Vanilla Bean Baci

1. In a large bowl beat the 1 cup butter, confectioners’ sugar, and the salt until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla bean paste. Stir in the flour until smooth and well blended. Cover and refrigerate the dough until firm, about 1 hour.

2. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Have ready 2 baking sheets.

3, Roll teaspoonfuls of the dough into balls and arrange on the baking sheets.

4. Bake the cookies until firm but not browned, 10-12 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

5. While the cookies are cooking, combine the chocolate and the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the top pan of a double boiler or in a heatproof bowl. Set over simmering water and heat until the chocolate softens. Remove from the heat and stir until the chocolate is smooth. Let cool slightly.

6. Using a butter knife, spread a small amount of the chocolate on the bottom of a cookie. Place the bottom of a second cookie on the chocolate and press together. Repeat with the remaining cookies. Let cool on the wire racks until the filling is set.