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Dear My Bank,
We’ve known each other for a long time. You know how I deposit my humble paychecks every so often, how I rarely use the ATM, and how I hate to use my debit card at the gas station. I know that you like to decorate with bullet-proof glass… guns, I get it… have pens that don’t always work, and always want me to sign up for your credit card. As much as I hate to admit it, we sort of have a thing going.
Let’s be honest Bank. We’re not friends. We don’t even really like each other very much. I know that you have rules. You know… if you’re being honest with yourself, that I do my very best to follow your rules. And I do… Bank…..! Unless, I suppose, I just forget to add one payment to my balance books, leading me to believe I have several hundred dollars in you, Bank… instead of less than zero.
Here’s my beef with you… Bank! Jerky bank. When you penalize me several times in a row for spending money that I thought I had, well… that doesn’t get me any closer to having the money that you’d like to take. How on Earth did you determine that $33 was an acceptable overdraft charge? Why are you allowed to take money that I don’t have? You know what I think? I think you’re taking advantage of my mistake. You know me, Bank. You know that I don’t like to spend money I don’t have… and when I do… accidentally… you use that as an opportunity to take advantage of me.
That’s reeeeeaal crappy.
Nobody likes you. I’ve done the research. It’s true.
Nobody will ever… not even once… make you cookies just because you’re nice. Why? Because you’re not nice.
Now you know.
Love,
Joy
These cookies inspired a delicious wave of selfishness. I did not want to share. Certainly not with my jerky bank… but not with anyone else either.
The wafer cookies are deep dark chocolate with a saltiness that demands that you devour at least three sandwich cookies in one sitting. They dough does not need any rest of refrigeration and goes straight from the mixer onto the table to be rolled.
The espresso filling adds just the right complexity to the cookie. It’s sweet, with just a hint of bitter. Divine with the chocolate wafers.
Hands down, the best darn cookie I’ve made in a long time. Dreamy good. Do it. Make ’em!
Chocolate Espresso Sandwich Cookies
Don’t have espresso powder? Feel free to skip it, and just make these cookies without. You’ll have what looks like homemade Oreos!
adapted from The Essence of Chocolate
makes about 3 dozen sandwich cookies
For the Filling:
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
heaping 1/4 teaspoon instant espresso powder
For the Cookies:
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cup plus 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup plus 1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon instant espresso powder
15 Tablespoons (7 1/2 ounces) unsalted butter, but into 3/4-inch cubes, at room temperature
For the Filling:
In a small saucepan, bring the cream to boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat and add the white chocolate and espresso powder. Make sure all the chocolate is covered by the cream. Let stand for 1 minute, then whisk the white chocolate until completely melted.
Transfer the filling to a small bowl and let stand until room temperature. You’ll need the filling thicker to assemble the cookies, so cover the filling and place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or an hour, until a thick consistency is reached. If the filling hardens too much, it can be rewarmed in the microwave for a few seconds.
For the Cookies:
Position the racks in the lower and upper thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt and espresso powder and mix on low speed. With the mixer running, add the butter a few pieces at a time. The mixture will have a sandy texture at first and then will begin to form peddle-size pieces. As soon as the dough starts to come together, stop the mixer.
Form and roll the dough straight from the mixer. The dough becomes hard to work with if chilled.
Transfer the dough to a board and use the heel of your hand or a pastry scraper to shape the dough into a block about 5 by 7 inches. Cut the block into two pieces.
One at a time, roll each block of dough between two pieces of lightly floured parchment paper until about 1/8-inch thick. Using a cookie cutter, cut into 2 inch rounds. Place 1/2 to 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. You can form and roll the dough scraps once after the first roll.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through the baking. Remove from the oven and cool on the sheets for 2 to 5 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and let cool completely.
To Assemble the Cookies:
Place half of the cookies upside down on a work surface. Whip the filling lightly with a whisk to loosen it. It will lighten in color and fluff up. Don’t overwhip or the filling may begin to separate.
Transfer the filling to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain tip. I just scooped my filling out by the scant teaspoonful. Pipe or dollop one teaspoon of filling in the center of each upside down cookie. Gently, using your fingers, press the cookies together until the filling comes just to the edges.
The cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Sophie
I just made these cookies (YUM!) and found that the filling needed thickening up, so I was about to grab my powdered sugar when – NONE LEFT! I panicked, but then reasoned with myself, grabbed some caster sugar and my electric spice grinder and made my very own powdered sugar! It totally works! But then, during my glee, I dropped a bunch of bananas over the cookies on the cooling rack. Karma. So essentially, Joy – thank you for providing me with: these great cookies, the knowledge that one can make powdered sugar at home, and yet another insight into my clumsiness. It’s been a learning curve.
Kelly
Hi Joy. I’ve had this recipe tagged forEVER. (okay… only since you posted it.) I’m thinking of using the cookie part for an ice cream sandwich. but I want a cookie taht is nice and soft (more cakelike). Is this cookie super crunchy? is it going to smush my ice cream out the sides when I bite into it? PS. I [super heart] your blog. and you.
joythebaker
I’m afraid these are more crunchy than cakey but would work if the whole sandwich were refrozen to get hard before eating.
Beth
this blog is amazing!!! i have been printing out recipes all week and trying to make as many as i can!! the oatmeal apple cinnamon cookies are to die for! i made these today, except instead of the espresso filling (which sounds absolutely delicious to me, but not to my friend for whom this was a bday present) i used the peanut butter filling from your other recipe https://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2009/10/laurens-peanut-butter-sandwich-cookies/ and they were AMAZING. the only thing better than chocolate and coffee is chocolate and peanut butter. i definitely recommend them!!!! thanks so much for all your wonderful recipes!
i think i’ll go for a 5 mile run now….