Sparkling Vanilla Sandwich Cookie Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cookie ingredients.
• Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls (ping pong ball-size) and place on a greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet. Make sure you have an even number of cookies. Smash the balls down just a bit.
• Bake for about 7-8 minutes. Take them out of the oven when the tops have cracked a little.
• Let them sit on the hot cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to finish cooling.
• Make the filling: With a mixer, cream the butter and cream cheese. Add the vanilla. Gradually add the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
• Frost the underside of a cookie and place another cookie on top.
• Wrap individually in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• Make Cookies:
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt.
• Beat together butter and confectioners' sugar with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy, then beat in zest and vanilla. At low speed, mix in flour mixture just until a soft dough forms.
• Put sanding sugars in different bowls. Roll a scant teaspoon of dough into a ball and drop into sugar, turning to coat. Reshape if necessary and transfer to a baking sheet. Repeat, spacing balls 3/4 inch apart, until baking sheet is filled.
• Bake until tops are slightly cracked but still pale (bottoms will be pale golden), 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer cookies on parchment to a rack to cool completely.
• Form and bake more cookies on second baking sheet.
• Make Filling and Sandwich Cookies:
• Beat together all filling ingredients in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until combined well. Transfer to sealable bag and snip off a corner.
• Turn over half of cookies and pipe about 1/2 teaspoon filling on flat side of each. Sandwich with remaining cookies, pressing gently.

Steps:

• Place chocolate chips, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Heat evaporated milk in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until it just comes to a simmer. Remove from heat and pour over chocolate mixture; let stand until chocolate melts, about 5 minutes. Add vanilla, whisk until filling is smooth and well combined.
• Transfer chocolate filling to refrigerator; let chill until slightly firm, but still spreadable, about 2 hours.