death by caramel cookies

Ingredients

• Servings: 20
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening, chilled and diced
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 cup heavy cream, chilled
• 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar for decoration

Recipe

• to make filling: pour the condensed milk into a heavy saucepan. cook over medium heat until hot. stirring constantly, lower the heat to low and continue to cook the milk takes on a golden color, about 20-25 minutes. remove from heat and add vanilla. transfer to a bowl and cover directly with plastic wrap. set aside and let cool to room temperature.
• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c).
• combine the flour, 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, and the salt in a bowl. cut in the shortening and the butter until crumbly. beat in the yolk and the cream. mix to form a dough, adding more cream if necessary.
• roll dough on a floured counter to 1/8 inch thick. cut into 2-1/2 inch rounds and place on ungreased sheets. prick the top of the rounds a few times with a fork.
• bake for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are light brown. cool on sheet 1 minute and remove to rack. spread the filling on one half and sandwich with another round. dust cookies with confectioners' sugar.