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.
These oreo cookies that you made look absolutely delicious! And when you said “don’t be afraid of the cream cheese” – well, I think that anything with cream cheese just definitely tastes better! I am going to have to try this recipe out.
Also, I love your website – it has such a nice crisp layout and so many good tips and recipes!
Aw, thanks Katy! That is so great to hear! Thank you so much for reading and for the sweet comment. I hope you enjoy making (and eating!) the cookies <3
Ooh! I love orange and chocolate together and I always forget about it 🙂 These cookies are totally gorgeous Allie! Pinned and shared on Facebook 🙂
There’s so much chocolate + peppermint at this time of year, I often forget about it too! Just wanting to mix things up a bit 😉 So happy you liked, Trish, and thank you so much for sharing! xxoo
chocolate orange combo never fails! love these!
Thanks, Sarah & Arkadi! I know everybody loves peppermint with their chocolate right now (myself included!) but I think orange is equally seasonal and something a little different. So happy you agree! Thanks for reading 😉
love the chocolate orange combo. they look great!
Thanks, Dina, me too! <3
Oh Allie, these are such gorgeous cookies! The orange cream cheese filling sounds amazing and is such a perfect combination with chocolate. Love these and pinning, hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend:)
You too Kelly! Thanks so much for pinning, sweetie!
These are stunning! I could sure use a dozen of these stat and skipping over dinner!
Thanks, Chung-Ah! So happy you liked 🙂
Oh.My.Goodness! I am totally speechless! I am also at aw. Not only are these cookies gorgeous…but the way you put it all together is just amazing. Very decadent! (Love these two flavors together. Especially at this time of year!)
Me too, Gloria! I love orange and chocolate together, especially at this time of year. I’m so happy you liked the post so much, I had a lot of fun styling it with some new props I picked up during the week (yay!). Hugs!
Hi Allie…saw your post about the chocolate sugar cookies which I never considered. It has become a tradition to make cut-out sugar cookies with my girls at Christmas and then decorating them and giving them away. While sugar cookies are tasty, the idea of chocolate sugar cookies can’t be beat! Would you have a simple frosting that you recommend for decorating them? I often use the “painting” recipe of egg-white, water and food coloring….easy for my young kids to do and it is a pretty cool effect.
Hi Julie! I feel the same way, sugar cookies are nice, but chocolate always wins! I typically use royal icing for decorating. There are tons of great resources out there with recipes and tutorials, but some of my favorites are http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/, http://sweetopia.net/, http://bakeat350.blogspot.com/, and http://lizybbakes.blogspot.com/. Good luck and have fun! 😉
Chocolate and orange is such a lovely combination! I’m in cookie heaven with your creations dear Allie! Love love love your ideas!!!
xox Amy
Thank you Amy! You are always so sweet and supportive. Your comments make my day. Hope you’re having a fabulous weekend!
Hi Allie, these cookies look absolutely stunning ! I’ll really love it if you dropped by at my space and linked it to our party Tasty Tuesday. http://myniche-myspace.blogspot.com/2013/12/tasty-tuesday-39-now-in-ma-niche.html Hoping to see you soon. Love & hugs, Tanusree
I would love to link up at your party, Tanusree! Thank you so much for inviting me; I’ll head right over 😉
Hi Allie, these cookies look absolutely stunning !
Aw, thank you so much, Tanusree! I’m so happy you like the post, thanks for reading and for the sweet comment!
Allie, I love how you make all of my wildest dreams come true! Perfect combination of flavors and gorgeous, glorious photography!
Thank you Amy! I hope you’re enjoying the weekend, dear! xoxo
Oh wow wow wow, these are the loveliest cookies ever! I want to pin them 3284389 times 😉 I love that you added orange marmalade, I’m sure it imparts a wonderful flavor!
Have an awesome weekend 😀
You too, Consuelo! So happy you enjoyed the post; thanks for the sweet comment!
And here, I was expecting regular oreo’s, just homemade. I should have known you would have a delicious and creative twist up your sleeve! These turned out better than I could have ever imagined. I wish I could try a sample 🙂
Sorry, “Oreos” not “Oreo’s”…Friday brain!
Thanks Nora! You know I can never just leave well enough alone. It’s a sickness. 😉
Chocolate and orange!! A match made in Heaven 🙂 Pinned this!
Thanks Maureen! I know I love chocolate and orange together too. Especially at this time of year! Thanks for pinning and I’m so happy you liked 😀
Omgoodness these are SO PRETTY! And let’s be honest, cream cheese makes everything better (and trumps shortening, every time).
Thanks Katie! I agree, cream cheese is never a bad thing, in my book! Thanks for reading and for the sweet comment 😉