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Mexican Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Dulce de Leche Filling: A Spicy-Sweet Sensation

Prepare your taste buds for an extraordinary treat! These Mexican Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, generously filled with luscious Dulce de Leche, are a harmonious blend of rich, spicy chocolate and creamy caramel. They promise to be a truly indulgent delight, perfect for any occasion that calls for something uniquely delicious.

While often associated with festive celebrations like Cinco de Mayo, these exceptional cookies transcend seasonal boundaries. Their irresistible combination of deep chocolate, warm spices, and silky dulce de leche makes them a year-round favorite. Whether you’re seeking a show-stopping dessert for a special gathering or simply a comforting indulgence for your sweet tooth, these sandwich cookies are sure to captivate.

The Allure of Authentic Mexican Chocolate Flavor

What makes these chocolate cookies truly stand out is the authentic Mexican chocolate influence. Unlike ordinary chocolate, Mexican chocolate is renowned for its unique blend of robust cocoa, fragrant cinnamon, and a subtle hint of cayenne pepper. This combination creates a depth of flavor that is both exotic and comforting. The cinnamon infuses the cookies with a warm, inviting aroma, while the whisper of cayenne adds an unexpected, gentle heat that perfectly complements the rich chocolate, without being overtly spicy. It’s a flavor profile that tantalizes the palate and leaves a lasting impression, transforming a simple chocolate cookie into an unforgettable culinary experience.

Each bite delivers a chewy texture, a result of carefully balanced ingredients and precise baking. The cookies are designed to be soft in the center with slightly crisped edges, providing the perfect contrast to the smooth, creamy filling. This thoughtful construction ensures that every single Mexican chocolate sandwich cookie offers a truly luxurious and satisfying mouthfeel, making them an instant favorite for anyone who appreciates gourmet baked goods.

Dulce de Leche: The Perfect Caramel Companion

No Mexican chocolate sandwich cookie would be complete without its glorious partner: dulce de leche. This classic Latin American confection, meaning “sweet of milk,” is a thick, rich, and creamy caramel sauce made by slowly simmering sweetened milk until it transforms into a deeply flavorful, amber-hued delight. Its smooth, decadent texture and intensely sweet, caramelized notes are the ideal counterpoint to the spiced chocolate cookies.

When generously spread between two of these chewy, spicy chocolate rounds, the dulce de leche filling elevates the cookies to another level of deliciousness. The creamy sweetness melts in your mouth, creating a harmonious balance with the bold chocolate and subtle heat. It’s this exquisite contrast of flavors and textures that makes these sandwich cookies so incredibly addictive. The cooling, sweet embrace of the dulce de leche perfectly mellows the warmth of the cayenne, resulting in a perfectly balanced bite that will have your taste buds singing “muchas gracias!”

Crafting Your Own Batch of Delight: Tips for Success

Making these Mexican Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Dulce de Leche Filling is a delightful process, and with a few key tips, you can ensure your batch turns out perfectly every time.

Quality Ingredients Matter: Start with high-quality unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder for a deep, rich chocolate flavor. Freshly ground cinnamon and a good quality cayenne powder will make a noticeable difference in the spice profile. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content precisely.
Room Temperature Essentials: Ensure your butter is properly softened and your eggs are at room temperature. This is crucial for creating a smooth, emulsified cookie dough that bakes evenly and results in tender cookies. Cold ingredients can lead to a lumpy batter and a less desirable texture.
Avoid Overmixing: Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, mix only until just combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to tough cookies. A light hand will ensure your cookies remain delightfully chewy and soft.
Perfect Portioning: Using a small ice cream scoop (about 1.5 inches) helps ensure uniform cookie size, which is essential for even baking and for creating perfectly matched sandwich cookies. Space them out on the baking sheet to prevent them from spreading into each other.
Baking to Perfection: Keep a close eye on your cookies as they bake. They should be removed from the oven when the surface shows some slight cracking but the centers still appear soft. This ensures a chewy interior. Overbaking will result in dry, crumbly cookies.
Cooling Protocol: Allow the cookies to cool completely on wire racks before attempting to fill them. Warm cookies will cause the dulce de leche to melt and slide, making assembly messy. Patience here ensures pristine sandwich cookies.
Generous Filling: Don’t be shy with the dulce de leche! A generous dollop between the two cookies ensures that every bite is bursting with that rich, creamy caramel flavor. Use a heaping tablespoon for each sandwich.
Storage: Store the assembled sandwich cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week. They tend to get even softer and more delicious the next day as the flavors meld.

Perfect for Any Occasion

While these cookies are a fantastic way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, their appeal extends far beyond a single holiday. Imagine them as a delightful treat for Mother’s Day brunch, a sophisticated addition to a holiday dessert platter, or a comforting accompaniment to your afternoon coffee. They make excellent edible gifts for friends and family, and are always a welcome sight at potlucks and parties. Their unique flavor profile pairs beautifully with a glass of cold milk, a warm mug of coffee, or even a spicy Mexican hot chocolate for the ultimate indulgent experience. These Mexican Chocolate Sandwich Cookies are more than just a dessert; they’re a celebration in every bite.

Mexican Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Dulce de Leche Filling

Author: Mary Ann Dwyer

Servings: 12 large sandwich cookies

These Mexican Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Dulce de Leche Filling are rich and spicy and such a treat!

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch Process Cocoa Powder
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. cayenne powder
1/2 cup (one stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, plus additional for sprinkling
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 13.4 ounce can Nestle Dulce de Leche

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and cayenne. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract until well blended.
Reduce speed to low and gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix.
Using a small ice cream scoop (1 1/2 inch), drop dough balls about 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops of the cookie dough balls with additional granulated sugar.
Bake for 13-15 minutes or until the surface shows some cracking around the edges. The cookies should still be soft in the center when removed from the oven.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
Assembling cookies: Once completely cooled, spread a heaping tablespoon of dulce de leche filling on the flat bottom of one cookie. Gently top with another cookie, pressing down slightly to sandwich the filling between them. Repeat with the remaining cookies.

Nutrition

Keyword: cookies, sandwich cookies

Cuisine: Mexican

Course: Dessert

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