Cornmeal Cookies with Dulce de Leche

A couple weeks ago, I was having a leisurely brunch at Publican Quality Meats when my friend and I were asked to move over to accommodate a large party.  We were offered a cookie on the house for our trouble (you know, picking up our water glasses and moving our purses to the back of the chair next to us - very taxing on a Sunday morning).  What we didn't realize was that our waitress's offer to sweeten the deal would spark a sweet obsession! Presented with several scrumptious-sounding options, we opted for a cornmeal cookie with dulce de leche, because who's ever heard of that?! The buttery, slightly chewy, slightly crispy, dulce-de-leche-oozing cookie sandwich that we were served did not disappoint!  Ever since, I've been determined to re-create this cookie masterpiece and I think I've come pretty damn close.  I used a coarsely-ground cornmeal, which produced a cookie with a lot of texture.  You could also opt for a more finely-ground cornmeal, which would yield a cookie with a texture more similar to shortbread.  

Cornmeal Cookies
Makes 22-24 cookies, 11-12 cookie sandwiches :)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Dulce de leche (about a cup should be plenty)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar.  In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, and salt.  Add the egg and vanilla to the sugar and butter and mix to incorporate.  Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring after each addition.  Drop the cookie dough by rounded tablespoonfuls on to a cookie sheet, using the bottom of a drinking glass or measuring cup to flatten the dough balls slightly.  Bake for 14-16 minutes.  

Oozing dulce de leche!

When the cookies are completely cool, assemble each cookie sandwich by smearing about a tablespoon of dulche de leche on the bottom of one cookie and topping it with another cookie. 

Just try to resist these suckers, I dare ya'.