Vanilla Cardamom Shortbread Sandwich Cookies With Espresso Buttercream Filling Recipes

SHORTBREAD SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Place ungreased baking sheets in the refrigerator. In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well., Using a cookie press fitted with a ribbon disk, press dough into 2-1/2-in.-long ribbons on chilled baking sheets. Bake at 375° until edges are lightly browned, 6-8 minutes. Cool for 1 minute before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For filling, in a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Dissolve coffee in hot water; add to creamed mixture and mix until smooth. Spread 1 teaspoon filling on the bottom of one cookie; top with another cookie to form a sandwich. Repeat., In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip one end of each cookie into chocolate, allowing excess to drip off and then in nonpareils. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets until set.

VANILLA BUTTERCREAM FILLING

Steps:

• Beat butter with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium, and beat in confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, scraping down side of bowl as necessary, until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add vanilla, and beat until smooth.

CARDAMOM SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees. In a large bowl using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until creamy.
• Add egg yolk and vanilla extract and mix until thoroughly combined. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cardamom and salt. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture to butter mixture until thoroughly combined.
• Spread dough into an ungreased 9- by 13-inch baking pan. Brush egg white over dough, sprinkle evenly with chopped nuts and bake for 1 hour.
• Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• To make icing: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat melted butter and vanilla into powdered sugar. Add milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until icing reaches drizzling consistency. Spread icing over slightly warm bars. Allow icing to set and cut bars into cookies while bars are still slightly warm. Decorate with candied fruit, if desired.