Vanilla Sandwich Cookies Food

VANILLA-CHOCOLATE SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla; beat until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture in 2 batches, beating after each, until just incorporated. Divide the dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap; form into disks. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Make the filling: Bring the heavy cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour over the chocolate in a medium bowl and let stand 2 minutes; stir until smooth. Set aside.
• Working with 1 disk at a time, roll out the dough between floured sheets of parchment paper until about 1/8 inch thick; chill 15 minutes. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Cut out circles with a 2-inch cutter; transfer to the baking sheets. Gather the scraps and refrigerate until firm; reroll once to cut out more cookies. Chill the cutouts 30 minutes.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until just golden, about 12 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Briefly beat the filling with a mixer on medium-high speed until thick, 30 seconds. Chill until cold, about 1 hour. Sandwich between the cookies and roll the edges in sprinkles.

CHOCOLATE SANDWICH COOKIES WITH VANILLA CREAM FILLING

Steps:

• Set rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
• In a food processor or the bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. On low speed, add the butter, then the egg and vanilla. Process or beat until the dough is thoroughly blended and massed together.
• Drop rounded half teaspoons of batter onto a non-stick cookie sheet at 2-inch intervals. With moistened fingers, round out the cookies and flatten them a little. Bake for 8 minutes, turning once for even baking, until the cookies are set. Cool on the pan on a rack.
• To assemble the cookies, place 1/2 of the cookies, top side down on a flat surface. Scrape the cream filling into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch star tip. Pipe teaspoon sized rosettes of the filling on the tops of the cookies. Place the remaining cookies, top side up on top of the filling and lightly press to form sandwiches.
• Place the butter and shortening in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until combined. Gradually beat in the vanilla and confectioners' sugar at low speed until blended. Increase the speed to high and continue beating for 2 to 3 minutes until fluffy.;

CHOCOLATE SANDWICH COOKIES WITH VANILLA-CREAM FILLING

Steps:

• Set 2 racks in the middle and upper third of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees. In a food processor or the bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar. While pulsing or on low speed, add the butter, then the egg. Process or beat until the dough is thoroughly blended and massed together. Drop rounded teaspoons of batter onto nonstick or parchment-lined cookie sheets at 2-inch intervals. With moistened fingers, round out the cookies and flatten them a little. Bake for 9 minutes, turning the pans once for even baking, until the cookies are set. Set the cookie sheets on a rack to cool.
• Vanilla-Cream Filling: Put the butter and shortening in a mixing bowl and, at low speed, gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla, until blended. Turn the mixer up to high and beat for 2 or 3 minutes more, until fluffy.
• With a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch tip, pipe teaspoon size blobs of filling onto the tops of half the cookies. Keeping the smooth bottoms of the cookies facing up, flip the remaining cookies on top of the filling and lightly press to form sandwiches.

SPARKLING VANILLA SANDWICH COOKIE

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs and salt; mix to combine. Add evaporated milk, vanilla extract, and vanilla bean seeds, if using; mix to combine.
• Reduce speed to low; slowly add flour. Mix until just combined; do not overmix. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces and shape each piece into a disk. Cover tightly with plastic wrap. Transfer to refrigerator and chill until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with nonstick baking mats or parchment paper.
• Working with one disk at a time, form dough into 1-teaspoon-sized balls. Roll each ball in sanding sugar and place on prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Lightly dip the bottom of a drinking glass in flour and gently press down on ball to flatten slightly. Transfer baking sheets to oven and bake until puffy, but still soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly on baking sheets before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Using a small offset spatula, carefully spread about 1 teaspoon filling on the flat side of one cookie; top with another cookie to make a sandwich. Repeat process with remaining filling and cookies.