Introduction

These 3 Ingredient Shortbread Cookie Sandwiches with Dulce De Leche are a perfect blend of buttery, crumbly cookies and rich caramel filling. Simple yet indulgent, they make an elegant treat for any occasion.

A white plate sits on a wooden board with a stack of six sandwich cookies on the right side and one single sandwich cookie in front of the stack. Each sandwich cookie has two round, light golden brown cookies holding a thick middle layer of smooth caramel spread that is slightly glossy. To the right of the plate is a clear glass jar filled with caramel spread, with some caramel visible on the rim. In front of the jar, a spoon lies on the plate with a dollop of caramel spread on it. The background is a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

225 g (8 oz or 2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup icing sugar (powdered sugar), plus extra for dusting
2 cups plain flour
Dulce De Leche (see Slow Cooker Dulce De Leche recipe or store-bought)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking tray with parchment paper. Prepare a second tray if needed.
Step 2: In a bowl, combine the softened butter and icing sugar. Mix until smooth and fully combined.
Step 3: Add the plain flour to the butter mixture and stir until it starts to form dough. It will look crumbly at first but come together when handled.
Step 4: Dust a clean work surface with icing sugar, then turn the dough out onto it. Flatten to about 1 cm (1/2 inch) thick with your hand.
Step 5: Place a sheet of baking paper over the dough and roll it gently with a rolling pin to 0.5 cm (1/4 inch) thickness.
Step 6: Use a 6.5 cm (2.5 inch) round cookie cutter to cut out rounds. Transfer the cookies carefully to the prepared baking tray using a knife or egg flip.
Step 7: Gather the excess dough, reshape it, and cut more rounds until you have about 16 cookies.
Step 8: Bake the cookies for 15 to 18 minutes until pale golden brown, paying attention to slight browning at the edges. They may seem a little soft but will firm up as they cool.
Step 9: Remove the trays from the oven and let the cookies cool completely on the tray.
Step 10: Once cool, spread a dollop of Dulce De Leche on half of the cookies. Top with the remaining cookies to form sandwiches.

Tips & Variations

For a richer flavor, chill the dough for 30 minutes before rolling and cutting.
Try adding a pinch of salt to the dough to balance the sweetness.
Use flavored Dulce De Leche, such as vanilla or cinnamon-infused, for a unique twist.
Store the cookies in an airtight container to keep them crisp longer.
Dust the finished sandwiches lightly with icing sugar for an elegant look.

Storage

Store the shortbread sandwich cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. If your kitchen is warm, refrigerate them to prevent the butter from softening too much. Before serving, let refrigerated cookies come to room temperature for the best texture. Dulce De Leche-filled cookies are not recommended for freezing, as the filling texture can change.

How to Serve

A white plate on a white marbled surface holds three sandwich cookies with two pale yellow, slightly crumbly biscuit layers each, filled with a glossy, rich caramel layer; one cookie in the foreground has a bite taken out, revealing the soft inside and thick caramel. Next to the bitten cookie, a silver spoon holds a shiny dollop of the same caramel spread. A white cup with a handle sits on a matching white saucer filled with light brown coffee or tea. In the blurred background, a jar containing more caramel spread is visible. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?

Yes, you can use salted butter, but reduce or omit any extra salt in the recipe to avoid the cookies becoming too salty. Unsalted butter is preferred for better control over flavor.

What can I substitute for Dulce De Leche?

If Dulce De Leche is unavailable, you can use caramel sauce or even sweetened condensed milk that has been cooked down to a caramel consistency. Alternatively, chocolate spread or jam can be used for different flavor variations.