Jam Filled Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Jam Filled Chocolate Sandwich Cookies begin with a fudgy chocolate sugar cookie dough cut out into stars and end with an orange strawberry jam in the middle. A stunning holiday cookie recipe!

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp espresso powder
4 oz semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled
2 eggs
1-2 Tbsp milk (whole milk or 2% is best)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 - 1 cup strawberry jam
2 tsp orange zest (optional)
1 Tbsp orange juice, fresh (optional)
1 large star cookie cutter
1 small star cookie cutter

• With a hand mixer or a standing mixer, beat unsalted butter until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
• Add in cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder. 
• Mix until combined.
• Next, add in melted and cooled chocolate; mix until combined.
• Then, add in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Add in vanilla extract and 1 Tbsp of milk.
• Add in the flour and mix until the flour is completely incorporated. 
• If the dough is too dry (it’s crumbly and not sticking together), add in the remaining Tbsp of milk.
• Chill the dough for 1 hour, at least.
• Once the dough is chilled, preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or spray with baking spray).
• On a floured surface roll dough out to 1/4” thick.
• The dough will make about 36-40 cutout star cookies, thus making about 18-20 sandwich cookies.
• Cut out large star shapes with your cookie cutter, and place the about 2” apart on the cookie tray.
• Using the small star cookie cutter, cut out the centers of half of the unbaked cookies for the tops of the cookie .
• Bake for 9-10 minutes, or until the edges are just firm, and the centers of the cookies are just set 
• Allow to cool on the tray for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
• While the cookies are cooling, mix strawberry jam, orange zest, and orange juice in a small saucepan. Cook on med-low heat for 3-4 minutes, until jam is warm and orange juice is completely mixed in. 
• Let the jam cool to room temperature.
• Spoon about 2 tsp of jam onto the centers of the bottom sandwich cookie, spreading the jam out from the centers a little bit. 
• Top with the top sandwich cookies (the ones with the small star cutout).
• Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.
• Store at room temperature or in the fridge 
• The cookie is extra rich and fudgy out of the fridge

Recipe: A Latte Food