I love making these cookies over the holidays because they transport me straight to my childhood. My father would travel frequently to Guadalajara and he would always bring back these amazing cookies my aunt would make for me and my siblings. Just thinking of them makes my mouth water. They are a family favorite during the holidays.
| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 4 hr 20 min |
| Active: | 1 hr 30 min |
| Yield: | 26 cookie sandwiches |
Ingredients
- 2 cups cornstarch
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for dusting
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons brandy
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 large egg yolks
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
- 1 quart goat milk (or use regular whole milk; see Cook’s Note)
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 whole vanilla bean, split and with seeds, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- For the shortbread cookies: In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, flour, baking powder, baking soda and fine salt to combine; set aside.
- Put the butter and granulated sugar in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula as needed, until the ingredients are fully combined and the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the brandy, vanilla and egg yolks and mix until just combined, about 30 seconds.
- On low speed, gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until the flour is fully incorporated. Mix for about 1 minute.
- Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces and place them onto 2 separate pieces of plastic wrap. Shape each piece into a smooth disk and wrap tightly. Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour.
- Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
- Unwrap one piece of dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. With a 2-inch round cutter (plain or fluted), cut out about 20 circles and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets. Bake on the middle rack, in 2 batches if necessary, until golden brownish on top, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes. Repeat the rolling, cutting and baking process with the second dough piece, for an additional 20 cookies. Reroll the scraps once, cutting out 12 more circles, and bake.
- For the Mexican cajeta: Stir together the milk and sugar in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Add the vanilla extract, salt and vanilla bean pods and seeds if using. Bring to a boil on medium-high heat while constantly stirring, 6 to 8 minutes.
- When the milk comes to a boil, remove from the heat and add the baking soda. The milk will become frothy and rise. Keep stirring the mixture. Put the pot back on the stove over medium heat. Cook at a low simmer, stirring frequently to make sure that the sauce does not stick to bottom of the pan. Adjust the heat as needed to maintain a low simmer. After 15 minutes, the mixture will be light golden brown. Remove the vanilla pods if using and continue cooking until the mixture is a rich brown and reduced to about 1 1/2 cups (it will resemble a thick caramel sauce at this point), about 30 additional minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat and allow it to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
- After the cookies and cajeta have cooled, flip half of the cookies upside down and gently spread about 2 teaspoons of the cajeta on each one (if the cajeta is too thick to spread easily after cooling, microwave it briefly to warm it up and loosen it enough to spread). Place another cookie bottom-side down on top of the cajeta on each and press to create a sandwich. Dust the cookies with powdered sugar before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 26 servings |
| Calories | 235 |
| Total Fat | 9 g |
| Saturated Fat | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 34 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 19 g |
| Protein | 3 g |
| Cholesterol | 51 mg |
| Sodium | 201 mg |
Reviews
The cornstarch is needed to balance out the flour. Next time I will do the cookies at 11 minutes so they won’t be as dry. Thee goat’s milk must be an acquired taste, and had an aftertaste. Will use whole milk next time. I think 1 3/4 in would be better than 2”.
I made these cookies for my great-uncle’s 93rd birthday party. Everyone raved about them and I have to admit they are delicious. With cornstarch being the main ingredient in the cookie, you end up with a light, airy, shortbread which is possibly one of the better shortbread recipes I have made. I often use the canned evaporated milk for caramel but decided to do as the recipe called for, stove-top cooking. My caramel took a bit longer than 30 minutes to get to the rich, dark caramel color and it was worth the extra time. I am making another batch today to put in Christmas baskets for my neighbors.
No one within 100 miles knows what dulce de leche is so I ordered from Amazon. Now it comes in a tube so I don’t cut myself trying to eat the whole can full again.(The first time I “tasted” this stuff I ate the WHOLE can full!)!!!
TWO CUPS of cornstarch?