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Oh hiiii.
I have a confession. I bought 3 huge boxes of candy canes and am using them in recipes left and right. Hopefully you love candy canes as much as I do? Right?
?
Today I’m sharing a recipe that I made two weeks ago. Yes, I’ve been holding onto it ever since! These cookies were apart of Jamielyn’s Crazy Christmas event and Nikki’s Cookie Exchange this week. I’m sharing them with you today because it’s almost the freaking-weekend and I’m ready to celebrate with some buttercream. Are you with me?!
What we have here today is a fudgy chocolate cookie sandwich stuffed with candy cane buttercream in the center. What is candy cane buttercream? Glad you asked.
The delightfully festive buttercream starts just as any basic vanilla buttercream – butter, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and a touch of milk. I use this classic recipe anytime I want a vanilla frosting.
Simply grind up some candy canes and sift the candy cane “dust” into the vanilla buttercream. The dust gives the buttercream just enough peppermint flavor and a charming light pink hue, which I think is gorgeous paired with the dark chocolate cookies! I love pretty cookie.
Confession. I ate some leftover candy cane “dust bunnies” with a spoon -> minty powdery perfection! Candy cane dust will be the loudest, but sweetest thing you’ll food processor will ever make. 
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. Would you have it any other way? The cookies are rich and dense, just like brownies. My version of a “brookie” - the brownie cookie. This cookie dough recipe is same recipe I used for my York Peppermint Patty Fudge Cookies and it never fails.
The cookies are a chocoholics pure dream and the perfect “bread” for the minty candy cane buttercream. The absolute best part of these cookies is that they stand the true cookie test – remaining soft, even the next day. To keep the frosting fresh, be sure to store your extras in the refrigerator. If you have any extras, that is. {we didn’t}
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! Cake mix short-cut, I’m all about those sometimes.
You and your family are going to just love these cookie sandwiches this holiday season! I’m a tad obsessed with them.
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makes 2 dozen sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1 cup + 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped (I used 1 package Baker's Semi Sweet chocolate)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
- 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
Instructions
- 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. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
© Sally’s Baking Addiction. All images & content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to this post for the recipe.
Here are some of my related recipes. Going through this list is making me HUNGRY!
Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches
Candy Cane Chocolate Swirl Fudge
What are you baking this weekend?
{ 56 comments… read them below or add one }
I love that you’re jumping right into holiday-themed desserts with the candy canes! I loooove candy canes and will be fully embracing them after Thanksgiving. That’s when I wave goodbye to pumpkin and say hello to mint and molasses.
Liz (Little Bitty Bakes) recently posted..Pretzel Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookie Bites
i cannot get enough mint and molasses! although i do have a pumpkin recipe next!!! Thanks Liz, as always xo
Looks insanely delicious, and tomorrow I was planning on making fudgy brownies with almost this exact frosting! YUM!
can’t wait to see your brownies!!
I love this cookie recipe…they were SO dense and fudgy when I made them. Can’t wait to try the buttercream with them next time!
Ikhlas recently posted..Recipe: Marble Cookie Bars
so glad that you made the cookies before – they are SO good with the buttercream Ikhlas!
Ohmigosh. I want to lick my screen. That buttercream….yum. I need to make it, like, yesterday.
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted..Blueberry Slab Pie
Fudgy cookies! And that purty buttercream?! Yes!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. recently posted..Low Fat Broccoli Gratin
I looooove putting candy canes in my food processor. I use the leftovers in my coffee.
And this buttercream? Swoon. I am all.about peppermint. And stuffed in between chocolate cookies?!?!? You are the best!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl recently posted..Cherry Cordial Cookies
Ashley! i am obsessed with your idea – the dust in my coffee!! I never thought of that! ok, doing that this weekend!!!
I love how buttercream is a blank slate for any flavor imaginable! Your peppermint version sounds divine!
Loretta E recently posted..Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream
hi Loretta! you’re right – it IS a blank slate for practically any flavor! I’m thinking of a dark chocolate buttercream next
I never bake with candy canes, but I need to start. These look so good!
luv what you do recently posted..Crabby Mac
i’ve been baking left and right with candy canes! lol
I just picked up the candy cane white chocolate covered pretzels from Trader Joe’s. Not sure what I’m going to do with them, but I’m sure it will be yummy!
candy cane white chocolate pretzels? those sound SO good! throw them in cookies
These are brilliant! They started randomly selling candy canes in July here in Bangkok (perhaps someone was confused?), but now I can’t find them! Fingers crossed that the stores figure out it’s time in the next couple weeks!
Jess recently posted..Green Beans with Sweet Spiced Pecans and Goat Cheese
candy canes in July?? i don’t think i would complain! i hope they pop up again soon though Jess!
Oh man, you just made my night with these cookies! They are the perfect PMS cure all.
Nicole @ Lapetitebaker recently posted..Chocolate Pecan Chess Pie
HAHAHAHHA yes!!!! exactly, Nicole – these should be made once per month.
Candy cane buttercream?! Yeah, I could swim in that. And bathe in that. And sleep in that. And then eat it all of course.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious recently posted..Lightened-Up Pumpkin Donuts with Maple Glaze
Chung-Ah! You and I alike my friend. and i’m seeing your link for the lightened up pumpkin donuts – i am literally posting “lightened up pumpkin bars” on Sunday! we are practically the same girl
Is it illegal to dip a spoon into the candy cane buttercream bowl?
I’m afraid I’d have to make a double batch of the buttercream…half might not make it onto the cookies.
As always, another great recipe!
Colleen @ What’s Baking in the Barbershop?! recently posted..Our "Mini-Moon" in Maine!
Chocolate and peppermint screams Christmas! These are making me really excited for the holidays. They remind me of a sandwich cookie that my grandmother used to make, except hers weren’t as pretty (don’t tell her I said that!). And I think you are awesome for creating a new word-brookie! Haha love it!
Elaine recently posted..Gingerbread Bread Pudding with Eggnog Sauce
i like your grandmother’s thinking Elaine! I won’t tell her though
Chocolate + mint is one of my favorite combinations, so I know i’d love these! they look just wonderful, especially that candy cane buttercream. YUM! Wish you lived closer so I could volunteer myself as a taste-tester… =)
amy @ fearless homemaker recently posted..Skinny Baked Mozzarella Sticks
oooooooohhhhhh
these look dangerous!
to my diet…
WOW!
a lot of my recipes this week have been dangerous t omy diet! i have a healthy one coming next
Oh em gee. Candy cane buttercream–I don’t think it gets better than that! I love candy canes–the perfect low-cal treat this time of year. However, I wouldn’t mind sacrificing a few for these cookie sammies. They’re beautiful and look SO delish!
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel recently posted..Apple Pie Poptart Fudge
Do you think they make a candy cane chocolate pop tart Hayley?? Because umm – we can combine forces and make one serious fudge.
Candy cane dust…I must try that asap. This buttercream is amazing!
Cassie | Bake Your Day recently posted..Black Bean Hummus | Blendtec Total Blender Giveaway
Ho-ly cow. I’m actually not a huge fan of candy canes but omg you have totally sold me on these!! I’d be all over the triple chocolate cookies and the peppermint buttercream actually sounds like it would be just the perfect sandwich material
And the color scheme is super cute!!
Erika recently posted..Pancake Fridays: Red Velvet Pancakes
i think this buttercream frosting would quickly turn you into a candy cane fan Erika! And the cookies are killer just by themselves! i hope you’re having a good weekend girl! I’m checking out your red velvet pancakes now!
I love your receipes. They are always so inspiring to me. Thank you for sharing all that you do.
Your receipes always are so inspiring to me. I am so making these for the christmas holiday. Do they keep well?
Hi Dina! They do keep well – store them covered in the refrigerator. they keep up to 5 days.
Candy cane buttercream sounds like a winning recipe! You’re putting me in the holiday spirit.
Laura Dembowski recently posted..Pumpkin Oatmeal Raisin Cupcakes
I’m glad Laura! I am all of a sudden in the holiday spirit as well! Can’t wait to see what you bake this season
Those cookies look like BROWNIES!!! Can you just bake for me the whole holiday season? I would like everyone in my life to give me the gift of you living in my house baking cookies. Let’s make that happen.
Ari @ Ari’s Menu recently posted..Pumpkin Beer Cakes
It’s always bad news for me when I’m on here reading your blog at midnight =). I makes me want to get off my butt and bake all this deliciousness and stuff myself silly. Gorgeous pics, as always!
Jaclyn recently posted..Caprese Grilled Cheese
Jaclyn! Anytime of day I visit Cooking Classy, I immediately have cravings for chocolate, buttercream, pumpkin, or pasta lol!
They look so perfect for the holidays! The combo of chocolate + peppermint is always a win and love how thick the frosting layer is. True sandwich cookies – sandwiches made w/ frosting are the best kind
Averie @ Averie Cooks recently posted..Red Star Platinum Yeast Gift Basket Giveaway
Thank you miss Averie! I agree – frosting sandwiches are only the very best. You have to tell me all about Barbados when you get back!
I believe that these cookies are what dessert dreams are made of! That buttercream is gorgeous and I can think of about 100 uses for it! Very festive and beautiful cookies, Sally!
Mercedes recently posted..Chocolate-Dipped Crispy Coconut Wafers
Shame on you for holding out on us, Sally!
I’m completely candy cane obsessed by the way. I’ve never cooked with them though. I can’t wait to make these cookies!!
Rachael {SimplyFreshCooking} recently posted..Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries and Pecans
Holy cow. These look incredible! I don’t usually like candy canes but these I’d definitely eat. Candy canes and similar kinds of candy don’t exist here but maybe a chocolate mint version would work. With chocolate sprinkles on the side! Yeah.
Erin @ Texanerin Baking recently posted..Homemade Dulce de Leche
These look amazing – I love holiday-themed baking! I am going to leave all of the baking to my husband’s grandmother this weekend but I will be making a cheeseball for a Thanksgiving appetizer because we all need to consume extra calories before the big meal
Becky @ Olives n Wine recently posted..November Birchbox
ok i secretly LOVE cheeseballs! my friend made an outstanding one for a halloween party last month in the shape of a pumpkin! and leave the cooking to someone else… that is what I am doing!
I made these a few weeks ago. #1, my family and coworkers devoured them within hours. Some said they were the best thing I’ve ever made, and I’d like to think I’m a pretty well-seasoned baker. #2, the buttercream… deadly. I was eating it by the spoonful. Keep posting, not like I need to tell you twice. I love your recipes and your posts are fun to read. Thanks!
Hi Erin! Wow, this comment MADE my night. Because this candy cane buttercream is, by far, the BEST buttercream i’ve ever ever had. The flavor – it’s so sweet and minty and perfect. And so creamy! And easy to make. I am SO glad you enjoyed these cookies and that your coworkers loved them too! Thank you so much for reporting back – that really, really means a lot to me!
Sally!!! I made a modified version of the cookie part of these last night and my husband took one bite and said “These are the best cookies you’ve ever made”. They came out sooooo amazing, and now I realllllly can’t wait to take more of your recipes to my kitchen. I knew they’d be good from your blog posts, but I was totally impressed!
Ari @ Ari’s Menu recently posted..Buffalo Chicken Salad
Omg that is SO cool! I’m glad you made these – even a modified version! I can’t wait to see them if you post them Ari! Let me know if you make any other recipes of mine. Glad you were impressed with these – I LOVE the super decadent chocolate cookies here.
These were amazing! I wanted a new cookie to bake for my school’s Secret Santa, and I thought these would be perfect. And they were! Only, we had a snow day on the last day (when I was going to bring in the cookies). This meant my family got to eat them, instead, and they thoroughly enjoyed them. Now that my Christmas vacation is almost done, I’ll be making them once again. Thanks so much for posting and sharing.
Thanks for coming back and letting me know, Annika! I haven’t made these cookies again since November. And I think that needs to change. I’m glad you got stuck eating them all with your family.
Lucky you!
First time on your website and already addicted. Can’t wait to start baking
Hey Rita! That’s so exciting! Let me know what you bake first =)
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