Salted Caramel-Stuffed Snickerdoodles

ngredients

1 can (13.4 oz) dulce de leche (caramelized
    sweetened condensed milk)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose or unbleached flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Method

1. Line cookie sheet with waxed paper or foil. Spoon 40 slightly less than level measuring teaspoonsful dulce de leche onto cookie sheet. Freeze about 1 hour or until slightly firm (will not freeze solid).
2. Heat oven to 400°F. In large bowl, mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, the butter, shortening and eggs. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
3. Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Press thumb into center of each cookie to make deep indentation, but do not press all the way to cookie sheet. Place 1 dollop of the dulce de leche into center of each cookie, making sure to form dough around dollop to enclose. If necessary, work with lightly floured fingers so dough doesn’t stick. You may have to return dulce de leche dollops to freezer if they become too warm to work with.
4. Mix 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the cinnamon. Roll balls in sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set (centers will be soft). Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.