Alfajores - Chilean Dulce de Leche Cookies

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1. 1Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two cookie sheets with parchment paper or spray with Pam.
2. 2Step 2: Put the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl and mix on medium for two minutes, until fluffy.
3. 3Step 3: While the sugar and butter are mixing, measure the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl and set aside.
4. 4Step 4: Add the eggs to the butter and sugar one at a time and mix until well combined.
5. 5Step 5: Alternate adding a bit of the flour mixture with the liquids - the milk, orange juice, and vanilla. Use a spatula to scrape the sides and bottom to ensure you are mixing it all in. Mix for a full 2 minutes. The dough will seem a little runny and that is how it's supposed to be.
6. 6Step 6: Using a 1 1/2 inch cookie scoop, scoop the cookies onto the cookie sheet (5 across, 3 up and down). Put in the oven and bake 12-14 minutes. While that is baking, scoop cookies onto the other sheet.
7. 7Step 7: Open the dulce de leche cans and add to a small bowl. Mix in the cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg if you desire. They are good with and without, so it is your preference.
8. 8Step 8: Once the cookies have baked, remove from oven and allow them to sit on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes before moving them to cooling racks. Add more dough and alternate baking through on the two cookie sheets until you have baked all the dough, about 4-5 times. It will seem like a lot of cookies, but you need two cookies per Alfajor.
9. 9Step 9: Once they have cooled, spread a good amount of dulce de leche or jam over the bottom of one cookie. Add another cookie on top to complete the sandwich. Lay on the cookie sheet or a plate, put a small amount of powdered sugar in a mesh strainer and lightly tap with your hand to dust the top of the cookies.