Salted Caramel Sugar Cookies

INGREDIENTS

2/3 cup

white sugar, plus 3 tablespoons for pressing cookie dough balls

1/3 cup

powdered sugar

1/2 cup

unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/3 cup

vegetable oil

2 tsp

pure vanilla extract

large egg

1 tbsp

heavy whipping cream

3 cups

all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp

baking soda

1/2 tsp

cream of tartar

1/2 tsp

salt

1/2 cup

unsalted butter, at room temperature

package (8 ounces) full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature (do not use low fat)

1/2 tsp

vanilla bean paste (or use 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract)

1/8 tsp

fine sea salt

1/4 tsp

ground cinnamon

3 cups

powdered sugar

bags (5 ounces EACH) soft caramel squares, unwrapped (I highly recommend Werther's Original SOFT caramels for these cookies)

1/3 cup

heavy whipping cream

Sea salt, for topping