Chai Caramel Sandwich Cookies

This is a continuation of Hallie's and my happy little foray into tea-infused sugar cookies. I suggested that we try chai and Hallie threw in the caramel idea. And hoo boy, you have no idea how beautifully these turned out. Not too sweet, with a shortbread-like texture and an exciting, comforting zing of chai spices. These are perfect for filling your cookie jar, for an afternoon snack or, heck, for filling up with caramel and snarfing down like there's no tomorrow.

Honestly, the cookies are scrumptious enough by themselves that you don't necessarily have to bust out the caramel if you don't feel like doing the extra steps. Our caramel came out a bit too hard for my liking (we've corrected the recipe to account for this) but if for some reason it burns or things go totally wrong then you can comfort yourself with the knowledge that a) it happens to the best of us and b) you've still got yourself a batch of delightful little spicy-sweet cookies to eat with your tea.

Chai Caramel Sandwich Cookies
Cookies
1 stick butter
1 1/2 tbs chai
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
pinch salt

Caramel
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbs butter
1/4 cup cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter in a bowl or with a mixer, then mix in the chai, sugar, vanilla, flour and salt. Turn out dough onto a counter and roll out to about 1/4 in thick. Take a cookie cutter and cut the cookies in little circles. Transfer to a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet and bake for roughly 8-10 minutes. Remove and let cool completely.

Meanwhile, make caramel sauce. Pour sugar into heavy saucepan and add enough water that it becomes a bit grainy (see photo above). Cook on high heat, using a wet brush to wash the sugar off along the sides of the saucepan. Bring to a boil, add a bit more water (2 T) if necessary. Continue to cook until it has achieved a dark amber color. Remove from heat, add butter and stir to incorporate. Add a pinch of salt and 1/4 cup cream. Cook again on medium heat until all is well incorporated, no more than 5 minutes (or else the caramel will be too hard). Put about a teaspoon between two cookies and gently press together to create a cookie. Enjoy!