Shortbread Dulce de Leche Ice Cream Sandwich

Ingredients:

For the Walnut Shortbread:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Dulce de Leche Ice Cream:

• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1-⅔ cup dulce de leche

For Assembly:

• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions:

Make the Shortbread:

1. Combine Dry Ingredients: Whisk together flour and salt in a large bowl. Stir in chopped walnuts.
2. Cream Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, cream together butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla extract.
3. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
4. Chill the Dough: Form the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
5. Roll and Cut: Roll out the dough to ¼ inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut into 3-inch rounds.
6. Chill and Bake: Place the cut-out cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, refrigerate for 15 minutes, then bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
7. Cool: Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack.

Make the Dulce de Leche Ice Cream:

1. Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine milk, heavy cream, salt, and dulce de leche.
2. Heat and Dissolve: Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the dulce de leche is dissolved.
3. Chill: Strain the mixture into a bowl and chill over an ice bath or in the refrigerator until cold.
4. Churn: Churn the chilled mixture in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
5. Freeze: Transfer the churned ice cream to a 9x13 inch baking pan, cover, and freeze for at least 4 hours.

Assemble the Sandwiches:

1. Cut Ice Cream: Use a cookie cutter to cut out rounds of frozen ice cream.
2. Sandwich: Place a scoop of ice cream between two shortbread cookies.
3. Seal and Coat: Press the cookies together gently and roll the edges in chopped walnuts.

Serve Immediately or wrap individually in plastic wrap and freeze for later.