Sea Salt Caramel Shortbread
It is no surprise we LOVE desserts around here. What I am especially fond of is salted caramel and what better way to enjoy it than sandwiches between two soft, buttery cookies?! These cookies are decadent and you guessed it, pretty simple to bake! With only a handful of ingredients and store bought caramel candies they come together with ease. What is even more fun? Use a stencil to add fun decor with powdered sugar! You can create a stencil using paper and cut out a heart, a person’s initial, or in our case a Mickey ;) I created these cookies in celebration of the newest Disney Cruise Ship, The Disney Wish! Manifesting a family Disney Cruise in the future if you will ;)
These cookies are magic and will offer your tastebuds a delicious cruise of their own.
ENJOY!
Sea Salt Caramel Shortbread
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups unsalted SOFTENED butter
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 bag of soft caramel candies
3 tbs heavy cream
powdered sugar to sprinkle for decor
Serves about 15-20 Sandwich Cookies
Directions
Step 1: Start by mixing together the softened butter, sugar, 1/2 tsp sea salt and vanilla. Mix these at high speed for about 3-5 minutes until they are smooth and fluffy. *Be sure to use unsalted butter and have it at room temperature prior to mixing. You’ll want to use unsalted butter otherwise the cookies end up being a little too salty.
Step 2: SLOWLY add in your flour and mix just until a dough forms. I like to spoon my flour in and mix slowly to avoid over mixing. Note, your dough will be crumbly!
Step 3: On a floured surface or silicone counter mat gently roll out your dough until it is a 1/4 of an inch or so thick. Since your dough will be crumbly, be patient and gentle. Use your hands to gently press the dough together.
Step 4: Use a circle cookie cutter or biscuit cutter to cut circles. Cut as many cookies as you can, then push together the dough scraps, roll out again and cut more cookies until the dough is gone.
Step 5: Place cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone baking mat. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or JUST UNTIL the edges begin to turn golden brown. TIP I like to chill my cookies in the refrigerator BEFORE I bake them to ensure they hold their circle shape. Remember, this dough is mostly butter. It helps to chill them BEFORE baking so the butter holds up instead of melting all over.
Step 6: Once the cookies are done baking, transfer them to a cooling rack and let them cool completely.
Step 7: While the cookies cool, in a heat safe bowl melt down your caramel candies. These are the ones I like to use. Add the heavy cream and the last 1/2 tsp sea salt to the caramel and stir until silky + smooth. Once the caramel has cooled a bit, use a piping bag or small spoon to add about 1 tablespoon to the center of half your shortbread cookies.
Step 8: After you add the caramel to half of the shortbread cookies, immediately sandwich them together with the other half of your cookies. It helps to pair your cookies together prior to adding the caramel so you can make sure you have an even amount to make the sandwiches ;)
Step 9: For fun, create a stencil of whatever shape you desire out of paper and use powdered sugar to decorate the cookies. Enjoy!