There were many times over the summer when I wished for a few hours of uninterrupted silence and productivity. Two energetic boys, however, had other ideas. Between scooter races, trips to the pool, and backyard soccer games, there was rarely a moment of peace. Well, let me tell you, the grass is always greener on the other side. The boys headed back to school yesterday and the silence is palpable. Our youngest son started first grade this year, so my husband and I are going through a small bout of empty nest syndrome. At least five or six times today, I looked at the clock and wondered what the kids were doing at that moment. Were they having fun? Were they working hard? Were they happy?
With their first full day of school under their belts, I wanted them to come home to a special treat, something to let them know I had been thinking of them. I made a large batch of their favorite sugar cookies, which we usually fill with Heath Bar bits. This time, however, I made the cookies in miniature, swiped them with a dollop of Nutella, and sandwiched the cookies together. Within minutes of arriving home, there were nothing but cookie crumbs on their plates and smudges of Nutella on their chins and noses.
Place an oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
In a large bowl, beat 14 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, and 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar with an electric mixer set on medium speed until the mixture is creamy and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in 2 eggs, one at a time, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
Turn the mixer to low speed and gradually beat in the flour mixture until it is just combined. Using a rubber spatula, stir the mixture a few times to make sure all of the flour mixture is incorporated.
Place 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a small bowl. With slightly dampened hands, roll 1 teaspoon of the cookie dough between your palms to form a ball. Roll the ball in the sugar to coat it and place it on a prepared baking sheet.
Repeat with the remaining dough, spacing the balls about 2 inches apart from each other on the baking sheets.
Lightly coat the bottom of a glass or metal measuring cup with butter and dip into the sugar. Use this to gently flatten the cookies to 3/4-inch thickness.
Bake the cookies, one sheet a time, rotating from front to back halfway through baking. They are done when the edges are set and beginning to brown, 9 to 10 minutes. The centers of the cookies should still be soft and puffy. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Using a spatula, remove the cookies from the baking sheet and let cool on a rack.
Spread the bottom of one cookie with 1 teaspoon Nutella and sandwich with a second cookie. Serve or store in an airtight container.
Other cookies with Nutella:
My Baking Addiction’s Mocha Shortbread Sandwich Cookies
La Fuji Mama’s Nutella Pocket Cookies
Purple Foodie’s Nutella Pinwheel Cookies
Place an oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
In a large bowl, beat butter and 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar with an electric mixer set on medium speed until the mixture is creamy and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla extract.
Turn the mixer to low speed and gradually beat in the flour mixture until it is just combined. Using a rubber spatula, stir the mixture a few times to make sure all of the flour mixture is incorporated.
Place 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a small bowl. With slightly dampened hands, roll 1 teaspoon of the cookie dough between your palms to form a ball. Roll the ball in the sugar to coat it and place it on a prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough, spacing the balls about 2 inches apart from each other on the baking sheets. Lightly coat the bottom of a glass or metal measuring cup with butter and dip into the sugar. Use this to gently flatten the cookies to 3/4-inch thickness.
Bake the cookies, one sheet a time, rotating from front to back halfway through baking. They are done when the edges are set and beginning to brown, 9 to 10 minutes. The centers of the cookies should still be soft and puffy. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Using a spatula, remove the cookies from the baking sheet and let cool on a rack.
Spread the bottom of one cookie with 1 teaspoon Nutella and sandwich with a second cookie. Serve.
Makes about 50 sandwich cookies.
Cookies,
Nutella
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