 6:32 pm

      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 πŸ™‚

      Reply
    13. Karen Morse says

      December 22, 2017 at 4:51 pm

      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!

      Reply
    14. Melissa Chapman says

      December 22, 2017 at 3:55 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • serena says

        December 22, 2017 at 3:57 pm

        Thanks so much!

        Reply
    15. Alice says

      December 22, 2017 at 3:21 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • serena says

        December 22, 2017 at 3:55 pm

        I'm such a fan of homemade tamales. Love getting those this time of year. Enjoy πŸ™‚

        Reply
    16. Angela Tolsma says

      December 22, 2017 at 3:18 pm

      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

      Reply
      • serena says

        December 22, 2017 at 3:57 pm

        Thanks so much! Enjoy πŸ™‚

        Reply
    17. Krystal Butherus says

      December 22, 2017 at 2:54 pm

      I'll have to see where I can get dulce de leche and make these. They look so delicious!

      Reply
      • serena says

        December 22, 2017 at 4:00 pm

        You could get a can of condensed milk and make your own. Super easy. Otherwise you should find this in the grocery stores.

        Reply
    18. Cara @ Street Smart Nutrition says

      December 22, 2017 at 1:26 pm

      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

      Reply
      • serena says

        December 22, 2017 at 3:56 pm

        Thanks so much!

        Reply
    19. Lisa Rios says

      December 22, 2017 at 10:07 am

      These look delicious! We had some great dulce de leche cookies recently. They are so creamy and filling. I could have 20.

      Reply
      • serena says

        December 22, 2017 at 12:51 pm

        Thanks so much! I'm such a fan of these. Love dulce de leche

        Reply
    20. Cia Black says

      December 21, 2017 at 8:00 am

      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.

      Reply
      • serena says

        December 21, 2017 at 8:37 am

        Me too. I'm such a lover of the salty/sweet in my pastries.

        Reply
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