Sprinkle Star Sandwich Food

LINZER STAR SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• For the cookie batter: In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip the butter until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and continue mixing until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, 5 to 8 minutes.
• In another bowl, combine and mix the flour, almonds, cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Mix and roll the cookies: Because this dough has a good amount of butter, it needs resting time and it needs to be rolled fairly quickly. Lay three large pieces of wax paper in a single layer on a flat surface. Sprinkle each one with a light coating of flour. Remove the bowl from the mixer and, using a rubber spatula, blend the flour mixture in with the butter. When the ingredients are fully integrated, place one third of the batter on each of the pieces of wax paper. Coat with another light layer of flour and top with another piece of wax paper of the same length to make three dough "sandwiches." Press these wax-paper-and-dough-sandwiches down with your hands until the dough is fairly thin. This will save a lot of time on rolling later on. Place two of them in the refrigerator and work with them one at a time. Roll the first batch into as neat a shape as possible. What matters most is avoiding creases or cracks and getting it to about 1/8 inch in thickness. When the first is rolled, refrigerate it and repeat the same process for the other two. Let them chill at least 10 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Make the cookie bottoms: Remove the first rolled sheet from the refrigerator and cut as many 1 1/2-inch stars (or rounds) as you can. Reserve the scraps in the refrigerator. Arrange the stars neatly in a single layer on a greased baking sheet. Repeat with the other two sheets, reserving any scraps.
• Make the cookie tops: Cut a star, with the smaller cutter, out of the center of half of all the cookies. Roll the scraps in between two of the pieces of wax paper and cut additional stars, if desired.
• Bake and assemble the cookie sandwiches: Bake the cookies until they are lightly brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove the trays from the oven and allow them to cool slightly on the trays for a few minutes before gently transferring them to a flat surface. P
• Place the raspberry jam in a small pot and bring it to a light simmer. Remove from the heat to cool slightly. Spoon 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon raspberry jam on each bottom and place a top star squarely on each. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

ICE CREAM SANDWICH STARS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place in the freezer. Working quickly and with one pint at a time, turn each pint of ice cream on its side and cut off the cardboard container. Starting with the wide end, slice off three or four 1/2-inch-thick rounds from each pint. Cut out stars from the ice cream using a 3 1/4-inch star-shaped cookie cutter, transferring the cutouts to the baking sheet in the freezer as you go. Freeze until solid, about 2 hours. (Transfer the ice cream trimmings to a resealable container and reserve for another use.)
• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven; preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter a rimmed 13-by-18-inch baking sheet and line with parchment paper; butter the parchment, dust with flour and tap out the excess.
• Stir the vanilla and red gel food coloring into the milk in a liquid measuring cup. Whisk the flour, malted milk powder, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a medium bowl. Beat the butter, shortening, granulated sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on low speed until combined. Increase the mixer speed to medium high and beat until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, and beat, scraping down the bowl as needed, until just combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the flour mixture, then gradually beat in the milk mixture. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until smooth.
• Spread the batter in the prepared pan and sprinkle with nonpareils. Bake on the upper oven rack until just set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan, then loosen the edges with a paring knife and turn out onto a cutting board; discard the parchment paper. Cut out 20 stars as close together as possible using the same star-shaped cookie cutter. Sandwich the ice cream between the cookies, pressing gently to adhere. Freeze until firm, 1 to 2 hours.

CONFETTI SNICKERDOODLE SPRINKLE ICE CREAM SANDWICHES

Steps:

• For the cookie dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar and salt on medium-high until it's light and fluffy.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cream of tartar and baking soda.
• Add the egg white and half of the flour mixture to the stand mixer and slightly combine on low speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and combine on low speed, then add the remaining flour mixture and mix for 10 more seconds. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and gently stir with a spatula until well combined and a nice dough forms.
• Add the sprinkles and stir for a few more seconds to incorporate, but be careful not to mix too long or you will crush the sprinkles. Transfer the dough to a medium bowl, then refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cover 2 sheet pans with parchment.
• For the cinnamon sugar: Combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Roll the chilled dough into 1- to 2-inch balls, then roll the balls in the cinnamon sugar, completely coating them. Arrange the coated balls on the sheet pans about 3 inches apart so the cookies can spread without running into each other. Gently flatten the tops of each cookie with your fingers.
• Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until the cookies start to brown. Cool the cookies on a wire rack. Once cooled, stick the cookies in the freezer for an hour.
• To assemble the cookie sandwiches, scoop the ice cream of your choice and place it on the flat side of a cookie, then sandwich the top cookie on top. Smush it until the ice cream is level with the edge of the cookies. Clean up the edges of the ice cream with an offset spatula so that they are flat.
• Next, get a bowl that is big enough to fit the whole sandwich into it and fill it with chopped toasted nuts, mini chocolate chips or sprinkles. Roll the edges of each cookie sandwich in the topping to coat.
• Eat immediately or put the sandwiches back in the freezer for 10 minutes to help the sprinkles stick, then wrap them in plastic wrap to share with friends!