Chocolate Orange Sandwich Cookies
These chocolate sandwich cookies are like Oreos with a twist! A tart drop of orange marmalade is nestled within the sweet vanilla crème filling. It’s a citrusy surprise that complements the deep chocolate cookie so beautifully.
I had the best of intentions when it came to following up my favorite decorated cookie recipe from earlier this week.
I wanted to show you my royal icing recipe next, and give a few basics on decorating with that. But guys, I just couldn’t get up the gumption. I just don’t know if I have decorated cookies in me this year. Maybe I O.D.’ed on them last year. Or maybe, I just figured there are about a bazillion royal icing tutorials out there. Or maybe this just isn’t the week for it. Maybe I’ll get a wild hair to decorate next week. Who knows?
What I can tell you is, that I’ve been itching to try my hand at homemade Oreos for months now. I’ve seen lots of other bloggers do it, and they’re gorgeously rendered in one of my favorite books right now, the Bouchon Bakery Cookbook.
I knew the Simply Perfect Chocolate Sugar Cookies would work beautifully, and I wanted to experiment with the filling part.
One thing I feel strongly about, when it comes to sandwich cookies, is that the texture of the filling should not be too soft.
Can we just pause for one second and reflect upon the fact that this is something “I feel strongly about”? Perhaps I should seek professional help.
Anyway, what I mean is, I don’t want to bite into a firm cookie and have the soft filling come oozing out the sides. I want the filling to be able to stand up to the cookie. Like, well, an actual Oreo!
So, I pinned this recipe, which is not for Oreo filling at all, but I thought it sounded like it might make a reasonable facsimile.
Guess what? It worked. 😉
I love when that happens. Of course, I left out the peppermint (although I’m sure that’d be fabulous too), and added in my favorite vanilla bean paste.
Don’t be scared of the cream cheese. I promise you can’t taste it at all. It’s really just a vehicle for the powdered sugar, and I prefer to use it over shortening, which is something I’ve seen in a lot of other recipes.
This filling is sweet and vanilla-y, and it’s a dead ringer for the real-deal Oreo crème. It balances well against the deep, intense flavor of the not-so-sweet chocolate cookie, but still, I was left wanting something more. I love to combine chocolate with fruit, and at this time of year, oranges seem especially appropriate.
A little dollop of orange marmalade provides such a lovely, bitter-tart contrast to the rich chocolate and sweet vanilla crème. You’ll want to press a little well into the crème, and fill it with marmalade, thumbprint style. I used a quarter teaspoon measure to make a little marmalade nest.
If you really want to take them over the top, a drizzle of melted dark chocolate does the trick!
This is just one of many ways to spiff up the Simply Perfect Chocolate Sugar Cookies. They make a really nice homemade gift, and they present beautifully on a cookie tray. Your loved ones will love that hit of citrusy pop hiding inside! It’s such a fun surprise and a really great way to dress up the old favorite chocolate sandwich cookie.
Happy Holiday Baking!
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Chocolate Orange Sandwich Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar, (approx.)
- 2 ounces (56.7 g) cream cheese, (I used reduced fat)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, (extract can be substituted)
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup (80 g) orange marmalade, (approx.)
- 1 batch Simply Perfect Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- melted semisweet chocolate,, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the powdered sugar, cream cheese, vanilla bean paste, and salt in the bowl of a mixer, mixing on low speed until the mixture resembles a stiff dough. (You may need to add a little more or less powdered sugar to get the proper consistency.)
- Scoop about ½ teaspoon of filling, and roll between palms to form a ball. Place on the bottom side of one chocolate sugar cookie.
- Using the back of a ¼ teaspoon measure, press a deep well in the center of the filling.
- Drop about ¼ teaspoon of orange marmalade into the well, and sandwich another cookie on top, pressing gently but taking care not to crack either cookie.
- Drizzle with melted chocolate, if desired.
Hello, I made these cookies a lot and have some leftover. Can I store them outside of the fridge? I’m from hot and humid country and my concern is the cream cheese filling. Is it okay to store them in airtight container which is cool and dry?. Please help as this is my family favourite cookies.
Hi there! You can keep them in an airtight container, in a cool, dry place. Just know that over time, the moisture from the filling might start to get into the cookies and make them a little softer. Glad you’re enjoying the recipe!