Chocolate Fudge Cookies with Candy Cane Buttercream

Can I just say how much I adore Sally’s blog?! Really, she is SO talented! She blogs over at Sally’s Baking Addiction and her posts are extremely well done. She is super personable! I love going to her site to see what she has been up to in her kitchen! After this post, trust me, you will want to go visit asap… after your done wiping the drool from your face ;-)

Hi Chef in Training readers! My name is Sally and I am the sprinkle-obsessed, peanut butter loving baker over at Sally’s Baking Addiction. I put potato chips in my cookies and Nutella in my pumpkin pie. Similar to Nikki’s repertoire, my recipe collection is full of classics reborn into something unique and creative. I favor no fuss, no hassle and easy recipes. Preferably ones that taste like I’ve slaved in the kitchen all day. :)

Nikki was so kind to ask me to share one of my favorite cookie recipes with you. It’s actually a recipe I’ve never shared with the world before, so I am twice as excited. What we have here today is a fudgy chocolate cookie sandwich stuffed with candy cane buttercream in the center. I am a complete fool for peppermint and chocolate together, especially during the holidays.

The cookies themselves are worth writing home about. They have cocoa powder, rich melted chocolate, and mini chocolate chips in the dough – a triple chocolate threat. The cookies are rich and dense, just like brownies. A chocoholics pure dream and the perfect “bread” for the candy cane buttercream. The best part is that the cookies remain soft – even the next day! The delightfully festive buttercream starts just as any basic vanilla buttercream does – butter, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and milk. Simply grind up some candy canes and sift the candy cane “dust” into the buttercream. The candy canes turn the buttercream into a charming light pink color- the perfect contrast to the dark chocolate cookies.

My intense fudgy cookies aren’t for the faint of heart and do require a few steps. For a short cut, try using my Devil’s Food Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies instead! You and your family are going to just love these cookie sandwiches this holiday season! I’m a tad obsessed with them. Be sure to check out more of my favorite cookie recipes. ;)

Chocolate Fudge Cookies
makes about 2 dozen sandwiches

  • 1 cup + 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped (I used 1 package Baker’s Semi Sweet chocolate)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 5 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Candy Cane Buttercream

  • 3/4 cup (1.5) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 2.5 – 3 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar, SIFTED
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1-2 Tablespoons heavy cream or milk
  • 1/2 cup candy cane dust, SIFTED (about 8-10 candy canes pulverized in a food processor)
  • crushed candy canes for rolling, optional

Begin with the cookies.

Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Melt the chocolate in the microwave for about 1 minute. Stir. Continue to melt in 30 second increments until fully melted and smooth. Set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk the eggs and vanilla. Set aside.
With an electric or stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat the butter until smooth and creamy – about 1 minute. Beat in the sugars, scraping down the sides every 10 seconds or so. The mixture will be granular.
Mix in the beaten egg/vanilla until incorporated.
Add the chocolate in a steady stream and beat until combined.
Add the dry ingredients on slow speed.
Fold in the mini chocolate chips. Do not overmix at any point in this process.
Chill dough for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Scoop about 1 Tbsp of dough and roll into a slightly flattened ball.
Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the cookies have just begun to set with the centers still appearing very soft. They will firm up as they cool.

 

As the cookies cool, make the buttercream.

Beat the butter for 1 minute with the paddle attachment on medium speed.
Add 2.5 cups of sifted powdered sugar and slowly mix on low speed.
Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract, salt, and 1 Tablespoon of cream/milk. Beat for about 1 minute.
Manually stir in candy cane dust.
If your buttercream needs to be thicker, add more powdered sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add remaining milk/cream. If frosting is too sweet, add a pinch of salt.
Frost the bottom end of a cooled cookie and top with another to make a sandwich.

Enjoy!

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For more tasty recipes, be sure and visit Sally’s Baking Addiction
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If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #chefintraining and/or #chefintrainingblog. I would love to see how these recipes take shape in your kitchens.

Filed under: cookies, dessert

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Comments

  1. sally @ sallys baking addiction

    Thank you for inviting me to the christmas cookie bananza Nikki!! And your opening line about me means a lot to me! I smiled reading it. I am so glad to have your blog for inspiration as well. :) :)

  2. Cindy

    Hi Nickki: How long can these be stored for in an air tight container in the fridge please?

    1. sally @ sallys baking addiction

      Hi Cindy! They can be stored chilled in an airtight container for up to 5 days - the frosting will get a little ahrd though after 2 days.

  3. Averie @ Averie Cooks

    Sally is such a sweet girl and wonderful friend and she makes amazing cookies. This challenge/series is RIGHT up her alley. These look great, Sally! Love the mint + chocolate combo!

  4. carrian

    Those are perfect for my kiddos! Cannot wait to make them!