I love dulce de leche and have made it a number of times (from scratch--none of that can-boiling business for me). The cookie batter just seemed to have too much sugar (white+brown+dulce de leche) so I left the white sugar out, hoping they wouldn't be too sweet. Maybe this is why my cookies didn't really spread, and looked like homely little lumps after baking. I made the second tray smaller, and just ended up with smaller lumps. I added oatmeal to the third tray for the lumpy lump effect and wondered why I hadn't made only half a batch...
Anyway, people seemed to like them, but they were too cakey for me, and I couldn't get past their appearance. So, what to do? Skip posting this week, even though I made the cookies, or make another batch of something? I had some pâte sablée in the freezer, so decided to roll and bake a few of these to fill with dulce de leche. Much better: the cookies were crisp and buttery and the filling didn't just soak in and make them even cakier. If you're still reading this, you deserve a good laugh, so check after the jump for the photo of the original cookies. Better still, head over to the TWD blogroll to see what they were supposed to look like. This week's recipe was chosen by Jodie of Beansy Loves Cake. I bet hers look nice!
Hey wait a minute! My cookies look like the picture after the jump, and I wasn't smart/committed enough to make them again. I was laughing before I got to the jump, imagining your growing desperation to salvage the recipe. Great post (and the sable idea is perfect!) I made my own dulce de leche and honestly that was more fun than the cookies!
ReplyDeleteLove the sable idea- those look so yummy! I always wonder, too, when there isn't a picture in the book...
ReplyDeleteThey look good Mary - and you were certainly dedicated in your attempts with the recipe - I always stop at one even if it is an epic fail
ReplyDeleteJealous! I didn't like their cakeiness (how on earth do you spell that?) either, and I kept wishing I had shortbread cookies instead. You had the right idea, sister.
ReplyDeleteI loved the cakiness but i still think your idea's a good one :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes - sables would have been perfect with the dulce de leche! I enjoyed the cookies the same day I baked them, but the day after they were way too soggy for my liking :-)
ReplyDeleteThe oatmeal cookies look pretty good to me. These cookies needed something to chew on. Not my favorites either.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteMine spread like no body's business.
Your original cookies are high and poofy! How did you do that! I love that you used the sables! Such an awesome idea!
ReplyDeleteGlad you fessed up to using a sable cookie b/c I was gonna get all jealous about how your first picture kept some thickness to the cookie and were perfectly round. Great perseverance!
ReplyDelete-CB
http://iheartfood4thought.com
I'm glad you were able to find a way to enjoy them! And in all honesty, I don't think the "bad" ones look bad at all!!! :)
ReplyDeleteLike the sable ones much better than the lumpy oatmealy ones. Great save attempt there Mary.
ReplyDeleteJudy
I thought that looked like a sable! Wow Mary, you may have to send in your revised version of this recipe because those cookies are drop dead gorgeous.
ReplyDeletegreat idea! the sable texture would be lovely with a ddl filling...yum!
ReplyDeletemmm sables. :) I bet they were just as good with this batter instead.
ReplyDeleteActually, mine don't look nice, but they're yummy. Sorry you didn't like the way they looked! :)
ReplyDeleteOoh, you get points for creativity. Those sure are pretty!
ReplyDeletethese are pretty! So nice and thick and round. Am trying to imagine what these would taste like as sables...hmm.
ReplyDeleteI know the recipe said they would be "cakey," but mine had more of the consistency of a chocolate chip cookie. Maybe I baked them too long?
I was wondering ... You should try alfajores they are more cookie like and don't spread !!
ReplyDeleteI like the cakey cookies with the dulce de leche but a nice buttery one would be good too! I was also afraid it would be too sweet with all the sugars, but mine turned out surprisingly not very sweet at all.
ReplyDeleteHoly moly! Those cookies look AMAZING! I am so craving caramel now.
ReplyDeleteWow.. I guess I have to rethink and do a redo... because like you love DLL, but i just could not get it pass how sweet these cookies were. So back to the drawing board with your tips.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are beautiful
Oh man I came to see your golf ball cookies! No fair! These look lovely all those versions and not a golf ball in sight!
ReplyDeleteGreat looking cookies, both of them! :)
ReplyDeleteOK, your revised cookies are much prettier than the originals. I bet the dulce de leche was delicious with the sables!
ReplyDeleteOh, sables were a great idea; they look wonderful. The originals were not the most fun dessert to photograph.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I mentioned in mine that I thought the cookies were going to be more shortbread like and was bummed it wasn't. I played around with the dough, too. Your sables look de-lish!
ReplyDeleteSee, I loved the chewy aspect of these. Ugly cookies are still delicious. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThey look amazingly delicious!!!
ReplyDeleteThe sables look perfect! I definitely thought these cookies looked more "rustic" but I'm ok with that as long as they taste good :)
ReplyDeleteGood job on your cookies! They look so good, I think I would love the sablees too.
ReplyDeleteI was suspicious of the fact there was no picture. It also made it hard to really imagine what they were suppose to look like. I got the feeling that what I produced was not what Dorie had! But I agree that the caramel sandwich idea is a good one and as you showed with a different type of cookie.
ReplyDeleteTh powdered sugar makes them even prettier! I had to do a rewind this week, didn't have the ingredients. Still want to make them though!
ReplyDeletelove the sable idea. :) and dang, i need to make ddl from scratch!
ReplyDeleteI guess I just like lots of sweetness cause I liked this cookie. Actually, I remember Dorie said hers were a little cake-like. Mine were crispy on the outside and a little softer inside.
ReplyDeleteI think your cookies look perfectly fine! These weren't meant to be pretty decorated ones - kind of homey.
I am so glad you stopped by my place and left your comment. I have been by to visit you many times and always enjoy your posts!
Kindly, ldh
Oooh wow these look delicious, the dulce de leche oozing out looks so tastyyy!
ReplyDeleteGreat cookies!! Even if you didn't use the original recipe ;)
ReplyDeleteIf at first you don't succeed. Love the pate sablee idea. They look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteYour sables look fantastic! I definitely thought these cookies were super sweet, so you totally had the right intent in reducing the sugar...I may be following your lead.
ReplyDelete