If you have a sweet tooth and a love for warm, cozy spices, then the Dulce de Leche Cinnamon Sandwich Cookies Recipe is about to become your new best friend in the kitchen. These little delights bring together soft cinnamon-spiced cookies with a luscious, creamy dulce de leche filling that melts in your mouth. Imagine biting into a tender, fragrant cookie, layered generously with rich caramel goodness—pure magic! Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or a comforting everyday treat, these sandwich cookies will fill your home with irresistible aromas and have everyone asking for seconds.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Crafting these heavenly cookies is wonderfully straightforward. Each ingredient plays its part in creating perfect texture, flavor, and that enchanting cinnamon warmth that defines the cookies. Let’s take a look at what you’ll need to whip up this charming dessert.
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour: The base for our cookies, providing structure and tenderness.
- 1 teaspoon baking soda: Helps the cookies rise slightly, giving them a soft, light crumb.
- ½ teaspoon salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the cinnamon flavor.
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon: The soul of these cookies, adding warmth and spice.
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened): Adds richness and keeps cookies moist and tender.
- ¾ cup granulated sugar: Delivers sweetness and helps with a tender crumb.
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar: Brings moisture and a subtle molasses note that complements the cinnamon.
- 2 large eggs: Binds the dough together and helps with rising.
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract: Enhances all the flavors with a lovely aromatic touch.
- 1½ cups dulce de leche: The luscious caramel filling that makes these sandwich cookies unforgettable; homemade or store-bought works beautifully.
- Optional: extra cinnamon sugar for rolling: Adds a little crunch and an extra pop of cinnamon flavor on the cookie exterior.
How to Make Dulce de Leche Cinnamon Sandwich Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare
Start by heating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze. This simple prep step sets the stage for baking perfection.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until evenly combined. This ensures that every bite of cookie is perfectly spiced and softly tender.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with granulated and brown sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This aeration is key for those soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies.
Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in the eggs one at a time, allowing each to incorporate fully. Then stir in the vanilla extract for its subtle sweetness and depth of flavor.
Step 5: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients
Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Be careful not to overwork the dough; you want to keep it tender and soft.
Step 6: Shape and Bake
Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough, and if you like, roll them in the optional cinnamon sugar for an extra cinnamon kick and slight crunch. Place them about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the cookie edges are just set and the centers slightly soft to the touch.
Step 7: Cool and Assemble
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, spread or pipe about a tablespoon of dulce de leche onto the flat side of one cookie and sandwich with another. Repeat until all cookies are paired up.
How to Serve Dulce de Leche Cinnamon Sandwich Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
For a touch of elegance and fun, lightly dust the finished cookies with powdered sugar or sprinkle a bit more cinnamon sugar on top. This adds a pretty look and an extra hint of sweetness to please both eyes and palate.
Side Dishes
These sandwich cookies pair beautifully with a warm cup of coffee, a glass of milk, or a creamy chai tea. The spices in the cinnamon meld wonderfully with these drinks, creating a delightful taste experience.
Creative Ways to Present
For a party, stack your Dulce de Leche Cinnamon Sandwich Cookies Recipe on a decorative platter with fresh fruit like figs or berries for a pop of color. Or wrap individual cookies in parchment and tie them with twine for charming edible gifts.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover sandwich cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. This preserves the cookie’s texture and keeps the dulce de leche filling luscious.
Freezing
If you want to save some for later, freeze the assembled sandwich cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container. When ready to eat, thaw at room temperature for about an hour before serving.
Reheating
While these cookies are best enjoyed fresh or at room temperature, you can warm them gently in a low oven (about 300°F) for 5 minutes to revive that soft, freshly-baked feel. Just be careful not to melt the filling too much.
FAQs
Can I make the dulce de leche from scratch?
Absolutely! You can simmer sweetened condensed milk until it turns golden and caramel-like, or opt for the easy method of boiling a can (sealed) in water for a few hours. Both yield rich, homemade dulce de leche perfect for this recipe.
What if I don’t have cinnamon sugar for rolling?
No worries. Just roll the dough balls plain before baking—they’ll still be wonderful. Or make a quick batch by mixing granulated sugar and ground cinnamon yourself for that sweet and spicy crunch.
How do I get thicker cookies?
Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking helps prevent spreading and results in thicker, chewier cookies. It also makes the dough easier to handle.
Can I use another filling instead of dulce de leche?
Sure! While dulce de leche is the star here, feel free to experiment with cream cheese frosting, Nutella, or even a raspberry jam for a fruity twist on the sandwich cookies.
Are these cookies suitable for vegetarians?
Yes! This Dulce de Leche Cinnamon Sandwich Cookies Recipe is vegetarian-friendly, including all the classic ingredients without any animal-derived gelatin or similar additives.
Final Thoughts
There’s something undeniably comforting about baking up a batch of these Dulce de Leche Cinnamon Sandwich Cookies Recipe. Their tender cinnamon-spiced dough, paired with that irresistibly creamy caramel filling, is like a warm hug on a plate. I can’t wait for you to make them, share them, and delight in every bite. Trust me, once you try these, they’ll become your go-to cookie for every sweet craving!
Print
Dulce de Leche Cinnamon Sandwich Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes (plus cooling time)
- Yield: 18 sandwich cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Latin-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Dulce de Leche Cinnamon Sandwich Cookies combine soft, cinnamon-flavored cookies with a rich, creamy dulce de leche filling for a delightful Latin-American dessert that’s perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Filling
- 1½ cups dulce de leche (store-bought or homemade)
Optional
- Extra cinnamon sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon until evenly combined to create the cookie base.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with the granulated sugar and packed light brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which will give the cookies a tender texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs one at a time into the butter and sugar mixture, beating well after each addition. Then, beat in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just incorporated to form the cookie dough.
- Shape Dough and Optional Rolling: Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough. If desired, roll each ball in cinnamon sugar for extra cinnamon flavor and texture. Place dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers appear slightly soft, for a chewy texture.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, which prevents breakage when assembling.
- Assemble Sandwiches: Once cooled, spread or pipe about 1 tablespoon of dulce de leche onto the flat side of one cookie, and then sandwich it with another cookie. Repeat until all cookies are paired.
Notes
- For thicker cookies, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
- Lightly dust the filled cookies with powdered sugar for an elegant presentation.
- Store the filled sandwich cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
