I always make a few batches of cookies for the holidays, but it's been several years since I did a lot of holiday baking. You know, the three-day baking marathons that leave you with flour in your hair and flecks of buttery sugar stuck to your face--that kind of holiday baking. But I am doing it this year!
The last time I did this kind of holiday baking, I decided to make healthy cookies. Shockingly, healthy cookies do not go over very well with a crowd. So I am going all out this time. I left the grocery store last weekend with bags full of butter and chocolate chips of every variety. No whole wheat flour, no applesauce instead of butter. Not this year! And the first recipe I tackled is one I came up with myself: Grasshopper Brownie Cookies.
I guess candy cane would be a wee bit more traditional for this time of year, but grasshopper brownies are one of my favorite desserts and I had the idea to make a sandwich cookie out of them. Chocolate ganache and minty cream are sandwiched between two chewy brownie cookies. I made them small because these little guys are rich.
When you're baking a crazy amount of cookies, having the right equipment is a must. I received a bunch of baking tools from Pampered Chef to help me out with my holiday baking this year and let me tell you, I am totally done making wonky-looking cookies that stick to my baking sheets. My favorite tool by far is the cookie scoop. Up to this point, I had used a regular tablespoon to put batter onto baking sheets. This fun little scoop makes things so much easier--just squeeze the handle and the batter is released onto the baking sheet, all perfectly shaped and beautiful.
Recipe
Ingredients
Brownie Cookies
- 12 oz. bittersweet chocolate chopped
- ½ c. all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp. baking powder
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 6 tbsp. unsalted butter softened
- ½ c. white sugar (organic for vegan-friendly)
- ½ c. packed light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- ½ tsp. Pampered Chef Double-Strength Madagascar Vanilla or 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Mint Filling
- ⅓ c. unsalted butter softened
- 2 c. powdered sugar
- ¾ tsp. peppermint extract
Chocolate Filling
- 1 c. bittersweet chocolate chopped
- 6 tbsp. unsalted butter
Instructions
Brownie Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line three baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Melt chocolate in a double boiler; set aside.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until combined. With mixer on low speed, alternately beat in chocolate and flour mixture. Mix until just combined (don't overmix!).
- Use small cookie scoop to drop heaping teaspoons of batter onto baking sheets, about two-inches apart. Bake until toothpick inserted into center of cookies comes out clean, about 8-12 minutes. Cool completely on wire racks.
Mint Filling
- Place butter in a small mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat butter until fluffy. Add sugar and extract; continue to beat until smooth.
Chocolate Filling
- Place chocolate and butter in double boiler; heat until smooth, stirring often.
Assembly
- Use Decorator Bottle to pipe mint filling onto half of the brownie cookies. (If you don't want to pipe the filling onto the cookies, you can spread it on with a butterknife or spatula instead.) Spread chocolate filling onto remaining cookies. Once chocolate has cooled to room temperature, carefully press together mint and chocolate cookies. (Don't put too much pressure on the tops of the cookies--they are delicate! Instead, wiggle them back and forth, kind of like how you take apart an Oreo, but in reverse.)
Nutrition
Disclosure: I received products from Pampered Chef to help me out with my holiday baking this year. Pampered Chef also compensated me for the time I spent on this post.
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE this! Rich is my favorite adjective when it comes to food!
Aren't small cookie scoops the best? I've got 2 in case one poops out on me!
Kiersten says
They are awesome! I tested this recipe once before I got them and it was hard to form the sandwiches because none of the cookies matched in shape or size. 🙂
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
Pinned, entered, and head over heels in love.
JulieD says
These look amazing, Kiersten!! Love it!
Rachel @ Following In My Shoes says
Entered.... and trying not to drool looking at those cookies. They are GORGEOUS.
Kiersten says
I wanted to do some kind of chocolate drizzle on top too, but I decided not to press my luck. 😉
Diane {Created by Diane} says
yeah, I can see it now I'd make these and be popping them in my mouth all day. They look DELICIOUS!
Kiersten says
Yeah, I am guilty of this. 😉 I put them in the freezer to stop myself (and so they'd keep until Christmas) and I've been eating them frozen--ha!
Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking says
Oh these look amazing and what person wouldn't want to receive these in a Christmas goodie basket!!
Amber @ Slim Pickin's Kitchen says
These look amazing! I also, not even kidding you, wrote a kitchen wish list the other day and almost every single thing I wrote is included in your giveaway! *So excited*
Kiersten says
Well, good luck then! 😀 I have wanted cookie scoops for SO long and I don't know why I didn't buy them years ago--all this time I've been using spoons like a chump!
BusyWorkingMama says
These look fabulous! I'm sure your recipients will enjoy the fact that you went all out!
Jessi says
My mom always called these, whoopee pies! Yum!
Kiersten says
These are a little bit different from whoopie pies--the filling is a bit denser and the cookies are chewier. But same idea. 🙂
Kathy - Panini Happy says
I am definitely on board with going all out when it comes to holiday cookies! I'd be all over these if I were near this tray. 🙂
Emily says
Excuse me as I wipe the drool from my keyboard.
HilLesha says
Yummy!
Holly says
These look really, really tasty! The mint cream and ganache sound wonderful!
Meghan @JaMonkey says
These look so yummy! Pinned for later!
marla says
Very fun cookies!
Lauren says
Chocolate and mint? This is food porn at its best! Sometimes you just have to go all out. My brother-in-law won't touch anything that I say is 'healthy', so I understand your dilemma. These are such a cool idea! I'm always up for a whoopie pie! 🙂
Kiersten says
Yeah, I figured it's Christmas, so I might as well use lots of butter and sugar. 🙂 I felt kind of sad when no one wanted my healthy cookies!
Stephanie @ henry happened says
I agree - Christmas is the time to go all out with baking. No fat free desserts! Totally entering your giveaway, just wish there was a rolling pin 🙂
Kiersten says
You still haven't gotten a rolling pin?! LOL!
Courtney Rae Jones says
Awe, this reminds me of the grasshopper pie my mom used to make every christmas when I was growing up. I should make these for her 🙂
Kiersten says
I love grasshopper pie! I haven't had that in so long--now I'm going to be craving it. 😉
Sindura says
My younger brother is a huge peppermint chocolate flavor combo fan! I was looking for cookies we could make together for some sibling bonding and these are perfect!!
Kiersten says
I hope you like them! 😀
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
They sound AMAZING! The only problem is that I would eat the entire batch myself.
Kiersten says
They really are addictive. I am trying to encourage my husband to eat the rest so I don't. 🙂
Terri Herman says
These look pretty amazing! Gotta try them over the holidays. Thanks!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Oh yes... yes please!! Love this idea. Merry Christmas sweet friend!
Kiersten says
I hope you have a Merry Christmas too, Sommer!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
These sandwiched brownies are heavenly!
Kathy Hecimovich says
love pampered chef
Jackie @ Domestic Fits says
These are the perfect cookie exchange offering, Love it 🙂