A Southern Grace: sandwich of choice

December 21, 2010

sandwich of choice

Yum

When I think about the uses for orange as a flavor, desserts aren't the first thing that pop into my head.


Morning beverage tops the list, followed closely by pork enhancer and frequent partner of the cranberry.

That may all be changing now, thanks to these unique and dainty little sandwich cookies. Granted, my love for them has a lot to do with the cinnamon-spiked buttercream frosting gluing the cookies together, but I'm sure you've come to expect that from me by now.


How do I judge how much frosting to use between the melt-in-your-mouth cookies? Like so:

-If, when I take a bite, frosting does not squirt out, then I haven't used enough.
-If, when I take a bite, frosting squirts out onto the floor or my lap, then I've used too much.
-Alternatively, if I've only sandwiched 10 cookies or so out of a 40-cookie batch and run out of frosting, then I've used too much.



Just kidding--you can never use too much. Make more frosting and continue.

Orange-You-Glad-They-Exist Milano Sandwich Cookies
(based on a recipe by Gale Gand)
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
Freshly grated zest of 2 medium oranges
2/3 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups flour, sifted
pounds and pounds of your frosting of choice

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
With a mixer, beat the butter, orange zest, and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and salt and mix. Add the sifted flour and mix until smooth. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Form into two thin disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
Sprinkle a suitable surface with flour, place disk of dough on it, and sprinkle a little more flour on top of that. Then roll it out to a thickness of about 1/4-inch. Cut into shapes, dipping the cutter into flour as you go, and place the cookies a little apart on lined baking sheets.
Bake for 6 to 10 minutes; obviously it depends on the shape you're using and whether they are on the upper or lower shelf, though you can swap them around after about 5 minutes. When they're ready expect them to be tinged a pronounced gold around the edges; they'll be softish still in the middle, but set while they cool.
Fill with your favorite frosting, whether it be chocolate ganache or cream cheese. I went the cinnamon buttercream route and it took me to a happy place.

80 comments:

J e l e n a said...

I love these cookies and they are some what similar to our traditional winter cookies called vanilice.
http://tortatorta.blogspot.com/2010/12/vanilice.html
Here is a link with the English translation of the recipe. Lard is used and it gives the cookie a light and airy quality, but butter can be used also. A very old recipe it is!

shaz said...

Cinnamon frosting, yes please! I think I tried to make Milanos for a Daring Bakers challenge but failed miserabley. Kudos on making them look so good.

♥peachkins♥ said...

you got me when you said cinnamon buttercream!

oneordinaryday said...

Perfect frosting to cookie ratio. And cinnamon buttercream?? Yum!

José Manuel said...

Que fantastico sandwich, se ve delicioso del todo.

Saludos

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

So delicious looking and sounding! I love sandwich cookies.

Cheers,

Rosa

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

These are like homemade Girl Guide cookies. I eat all the vanilla ones first.

A Plum By Any Other Name said...

I wish I was biting into one of these right now, perhaps even having a little frosting shoot out; I'm in a buttercream mood lately. Tis the season!

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

I was just going to say that it sounds like just about the right amount of filling lol!

lisa is cooking said...

Orange in a cookie has become my favorite thing lately, and cinnamon frosting is not something I skimp on. These look fantastic!

Anonymous said...

So pretty! And I love the orange flavor, absolutely delicious!

Lori said...

I know just what you mean. I just made a sandwich cookie and I bit into one when the frosting was warm and plop. No worries, just lick it up.

Grace these sound so good. I mean so so good.

Lori said...

so so good as in SO SO Good!

Kathy Walker said...

These look so good. Love your hints on frosting! There would be no better way to tell if it is just right. Happy Holidays!

foodhoe said...

ooh, I want a bite! I love your methods of measuring the filling...

Lyndas recipe box said...

cinnamon buttercream-I'm sold! I'm baking cookies tomorrow, so I'm adding these babies to my list. Great cookie Grace!

Hungry Dog said...

These sound absolutely amazing and are so pretty! I'm always intimidated by roll-and-cut cookies (bad dough karma or something) but I may have to brave it for these beauties.

The Church Cook said...

Oh, goodness! Have mercy on me, Grace. These look scrumptious.

Mel said...

Lovely idea for a sandwich cookie. I think you should write a handbook on frosting.

pam said...

I have never made sandwich cookies, I know that I would totally screw up the filling to cookie ratio.

Lisa@ButteryBooks said...

These look absolutely delicious!! I am willing to try any recipe with orange zest...that smell is so intoxicating!

The Blonde Duck said...

Oh yum! Merry Christmas to you and your kitties, Grace!

Faith said...

I am so with you on the frosting, Grace...sometimes I think of cake and cookies as a mere vessel for it, lol! These look wonderful!

Deborah said...

I love any sort of citrus in desserts and these cookies sound amazing!

DessertForTwo said...

Wow these look amazing! So very different than every other cookie in the blog world these days! The combo of orange and cinnamon is calling my name! Help! :)

kimberleyblue said...

well, when i hear orange, i instantly thin of desserts! i actually dislike the savoury/orange combo.

these cookies sound perfect for me. i would fill them with a nice citrusy cream cheese filling, but i appreciate (and expect) your cinnamon choice!

Julie said...

Cinnamon, orange, and buttercream? I just fainted at the thought of it. Yum! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas :)

LilSis said...

Mmmmm... I'm just thinking that one of these with a little sip of Grand Marnier would be heaven!

For a late night dessert, of course. :-)

scrambledhenfruit said...

These sound wonderful- orange cookies with cinnamon buttercream would be perfect for me, but hubby would want chocolate sandwiched in the middles. :) I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

Dana said...

That sounds like a very sound guide to judging how much icing you've used! They look great!

Lucie said...

Ha! Loved your post. I like chocolate and orange, but I think cinnamon and orange (spices! Christmas!) is a close second!

Kate at Serendipity said...

OMG, Grace, these are gorgeous. I love crunchy little cookies with gooey stuff in the middle. I'm going to have to figure out how to do these without wheat. Hmmm...(thinking cap on)

Merry Christmas to you!

Joanne said...

Sandwich cookies are miraculous things. The best kinds of sandwiches, I'm convinced. That cinnamon buttercream rocks my world. Really.

cookies and cups said...

These sound yummy...and I'm ok with frosting oozing onto my lap :)

marla@familyfreshcooking.com said...

Love how you determine the right amount of frosting - hilarious. But I agree! Now this is a sandwich, i'll take ten please :) xo

Albany Jane said...

Grace, you had me worried there for a second... too much frosting. We both know there can be no such thing!

Phew!

Crazy Sweet Life (Brianna) said...

I love orange desserts, and you're right, there aren't a lot out there. These look absolutely yummy!

Pam said...

I rarely think of orange in desserts either... I do now after seeing these beauties.

Juliana said...

Grace, I sure will have mine with lots and lots of frosting :-) The cookies look so delicate. What a great treat!

Unknown said...

Lovin' your scientific way of figuring the correct amount of frosting. LOL You have an entire system all figured out:-)

Leslie said...

YOu can never ever ever use too much!!!!
Happy Holidays to you!!!

Julie M. said...

Those look wonderful! And you are so right, you can never use too much frosting!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Robin said...

Now that looks incredible! Have a Merry Christmas Grace. Enjoy the Holiday Season, your friends, and family. Blessings to you and yours!

Robin Sue

Cookie baker Lynn said...

These look beautiful! They would fit right in with my Christmas baking this year. For some reason almost everything is orange (and I'm not even that big of an orange-flavor fan).

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Grace!

Lisa said...

Delicious little sandwich cookies! Beautiful and I love orange flavored sweets. Have a great holiday Grace!

Marjie said...

They look delectable. I love orange and lemon flavored desserts!

BTW, loved your picture of the kittycats yesterday! Merry Christmas to you and the little guys!

tamilyn said...

"Pork Enhancer"-my favorite part :)

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

Lol love your frosting-amount guidelines. The only way to deal with that naughty squirty frosting is to eat more of it!

vanillasugarblog said...

LOL! frosting guidelines! only you would think of this?
love it. merry christmas girl! happy new year too.

Amanda said...

These look SOOOO delicious!! I am practically drooling. :)

FOODESSA said...

Grace...I've never made buttercream frosting...imagine!
Your version with cinnamon as the star ingredient sounds like it's got character ;o)...especially in a cookie sandwich.

Happy Holidays going forward and all the very best in the New year.

Ciao for now,
Claudia

Carolyn Jung said...

I love cookie sandwiches. You get to eat TWO cookies but count them as one. ;)

Happy holidays!

tasteofbeirut said...

You are too funny! I only like a few things that squirt out! :)
Great post and merry holidays to you!

MaryBeth said...

Grace, you are such a kick in the head...that is a good thing. I love this cookie and with orange makes it even better.

Dinners and Dreams said...

I'm loving the filling and the fun post. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

Nisrine

Leah Wolff-Pellingra said...

I was bopping around King Arthur's website yesterday and came across Fiori Di Sicilia. I about fell over at the price, but am so tempted to buy it just to try in these cookies...

Kerstin said...

Orange isn't featured in baked goods enough - these look great!

Marilyn said...

The pics of these cookies made my mouth water as much as your Secret of Ooze post!! Going to make them this weekend for a New Years Day party - Can't wait!

Velva said...

You had me smiling! Great post. Your cookies rock.

Happy New Year!

Velva

Heidi - Apples Under My Bed said...

hehe, great post. The good old frosting debate - how much is too much? :) These look so delicious! Anything with orange wins me over.
Heidi xo

Angie's Recipes said...

I adore good sandwiched cookies like those :-))
Grace, I wish you and yours a happy and prosperous New Year!
Angie

Alicia Foodycat said...

Orange and cinnamon, what a great combination! These look so perfect.

kat said...

Love a good sandwich cookie

sweetlife said...

cinnamon and orange, a great flavor combo..i love sandwich cookies..well any cookie...love the first pic!!

haopoy holidays!
sweetlife

Erica said...

What a wonderful post!They look so gooooood. Happy new year!

TBC said...

That sounds like a great combination of flavors.

Happy New Year!

Jaime said...

oh wow.... milanos are among my favorite of the store bought cookies!!! just dip these in chocolate and i am good to go :)

The Blonde Duck said...

Happy New Year's!

Y said...

Mmm... pork enhancer... two words I will bring with me into the new year (as well as those delectable orange cookies). All the best to you for 2011!

archana said...

Wish you a very happy New Year,shine !!!
These cookies looks too good to me even now when i am almost saturated with eating and baking many this season. Love it !

The Blonde Duck said...

How did you get bit by a German Shepard?

Amanda said...

Cinnamon buttercream?? WOW!! You have impressed me yet again!

Mimi said...

Happy New Year!
Not that I need to eat another cookie, but these do look tempting.
Wishing you the best in 2011.
Mimi

Trissa said...

I remember making these cookies for a Daring Baker's Challenge before... it was I tell you - the best cookie - but you are right - you can NEVER have too much filling!

Happy New Year!

The Blonde Duck said...

Happy Wednesday!

blackbookkitchendiaries said...

what a pretty cookie..orange and cinnamon sounds really good to me. thank you for sharing this and have a nice day.

Mary Bergfeld said...

What a wonderful cookie. I wish I had seen these before the holiday. They really do look scrumptious. I love the food and recipes you share with us. I hope you had a great holiday and that the new year brings a full measure of good things your way. Blessings...Mary

Nutmeg Nanny said...

These look fantastic! I love the orange flavor...yum!

Lisa said...

Delicious and so pretty! The cinnamon buttercream sounds perfecto!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

LOL, amen and pass me some frosting, I mean cookies!
~ingrid