Vanilla and Mocha Cookie Sandwiches
Okay, so look. I know what you’re thinking. What is the point in taking the time and effort to make your own sandwich cookies when there is a big name brand company that pretty much has the monopoly on sandwich cookies, and have gone out of their way to mass produce just about every possible flavor known to man and tried to jam it into a sandwich cookie you can run to the store and just buy?
I can think of several reasons.
First, when it comes to store-bought sandwich cookies, I feel like it’s a real hit or miss situation–there isn’t much space for ambiguity. They’re either really really good, or really bad. Both the cookie and the filling has to be right and that’s a harder thing to accomplish than you might think. That huge company has put out a LOT of different flavors of sandwich cookies, but in my opinion there are only a select few that have achieved that perfect sweet spot of delicious cookie and filling. The filling is where many mass produced sandwich cookies go terribly wrong–it either tastes too sweet, too artificial, or both.
I think that making your own sandwich cookies gives you the chance to correct the mistake of overly sweet and artificial filling, while also giving you the opportunity to get creative with your own taste buds and create something that you may not be able to find in stores. I’d be willing to bet that you’ll be able to pronounce every ingredient that’s in them.
And if none of the above are good enough reasons, then there’s always bragging rights–which, is more than enough for me.
I decided to make my own sandwich cookies, two ways. I knew going into it that I first wanted to make a perfect vanilla sandwich cookie. Most of the ones that are on the market now just don’t do it for me. (Yes, including the one from the huge name brand.) The cookie itself is usually okay, but that filling just kills it for me every time. I knew that what I was looking for was a cookie that was delicious enough all on its own, and a filling with a robust vanilla flavor and a smooth, non-pasty consistency.
The base is a butter cookie that I’ve made many times in the past. It’s quite simple, but you’d be surprised how the simply made baked goods will knock the fancy ones down from the pedestal. It has a buttery rich flavor and a tender crumb that melts in your mouth. For the filling I used a mixture of powdered sugar, butter, milk and vanilla. And listen guys. I want you to use REAL vanilla bean paste. I’m not above using extract but I insist that this time you go with the good stuff. You really can taste the difference and your taste buds will thank you for it.
The second flavor is where the coffee addict in me finessed its way into these cookie. I kept the same butter cookie for the base, but the filling gets a few teaspoons of instant espresso powder and liquid coffee in place of the vanilla and milk. Then, because coffee and chocolate flavors enhance one another, I decided to drizzle the top of the cookies with melted chocolate. What do you get when you combine coffee & chocolate? Mocha, that’s what. And there you have it.
I knew that these would be pretty good when I made them, but listen. They are REALLY good. They surpassed my expectations. They’re better than anything I’ve had from the store and I’m not trying to brag by saying that; I’m just being honest. I made these a while ago and I’m still giving myself a pat on the back for how they turned out, so if you’d like those kinds of bragging rights I’d suggest you give these a try yourself. Sharing at the Fiesta Friday #215, co-hosted by Laurena @ Life Diet Health and Alex @ Turks Who Eat.
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Vanilla & Mocha Cookie Sandwiches
Recipe Adapted from Genius Kitchen
Ingredients
For Cookies
- 2 cups unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 teaspoons vanilla bean paste, or 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large egg yolks
- 4 cups all purpose flour
For Vanilla Filling
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- At least 1/4 cup of milk, divided
For Coffee Filling
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
- At least 1/4 cup of your favorite flavor of coffee, divided
- Melted chocolate, optional
Directions
In a medium bowl combine the flour and salt together in a bowl and set aside. In the bowl of a standing mixer or using a handheld one, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the egg yolks one at a time, using a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla.
Gradually add the flour mixture in about 1 cup batches, stirring just until combined. (It may be a little dry and if so, you can add in a few tablespoons of milk at a time, just until it comes together.) Shape dough into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight,
Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Divide the dough into quarters, keeping the other 3 in the fridge while you work. Dust a clean surface (like wax paper or a pastry mat) with flour. Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Using a 2- to 2 ½-inch round cookie cutter, cut the dough into rounds and place on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart. Using a ¾- to 1-inch round cookie cutter, cut out the centers from half of the cookies. Reroll and cut the scraps as necessary. Note: Make sure you’re cutting a ‘top’ cookie and a ‘bottom’ cookie each time you stamp, just to make sure you have an even number of cookie sandwiches. Also, don’t throw away the centers: they make wonderful mini cookies.
Place the sheet pans in the freezer for around 10 minutes. Sprinkle the tops with white sugar. Bake in the oven on the middle rack for 14-16 minutes, until cookies are golden brown. Allow to cool on sheet pans for 60 seconds, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
For Fillings: In two separate bowls stir together the sugar, butter, and/or vanilla and/or espresso powder. Drizzle in the milk in the vanilla bowl 1 tablespoon at a time and the coffee in the other 1 tablespoon at a time until the filling reaches a smooth and desired consistency.
Divide the cookies in half (half for vanilla, half for coffee) Spread about a heaping 1/2 tablespoon of filling onto each bottom cookie (make sure the bottoms face up), then place on the tops (bottoms facing down). Gently press to make sandwiches. You may drizzle the coffee flavored sandwiches with melted chocolate if desired, then allow them to set for about 15 minutes until chocolate has hardened.
(Note: no one oven is the same, & different baking sheets bake cookies differently. Keeping this in mind, I will ALWAYS test bake one cookie before baking entire sheets of the whole batch, just to get a good idea of how long they should be in the oven and if I need to adjust the way I’ve cut, rolled them out, etc. I highly recommend that you do the same. )
Your pictures and recipes are so good that I crave to have what you make. I love Mocha flavor! Thanks for this recipe.
I so appreciate your saying that, thank you. I hope you can try these, they’re really worth the effort 🙂
Nice recipe. Very creative
Thanks Gloria!
Beautiful clicks and beautiful recipe …
Thank you!
These look sooo good. I’d love to eat one or ten! Looks like a lot of work with clean up. Can you mail me some? 😜
It’s really not that huge of a mess Joanne-I’m always willing to share 😉
These cookies are superb. A recipe to try!
Thank you! Please do try them and let me know how they turned out for you, I think you’ll really like them 🙂
You really should open up a restaurant! Always something delicious 🙂 These cookies are no exception. Yummy!
That is so kind of you to say Arlene, thank you I really appreciate it 🙂
I agree with all of these reasons to make your own cookies! The mocha flavor sounds like perfection, I think I’ll be making some cookies soon 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday!
The mocha is soooo good. I hope you like them! Thanks for stopping by and leaving the lovely compliment 🙂
Ooh yum! 😊 They look great, I love homemade biscuits, definitely so much better than shop bought you’re right! I’d probably make them with a chocolate filling, I’m not really a fan of coffee 🙂
Chocolate filling would still work great–thank you!
So cute! And it sounds delicious. I love mocha. I’m sure I’ll love these cookies. Thanks for the recipe!
You’re welcome Lizet, if you’re a mocha fan I guarantee you’ll love these. Thanks 😉
Another great cookie!! You must have the patience of a saint, you always do such a beautiful job. And btw, I think you went too easy on the store-bought cookies, although I have been known to buy a pack of mint milanos now and then. And fig newtons. (how OLD am I, lol:??!!) And on a whim, well, those oreo peeps. Which is kind of strange coz I don’t like oreos or peeps! I think it was morbid curiosity, lol!
I love that you did two different fillings!
I find the whole process very relaxing, or else I probably wouldn’t have enough patience to do it honestly lol (I only like ONE kind of Oreo: the Red Velvet ones. All the others I find…blegh. And I still love Fig Newtons very much.) Thanks Mollie!
Sounds like you’ve found your Zen in baking!
These look incredible! I’ve always been more of a scone/muffin person without much interest in cookies, but these really do look wonderful. I love the idea of adding vanilla bean. Thanks for sharing your recipe and such great pictures!