1-Gathering Your Supplies: Before you start, ensure you have all the ingredients ready, as this dulce de leche cookies recipe comes together in about 52 minutes total, with 30 minutes for prep and 22 minutes for cooking. It makes around 34 cookies, perfect for sharing or storing for later. Begin by heating 3/4 cup of the unsalted butter in a saucepan until it turns a light amber color, then transfer it to a bowl and let it chill for 10-15 minutes. This step adds a nutty depth to your salted thumbprint cookies.

2-Mixing the Dough: Once the butter has cooled, combine it with the remaining softened butter to total 1 cup, and beat it together with 3/4 cup light brown sugar until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Add in 2 egg yolks and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, mixing well to incorporate. Gradually stir in the 2 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt until a dough forms. This part ensures your salted dulce de leche thumbprint cookies have the right texture.

3-Shaping and Baking: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Shape the dough into 1-tablespoon balls and place them on the sheets, spacing them out. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned but the tops stay soft. Right after removing them from the oven, use a 1-teaspoon measuring spoon to press an indentation in the center of each cookie. Let them cool on a wire rack before filling.

4-Finishing Touches: After cooling, fill each indentation with 1/2 cup dulce de leche, dividing it evenly among the cookies. Sprinkle flaked sea salt on top for that perfect sweet and salty dulce de leche cookies balance. Remember tips like not overbaking to keep the tops soft and making indentations while the cookies are still warm, which helps them hold shape better. For better results, adding an extra egg yolk can improve the cookie’s form. Each cookie comes in at about 112 calories, with 11 g carbohydrates, 1 g protein, 7 g fat (4 g saturated), 5 g sugar, 29 mg cholesterol, and 20 mg sodium, making it a treat you can feel good about.