There are things I allow myself to buy… things like new jeans, the occasional pair of fancypants shoes, milk, butter, frozen yogurt and a bottle of chocolate syrup. Ok… to be honest, I allow myself to buy a lot of things.
There are things that I do not, under any circumstances, allow myself to buy: Oreos. Double Stuff Oreos. Yes, it may sound silly, but I am not allowed to buy Oreos. It’s a rule. In my brain. That makes it real.
Why the silly strict Oreo rule? About ten years back, when I was the all-knowing eighteen year old that brazenly moved out of my parents’ house and across the country, I realized that I had to find a way to feed myself. Not a problem. Just go to the grocery store, right? Suuure. I took myself to the grocery store and bought every single bit of junk food that my parents’ had (wisely) withheld from me for eighteen years. Chesee puffs, orange soda, fruit roll-ups and Oreos… sooo many Oreos. It turns out, a girl can live on Oreos alone…. for about a week… and then comes an epic Oreo hangover that is not to be forgotten.
So. Fine. No more Oreos.
No more store bought Oreos. Homemade Oreos with a touch of peppermint? That’s ok, right? Totally ok! Are you in? Heeeeck yes! It’s December. Let’s milk this chocolate and peppermint thing while we have the chance.
You might remember these cookies. I’ve made them before with an espresso filling. Delicious.
This time around I opted for a lightly pepperminted white chocolate filling. Combined with the salty, crunchy, chocolate cookie… divine.
Here are a few tips when making these cookies:
Don’t make the dough until you’re ready to use it. It does not need to be refrigerated. It goes straight from the mixing bowl to the counter to roll out.
Make sure the butter is at room temperature and cut into small chunks to mix into the dry ingredients… otherwise the cookies won’t bake up right. Weird but true.
When making the filling, Chop the chocolate as fine as you can. Even if you’re lazy like me… keep chopping. This will insure that all of the chocolate melts when the hot cream is poured over it. I don’t like lumps. I’m assuming that you don’t like lumps either.
To fill the cookies you can use either a pastry bag or a 1/2 teaspoon. Both work!
Homemade Peppermint Sandwich Cookies
adapted from The Essence of Chocolate
makes about 3 dozen cookies (mine batch came closer to two dozen for some reason)
For the Filling:
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract (depending on how strong you want it)
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
15 Tablespoons (7 1/2 ounces) unsalted butter, but into 3/4-inch cubes, at room temperature (this is important)
For the Filling:
In a small saucepan, bring the cream to boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat and add the finely chopped white chocolate and peppermint extract. Make sure all the chocolate is covered by the cream. Let stand for 1 minute (this is important), 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. It’s best if left at room temperature until the proper consistency is achieved. This meant leaving it out overnight for me.
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 and salt 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. Make sure all the butter is well incorporated. If there are large butter pockets, mix for a few seconds more.
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. They’ll be too soft to move straight from the oven. 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. You can just scooped the filling out by the half 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.
Nina Max
Dear Joy,
My 6 year old daughter just asked me if one day we could make homemade Oreos. Of course, I said of course. And, I told her, I knew just who would have a recipe for homemade Oreos, if anyone did. And you do!
Thanks Joy.
Ana
I was quite worried about my filling when I made these because I didn’t think it would ever be the right consistency, but after leaving it out overnight and then giving it a quick whisk…bingo! I really enjoyed these cookies. Thanks so much:)
Arpit
This one looks awesome.
Inverosimil
Joy, thanks for the recipe and all the tips. I made the cookies two days ago and they are just awesome. I don’t have a mixer either and preparing the dough was just a huge act of faith. I followed all the steps and the only way was to get dirty with my hands. It doesn’t seem to work but, just when I finished saying all the ugly words that I know in spanish and english… It worked! Next time: esspresso version.
Melissa
Joy, I am making these today for Valentine’s Day! The filling is good-to-go; but for the cookies.. I don’t have a stand mixer! Do you think creaming the butter and sugar, then adding the other ingredients will work? Also – do the cookies spread a lot when baking? Thanks!
joythebaker
hm… i think you should incorporate the ingredients as the instructions say… just by hand. you know? also… they don’t spread very much during baking. have a happy day!
Melissa
Thanks for the advice! It was tough to get the dough to come together so I had to get down and dirty with my hands. They turned out awesomely and I got rave reviews, including the request to make these monthly. :) You rock.
Rebecca in STL
For whatever reason I couldn’t get the dough to come together. I must have done something wrong. So I added an egg, and the dough still turned out fine. They taste SO superior to oreos, and hopefully they’ll make impressive gifts for my professors. Thanks!
Hannah at BakeFive
oh. my. goodness.
i’ve nothing more to say.
k.
my filling never got thicker than something like elmer’s… :(
Annice
Hey Joy,
Can you replace the butter with margarine?
kim
i just took these cookies out of the oven, although i am opting for plain filling due to some picky members of the household. i made the salted chocolate vanilla bean cookies earlier this week… thank you so much for all the great recipes and the pictures that make me want to make/eat them all!
kelly
oh sweet goodness, i need these in my life!
Maria
Hi Joy! I just got back from a trip halfway around the world but I must. Make. These. I’d just like to second the question above, does it matter if the cocoa is Dutch-process or not?
Courtney
Ok, so when I read recipes, I automatically veto anything requiring the use of parchment paper. Because that usually means it’s way to difficult for me. But, silly me, I didn’t read the recipe all they way through, I just looked at the pretty pictures.
We’ll, I substituted foil for parchment, and a tall glass for a rolling pin, and everything turned out spectacularly!
I waited until my trusty kitchen buddy was here to help and we made a double batch, one peppermint, one espresso. Both are overwhelmingly chocolaty, and require a glass of milk, but the filling is the absolute perfect compliment, and we had a ball making them :)
Katherine @ NightOwlChef
These look delicious! I think I will make these for a Christmas cookie exchange my girlfriends and I do every year. Thanks for the recipe!
The method is pretty cool – it’s like a pastry crust method, only with more sugar. And no egg, huh? Funky! I can’t wait to see how these turn out!
Jen
I made these yesterday, and they are AMAZING. By far the best cookies I’ve made in a long time! Thank you for such a rockin’ idea!
Ashley M. [at] (never home)maker
Hi, Joy!
So, I don’t know how it took me so long to stumble upon your blog . . . but I’m in love, no joke. I can’t wait to read more!!! And these chocolate peppermint sandwich cookies look amazing. I’ll be trying them out soon!
<3 Ashley M.
Jess
Wow, these look amazing. I am putting these on the Christmas-baking list For Sure!
Liz
These look amazing and if they keep you away from store bought Oreos then I have to try them! The pepperminty filling sounds delicious…they may turn out to be a holiday favorite of mine!
Claudia
Holy cow! These bad boys are rich! That’s a good thing since it will keep me from consuming them all!
Kel
These are just as tasty as they look! I made a batch tonight. While I worked on these I also had the creamy tomato soup cooking on the stove.
Can you have ever to much JOY in your life?
I think not!!
Sara T
This looks fabulous! I make a mint oreo (ironic oreo is a four letting word, huh!!) cheesecake, and it would be even more fabulous if I made the cookies from scratch too! Great recipe!!
Shauna from Piece of Cake
I saw your photo next to mine on Foodgawker today, hooray! I love being in excellent company. :)
meg
i meant “with the espresso filling OR this one made up of white chocolate” ;) excited!!!
meg
I don’t really know if its a pre-christmas thing, but tons of people have been talking about homemade oreos – from browneyedbaker, smittenkitchen, and now you! ;) Amazing. Do these come out crunchy or a bit of on the softer side? I’m having a difficult time what filling I’d want! the espresso one of this white chocolate! Nevertheless, all of them look amazing :O
Avanika (Yumsilicious Bakes)
This is the first homemade oreo recipe I’ve seen that doesn’t use shortening! I’ve always wanted to try them, but I can’t bring myself to use shortening! These should be perfect!
The Baker
I have the same rule-it’s totally okay if I make it myself. These look delicious!!!
Kelly Taylor
I LOVE chocolate and peppermint. I can’t wait to try these! How about dipping half in melted chocolate and then sprinkling crushed candy canes on that?! Yum!
Colliebox
Just found your blog, and love it! Must make cookies, and muffins and waffles and bacon and ……
Chrys
Perfect! As always a delicious treat! Thanks Joy!
natalie
oh yum!! i’ll have to try these and the espresso version soon! hubby looooves oreos and can basically crush a package within two days!! this will save us lots of money for sure! haha!
JREP
Are you going to be participating in “Eat My Blog”, the charity bake sale benefiting the LA Food Bank tomorrow in WEHO?
joythebaker
Boo… I didn’t know about this! I won’t be in town this weekend, so it looks like I’m going to miss this awesome sounding event!
Alison
Whoa. I made these last night and took them to work today. It is safe to say I am exponentially more popular. Thanks Joy!
Justin
Ummm yes please! I’m not much of a baker…but I’m definitely going to slyly send this recipe my girlfriends way…hopefully she’ll get the hint cause damn these look good!
Great pics too!
Elizabeth
These LOOK and Sound Delicious! I can’t wait to try them and eat them all in one sitting.. O.k. Maybe two sittings.
Cassy
Wow!! good recipe for Christmas!! definitely will try it!!! hahah
Joanna from Colorado
Oh my gosh! We bought Candy Cane oreos this year, and they are SOOOOO good. If I amke these, we are done for.
In short, we are done for.
Evie
I can’t buy oreos either, but I could certainly try these!
jessie
never mind I just wasn’t being patient enough, that happens a lot!! Thanks Joy they smell delicious.
Sarah
Joy, you’re my hero.
Everything looks so great, these cookies look top. I wanted to thank you for my Christmas goodie bags last year! I made your red velvet black and white cookies and got great reviews!
Happy holidays!
Hana
They sound sooo great, I surely will have to try them one day!
jessie
did you forget an ingredient like eggs? I only ask because I can not get the dough to hold together it’s just a crumbly mess, help!!!
Nicole (Cooking After Five)
I’ve made these before with the traditional filling — love the idea of adding peppermint!
Lori
I’m all for the milking the chocolate-peppermint thing. These look delicious!
Kylie of Thin Crust Deep Dish
Oh my gosh, Joy. Are you kidding me? Double-stuffed oreos used to be addictive for me back when I ate sugar. I might have to try making these sweetened with honey or something. I’ve been so into peppermint extract lately, and I love pretty much anything that comes in sandwich form.
peachkins
I love peppermint and chocolate but never had it in sandwich or cookies. Its always ice cream.
Colleen
my favorite combination, chocolate plus mint! although I think I might do a different mint flavor. These would be amazing to make as little xmas treats to give to people.
and, as previous posters have said, I love your writing style :)
Erika from The Pastry Chef At Home
Epic Oreo hangover!?! Yikes! That sounds so unbelievably toxic.
Mint + Chocolate…mmm
@ terresa above – my sister works at Trader Joes and swears on the amazingness of their Peppermint Joe Joes! I can’t bring myself to eat them though especially after seeing Joy’s screen-licking-inducing photos.
V
Hmmm i HAVE to try these! Look so great!
Terresa Wellborn
Brilliant recipe yum! We have a soft spot (or, erm, more than just one) for Trader Joe’s Peppermint JOe JOes. BUt I have a feeling yours are probably much better. Srsly!
koroshiya
does it matter if the cocoa is dutch process or not? what is the difference between the two anyway?
Jessi
Okay, EFF school right now, because all I want to do is bake, eat and Christmas shop!! *Sigh*, only 8 more days, only 8 more days… and then baking these babies is ON, like Donkey Kong!!
Question: this may be a dumb question, but how does one chop chocolate efficiently? I’ve never quite figured this out…
Rachael@SpachetheSpatula
Oh man. Those look positively heavenly! I need to make them ASAP!
Kristi
Oh Joy… you amaze me. I’m a huge mint chocolate chip ice cream fan, so this recipe just went straight to my heart (and gut) :o)
christine louise
I’m not a huge fan of oreos… but these cookies, they look divine!
CookiePie
Oreos are always my reward for donating blood :) otherwise I’m not allowed to buy them (unless I’m making a cookie crust for a pie… for someone else). But gorgeous homemade Oreos? With peppermint filling? No rules about that! Sign me up!
Dani
Ah, the freedom of buying your own groceries for the first time! I imagine that most of us overdid on the junk food for awhile. Thanks for another great recipe!
Tom
OK Who could resist these chocolate comfort cookies especially home made Chocolate Espresso Sandwich Cookies over the holidays? I took this one and modified the filling to Chocolate Amaretto..Talk about chocolate yum! Thanks J
Lindsay
I miss double stuffed Oreos terribly! I don’t purchase them because unlike myself, who can eat 3 cookies with milk today and not think about them again for a week, my husband will eat the whole package at 2 am. So I don’t buy them or any other cookies for that matter.
I stumbled across you blog today as I rotate between salt and vinegar chips and almond snickers bites…classy I know. Might I suggest you try chocolate red wine cake (Food & Wine and discussed on my page). I’m not sure what is better, the batter or the cake itself. I hope you have time to test it out and I hope I have time to try these cookies…and promptly hide them.
Lindsay
Hettar7
So Funny to see this posted. I just drooled over the new Candy Cane Oreos I saw today in the store. I somehow resisted buying them. (Ok, Ok. By resisted I really mean I forgot to go back and get a package before checking out)
You’re so right about the mint/chocolate combo only showing up around the holidays though, which is a shame cause mint is awesome.
Food Hunter
Another cookie to add to my baking list. These look really good!
Laura
Chocolate and peppermint are a fantastic combination! Like Snoopy and Woodstock! One without the other just isn’t complete. :)
Also, I think that I’ll try sticking these in the freezer like ice cream sandwiches….
Jennypenny
I have been eyeing homemade oreos since Smitten Kitchen made some, but I so suck at baking cookies! But now that peppermint is involved, I have to make thses now! And since my husband hates oreos and peppermint, more for me :)
You’re so funny about not being allowed to buy oreos. You made me think of when my BFF and I were roommates several years ago. She wasn’t allowed to buy peanut butter. She told me I could buy it, but I had better hide it:)
Deanna
Those look divine!
Shauna from Piece of Cake
Cute food is the best food! And who doesn’t love chocolate and peppermint? Perfect!
Sarah
I really enjoy your writing style.
Sandwich cookies are so fun, they really are associated with childhood aren’t they? I’ve never been a huge fan of Oreos, but I have the no-buy rule as well, I refuse to purchase for the hubby. Really any cookies, I’m like “you’ve got a baker wife who can make you tons of cookies and you want me to BUY those Milanos??” I suppose I can’t imitate Pepperidge Farm that well and I wouldn’t want to anyway.
My mom makes a rum butter sandwich cookie around the holidays that is DIVINE. I bet they’d be nice on a tea plate next to one of yours.
joythebaker
rum butter sandwich cookies!? that sounds amazing!!!
Christine
making them.
Kate
Why? Why do you do this to me? I just finished the last batch and thought I could eat healthy for a few days.
Guess not!
Jill in Atlanta
oohhh my
Alison
Hilarious! I was just about to make these myself. Great minds think alike. They look delish.
megan
I just made homemade oreos, but with a different recipe. Now I want to try yours too! They look amazing
Nadia
Ahhh Oreos.. I once ate half of a pack by myself… in one sitting… in a half an hour, with a tall glass of milk. I know EXACTLY what you’re talking about. No more Oreos for me too.
Your photos are absolutely gorgeous.
joythebaker
danger. oreos are danger.
Sarah
So are these soft cookies or crunchy? They look ooey gooey but you said theyre crunchy? Either way, they look great and I need to try them!
joythebaker
these cookies are perfectly crunchy and super light. and all things lovely.
Nina
I’m making the batter now but it’s not becoming dough it’s staying sandy!! Help!
Lauren
For me, it’s Karo syrup and shortening which I never ever ever buy. It’s mental, I know, but a rule.
Noreen
I am so making these….sseriously!! How yummy are those!!??
Silvia
They look delicious indeed!
May I ask you, what do you do with all the lovely things you bake? I always give them to family and friends, I could not eat them all on my own.
XXX
joythebaker
i eat a lot of the things i bake… and so do my friends… they eat a lot too. i think this might be why i have friends.
bryan
the chocolate looks nice!!!!
Kel
So many cookies I want to bake so little time! I think these just bumped peanut butter blossoms off the list for this weekend! I have to make these! Thanks Joy!
Noêmia
Hello, My name is Noemia and I am Brazilian, currently living in Portugal, I love your blog and your creations! I do not speak English, but I have the help of an online translator to understand your recipes! Thank you for sharing your creations all!
joythebaker
that’s awesome noemia! thank goodness for technology!
shelly (cookies and cups)
These look yummy! Homemade Oreos are so much better!
Lauren
I can only assume that these cookies are to-die-for delicious! I didn’t think I was a fan of the peppermint-chocolate flavor combination, but a small piece of chocolate peppermint bark at work the other day set my mind straight.
Mandie
Mmmmm….I’m going to use the cookie recipe, but make a plain vanilla cream. I’m not a fan of peppermint or white chocolate. *ducks*
joythebaker
don’t worry! no one is throwing things!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
I’ve just started loving oreos and want to make my own this year. I can’t wait to try!
karenmarie
your writing rocks-it really makes my day, even if i don’t bake the thing you so fabulously describe! my question is this: when you say a recipe is “adapted” from another baking book are you somehow tweaking it to make it your own or just reprinting it more or less in your own words or both or none of the above?
joythebaker
if i say that i’ve adapted a recipe, i’ve usually added something to the ingredient list and partially rewritten the instructions. that’s a good question. i always try to add a link to the actual book to give credit where credit is due.
Estela @ Weekly Bite
I’m a sucker for Oreos and anything peppermint!
These look awesome!
Laura
I, too, am not allowed to buy Oreos, but these do look like MUCH better substitute anyway :)
Neha
I’m studying like a maniac right now and your cookies totally just made my night! I am sooooo trying these out after my midterm tomorrow! =) Thank youuuuuuu
joythebaker
hope your midterm went well! now get baking!
Rebecca
What perfect timing, I’ve just suddenly decided that the chocolate and mint combination is oh-so-good. Why oh why, haven’t I liked this before?!
So thank you, now I know how I can fulfill my new-found addiction!