If you're the type of person who likes baking (*cough* ... me), you'll probably agree that winter is the most ideal time to practice your cookie skills. There's nothing I don't love about it: standing by a warm oven, cutting out fun shapes, and eating fresh cookies. Plus, if I'm making sandwich cookies, then I frequently get to "taste test" the frosting.
It's also the time when all of those classic holiday flavor pairings are just right to use. My favorite has to be the chocolate-mint combo, so of course this is immediately where I went with these easy chocolate cut-out cookies.
The dough I used is an ultra simple, cocoa-based recipe, which is a snap to make. For added depth (since cocoa sometimes lacks that deep chocolate flavor), I threw some ground espresso beans into the dough — it's just a touch, and you can leave it out if it's not your thing, but the espresso really helps bring out the chocolate.
Be warned that this is quite a soft dough and thus requires a bit of chilling before you roll it out. Believe me when I say that soft cookie dough is extremely frustrating to work with when you get fancily shaped cookie cutters involved. You can also use Christine's favorite cookie trick and roll out the dough between parchment and then chill it.
My mum has quite a few random Christmas-themed cookie cutters: a Santa, two different fir trees, a few stars, and a massive reindeer cutter. I tested which ones worked well with the dough and ended up with some stars and a few Christmas trees. From previous experiences, I was expecting that the detail from the cutters would disappear once the dough was baked, but I was wrong! It stayed on the cookies, so they didn't require any extra piping work for decoration. All I had to do was smear on some frosty peppermint buttercream and they were ready to go — straight into my mouth!
Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies
Makes 12 to 20 sandwich cookies (depending on cutter size)
For the cookies (adapted from Hershey's):
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dark cocoa powder
1 tablespoon ground espresso beans (optional)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
For the buttercream:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 to 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 cups powdered sugar
2 to 4 tablespoons milk
Beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla in large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the egg and egg yolk and beat for 3 minutes. Add the flour, cocoa, ground espresso beans, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and beat until there is no more visible flour and a soft, dark dough comes together. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and make sure the dough is fully mixed.
Pat the dough out in a long rectangle, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour. (Alternatively, roll between wax paper and chill 30 minutes before cutting out the cookies.)
Heat the oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a non-stick baking mat.
Unwrap the chilled dough and place onto a large piece of wax paper. Cover with another piece of waxed paper and roll out with a rolling pin to 1/4-inch thick. Remove the top piece of waxed paper and cut out shapes with a sharp cookie cutter. Transfer the cookies onto the baking sheet sheet (I like to use a metal spatula for this). Re-roll scraps as needed, chilling the dough if it seems too soft and is sticking to the paper too much.
Bake the cut cookies for 5 to 8 minutes, depending on their size, or until no indentation remains when touched. Let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes to firm up, then transfer to a wire rack. Let cool completely before making sandwiches.
While the cookies cool, make the buttercream. In a large bowl, beat the butter together with 1/2 teaspoon of the peppermint extract until pale. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar, adding splashes of milk as you go until you've incorporated all of the powdered sugar and have a thick, spreadable frosting. Taste the buttercream and add more peppermint extract if needed.
Spread the buttercream onto half of the cookies; the amount you'll need will vary depending on the size of the cookie cutter you used. Top with the remaining cookies and store in an airtight container.
(Image credits: Izy Hossack)
via Recipe | The Kitchn http://ift.tt/1AFes1e
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