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1
In the bowl of a standing mixer, beat the butter until light and very fluffy. Add the vanilla.
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2
Sift together the flour, sugar, and salt. Slowly beat into the butter. The dough should be silky soft, but not sticky; if it sticks, work in a little more flour. Divide the dough into 4 parts and shape into flattened disks. Chill for 1 hour.
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3
Preheat the oven to 350u00b0F.
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4
Place a piece of dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper or parchment paper and roll out to less than 1/8 inch thick - as thin as you can make it and still be able to handle the dough. (If the dough because sticky at any time, refrigerate it and work on another piece). Chill the dough again.
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5
Peel off the top layer of paper and turn the dough upside down onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. With a sharp metal cutter, cut into 2 inch circles, leaving 1/2-inch between the cookies. Peel away the excess dough, form it into a disk and chill. Chill the cookies on the sheet for 10 minutes, then bake until lightly browned around the edges, 12 - 14 minutes. Cool on a rack.
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6
Roll and bake the remaining dough, including all scraps.
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7
When cool, sandwich two cookies together with a layer of dulce de leche.
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8
Variations: *Filled cookies may be dipped in melted bittersweet chocolate. Or drizzled with melted chocolate. *Dust the cookies with a little confectioners' sugar or cocoa powder. *Add a pinch of ground cinnamon or ground anise to the dough. *To make these cookies the traditional way, with cajeta, substitute half canned goat's milk in the Dulce de Leche recipe. Canned goat's milk may be found in your market next to the evaporated and condensed milk.
