Orange Sugar Cookie Sandwiches With Chocolate Rum Ganache Food

HOT CHOCOLATE SUGAR COOKIE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Process the sugar in a food processor until finely ground. Add the flour, hot chocolate mix, salt and baking powder, and pulse just to combine. Add the butter, and pulse until it is all incorporated into the flour and the mixture has a sandy texture. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until the mixture comes together in big clumps.
• Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface, and knead a few times to form a ball. Divide the dough in half, and roll each half into a log about 8 by 1 1/2 inches. Roll each log up in a piece of parchment, and tightly twist the ends. Freeze until firm, about 2 hours up to 1 month.
• Position oven racks in the top and lower thirds of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cut 1 log into 1/4-inch-thick slices (you should get about 24). Arrange 12 slices on each prepared baking sheet, and bake until the cookies lose their sheen and stay together when lifted with a metal spatula, about 12 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet until firm enough to transfer to a rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining log of dough.
• Arrange 24 of the cookies, bottom-side up, on a baking sheet. Put a marshmallow half in the center of each. Bake until the marshmallows puff up and are hot. Gently press 1 of the remaining 24 cookies on top of each marshmallow to form sandwiches. Let the marshmallow centers cool while the cookies are on the baking sheet.
• Microwave the chocolate and honey in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until completely smooth. Use the back of a spoon or a small offset spatula to spread some of the icing on top of each sandwich. Store for up to 2 days at room temperature in an airtight container.

GANACHE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small pot until hot, then pour over the chocolate. Let sit for a few minutes. Whisk until blended and smooth.

ORANGE SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), mix the butter, orange zest and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and salt and mix. Add the sifted flour and mix until smooth. Refrigerate 30 minutes. On ungreased cookie sheets, working in batches if necessary, drop level teaspoons of the chilled dough 2 1/2 inches apart. One by one, pick up the dough balls, roll into a smooth ball, and replace on the cookie sheet. Spread about 3 tablespoons of confectioners' sugar on a plate. Dip the bottom of a drinking glass into the sugar and use it to press the dough balls flat, into 1 1/4-inch circles. Repeatedly dip the glass into the sugar as needed to keep the bottom dry and coated. Bake until golden brown around the edges, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheets for 2 minutes. Transfer to wire racks and let cool completely.
• To assemble the cookies, liberally spread half of the orange cookies with cocoa filling, keeping the filling a little bit away from the edges. Cover with a plain cookie and press together gently to create a sandwich. Store in an airtight container.
• Filling: In a small bowl, mix the cocoa and sugar. In a saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the cocoa mixture and the cream and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 3 minutes. Set aside to cool; the mixture will thicken as it cools.

ORANGE SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Beat in the orange juice concentrate, zest and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in food coloring. (Dough will be soft.), Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 3 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Flatten slightly with a glass dipped in confectioners' sugar., Bake at 400° for 6-9 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove to wire racks to cool completely., For filling, in a small bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Add orange juice concentrate and zest., Spread filling on the bottoms of half of the cookies; top with remaining cookies. Store in the refrigerator.

SANDWICH COOKIES WITH CHOCOLATE GANACHE FILLING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Cut dough in half; roll out both halves to an even 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out cookies with a round 1-inch cookie cutter, rerolling scraps to get 72 cookies. Coat 2 cookie sheets with cooking spray; place cookies on sheets 1 inch apart and bake 1 batch at a time until firm, 3 to 5 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Simmer chocolate chips and half-and-half in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring once or twice, until chocolate melts and is smooth, 1 to 2 minutes; remove from heat. Let cool 1 minute. Spread 1/2 teaspoon chocolate ganache on a cookie; press a second cookie on top to form a sandwich. Repeat with remaining cookies and ganache.