Ginger Molasses Maple Cream Sandwich Cookies
You know what I love even more than a cookie?
More than one cookie.
And if those cookies are fluffy, ginger-spiced nuggets locked in a maple cream cheese embrace?
Let’s get hitched.
OK, no I’m not actually going to marry a cookie. For one, I like to think that Ben would be perturbed. For two, cookie monogamy sounds miserable.
Were I to lock it down forever with a baked good, however, these Ginger Molasses Maple Cream Sandwich Cookies would be a blissful choice.
Hence, I choose these fat little morsels of ginger glory as my contribution to the 1st Annual Blogging Buddies Virtual Cookie Exchange. I’ve teamed up with four of the web’s best bakers to bring you an appetizing array of cookie recipes. PLUS, I’m hosting another apron giveaway {details at bottom of post.} Best. Friday. Ever.
Bake any all of the below and be the star of your next cookie exchange!
- Turtle Thumbprint Cookies by Jessica of Portuguese Girl Cooks
- Granola and Graham Cracker Cookies with Chocolate Chips by Ashley of Baker By Nature
- Grandma’s Sugar Cookies by Joan of Chocolate, Chocolate, and More
- Heath Toffee Bars by Erin of Dinners Dishes and Desserts
And just for you: The Law Student’s Wife’s Ginger Molasses Maple Cream Sandwich Cookies.
We begin with twin puffs of holiday happiness, the ginger molasses cookies. Not for the flavor-shy, these babies pop with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Their texture is a pleasing paradox of classic cookie chew and soft cloud of ginger gladness.
Next, we gleefully squish our pleasingly plump ginger molasses cookies together, maple cream cheese frosting style. This dreamy filling delicately enhances the flavor of the cookies and happens to be killer good when licked directly off the back of a spoon. Don’t be shy.
Ginger Molasses Maple Cream Sandwich Cookies require little effort beyond letting the cookies cool long enough to prevent the filling from melting into maple cream hot lava, however enticing maple cream hot lava may sound. Do eat the obligatory, mouth-scorching, fresh-off-the-sheet cookie first. Then hide them. Try to forget about them. Ignore the fact that your house smells like a magical gingerbread palace.
Once the cookies cool, slather them with maple cream and reward yourself for your remarkable patience. You certainly deserve an extra Ginger Molasses Maple Cream Sandwich Cookie…or five.
Now onto the giveaway!
In honor the 1st Annual Blogging Buddies Virtual Cookie Exchange (and by popular demand) I’m hosting a second apron giveaway from Etsy shop MitzieAprons4U! I first shared my love of Mitzie’s aprons a few weeks ago and am thrilled to be featuring her again.
Look sassy while frosting that umpteenth batch of Christmas cookies, be the holiday Hostess with the Mostess, or surprise the baking queen in your life with one of Mitzie’s unique, handmade creations. One lucky winner will have her choice between the four festive aprons you see pictured in this post (the three below and the first pictured above).
For up to SIX entries to win a MitzieAprons4U holiday apron, complete the following. Each will earn you a separate entry to the giveaway.
Mandatory Entry: Visit Mitzie’s Etsy shop here and leave a comment on my blog below with a link to the apron you’d most like to wear while baking this holiday.
Entry 2: Like The Law Student’s Wife on Facebook here and leave a separate comment saying you did.
Entry 3: Subscribe to The Law Student’s Wife RSS feed OR become an email subscriber (enter your email address in the space provided at the upper right of this webpage) and leave a separate comment saying you did.
Entry 4: Tweet about the giveaway saying, “I just entered the @LawStudentsWife holiday apron giveaway! #giveaway bit.ly/W7Fieq” and leave a separate comment saying you did.
Entry 5: Tweet about the cookie exchange saying, “Fabulous, festive cookie recipes from Blogging Buddies Virtual Cookie Exchange#cookies bit.ly/W7Fieq” and leave a separate comment saying you did.
Entry 6: Follow @LawStudentsWife on Twitter and leave a separate comment saying you did.
Rules: Open to U.S. residents only. Giveaway runs from 12:00 AM EST 12/14/2012 through 12:00 AM EST 12/19/2012. Winner will be receiving his/her choice of ONE (1) of the 4 holiday aprons shown above (based on availability). One (1) winner with valid entry will be chosen by random.org. I will email the winner for shipping information. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or I will choose another winner.
Disclaimer: I do own one of Mitzie’s aprons. Opinions are, always, 100% my own.
HAPPY BAKING!
Ginger Molasses Maple Cream Sandwich Cookies
Fluffy ginger molasses cookies bursting with spice sandwich a rich maple cream cheese frosting.
Yield: 18 cookie sandwiches
Ingredients:
For the Cookies:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or sub all-purpose flour)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1/3 cup unsulfured molasses
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- Granulated sugar, for rolling the cookies
For the Maple Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (I used reduced fat Neufchâtel)
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Directions:
For the Cookies:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, sift together the whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt, then lightly stir to combine.
- In a large mixing bowl (or a standing mixer fit with the paddle attachment), beat the brown sugar, oil, and molasses on medium speed for 5 minutes. Turn the mixer to low, add the egg, and beat for 1 minute. Give the bowl a good scrape with a rubber spatula and beat for 1 more minute. With the mixer still on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the bowl and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.
- Use a spoon to scoop tablespoon-sized hunks of dough. With your hands, form dough into balls, then roll each cookie in granulated sugar. Place on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 9 minutes until just set. (They will appear underdone. Resist the urge to overbake). Let cool on the baking sheets for 1 to 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
For the Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add maple syrup, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Continue beating until well combined and smooth.
- Slather a healthy dollop onto the flat side of a single cookie, then press against the flat side of a second to form a cookie “sandwich.” Enjoy and repeat!
Storage tip: If you will not be devouring all of the cookies in a single sitting, frost only what you plan to eat right away (plus one more—you’ll be glad you to have an “extra.”) Store the remaining cookies in an airtight container and the maple cream filling in the fridge.
Did you try this recipe? I want to see! Follow Well Plated on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #wellplated. I love to know what you are making!
About Erin Clarke
I’m fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food taste incredible. Wearer of plaid, travel enthusiast, and firmly convinced that sweets and veggies both deserve a place at the table. MORE ABOUT ERIN…
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Your cookies look great – I love molasses cookies and interesting you put oil in yours, too! Add such a nice moisture, I think. And I love rolling them in cinnamon-sugar; it gets in all the cracks & crevices. Mmmm, good stuff :)
Thanks so much Averie!
I’m ordinarily a butter girl all the way, but the oil made these super duper fluffy, which is what I was going for. And the more cinnamon and sugar the better!
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Hi Erin. I tweeted about the apron giveaway…
Also forgot to say that the Peace Joy Hope Holiday Apron with Polka Dots would be perfect for Chrismas cookies. The flour from the gingerbread cookies I made last week ended up everywhere (pants, shirt, hair…); the apron would be a festive fix. (;
STORY OF MY LIFE! Aprons to the rescue. Thanks Georgia!
… and I tweeted about the cookie exchange!
Also, have you thought about adding a “Pin It” Pinterest icon/button to your posts? Perhaps it is not too practical or neccessary, but it could boost your Pinterest presence a bit too! Those Ginger Molasses Maple Cream Sandwich Cookies look amazing. Definitely trying this weekend (and pinning presently).
Oooh, disregard earlier comment… just saw the Pinterest button! Ha, early morning haze. My apologies!
~Georgia
Thanks so much Georgia!! Hope you enjoy. Happy baking!
These look AWESOME, Erin!!! I’ll take three please ;)
Hehehe. Thanks Ashley! I’ll take 3 as well!
Gorgeous photos, Erin!! And more importantly, these cookies look divine… I conveniently have not one but three holiday parties this weekend, which seems like a perfect time to try them out!! :D
Thanks Linds! Maybe someday I’ll be a real pro like you:-). Enjoy your round of parties. Sounds like so much fun!
Your cookies sound fabulous!! Love how thick they are! Thanks for including me this year!
Thanks so much Erin! We should do it again soon. Can’t wait to make your cookies too!
Your cookies look amazing! I love molasses cookies and with a cream filling… YUM! I would love to wear the Classy Provence Bordeaux Wine Apron during all of my holiay baking!
Thanks Becky! I’m a huge molasses fan too. It just makes everything so moist and flavorful!
I also tweeted about your giveaway! :)
YUM!! I love ginger cookies – I just made some last night. I need to make them into sandwich cookies now!
Ginger cookies are one of my all time holiday faves Cassie! I’m sure yours are dlish!
holy goodness these look amazing!
Put me in the hat to win this apron!!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/116823086/vintage-inspired-halter-flower-apron
Thanks Elizabeth! Hope you enjoy!
I like the polka dot apron. Thanks for the giveaway!
So cute!! Thanks Chelsea. Happy holiday baking!
Erin, I’d love to have this apron: http://www.etsy.com/listing/117859019/red-and-white-apron I love red! Thanks!
Hi Mary! Thanks for subscribing and for enter the giveaway! Hope to see you back soon :-)
Thanks Mary! Excited to have you here!
“Like” your facebook page!
Subscribed to your email list so I don’t miss anything!
Just tweeted your apron contest!
Just tweeted about your cookie exchange! Hopefully lots will come!
Following you on twitter!
I am loving ginger cookies this week and can’t wiat to bake more. I love the idea of turning them into sandwich cookies. These look GREAT!
Thanks so much! The more, the merrier:-)
Erin, these cookies look absolutely fabulous! I adore molasses cookies, so these are definitely at the top of my to bake list! Thanks for hosting and organizing the fab event- can’t wait for next year!!
I’m very lucky. I own one of Mitzie’s aprons! It is a full black denim apron with lady bugs! I would be honored to wear this one too: (jumping kitty) http://www.etsy.com/listing/113280503/jumping-kitty-cat-black-denim-half-apron.
It’s Mitzie great?! Thanks so much Anne. Cute apron choice too! Thanks for taking time to comment.
I love this apron. http://www.etsy.com/listing/116823086/vintage-inspired-halter-flower-apron
I am a fan on Fabebook!!!
I tweeted about the cookies!!!
I am a subscriber
I love these cookies so much!!!!! I made them earlier today and my soon to be lawschool boyfriend loves them!!!! Thanks :)
This makes me so happy Michelle!!! I’m thrilled that you (and your pre-law school BF) enjoyed them. When does he begin his studies?? Have a very happy holiday!
Thanks. He starts in the fall… so I feel like I’m going to be just like you soon!
Erin these cookies look so fluffy sweet and delicious!!!! Her apron’s are so cute…the holiday cookie apron is so fun for Christmas.
Thanks so much Angela! They really are fluff-tastic :-) Great apron choice too!
I likey like you on facebook!
Hi Erin! Hope all is well! I love love love your food blog site! Great recipes and I’m SOOO excited to start making some of them :-) I love food blogs and yours is GREAT!
good luck with everything and I will keep on following.
Happy holidays!
– Val
Thanks so much Val!! You are too sweet. Wishing you a very merry Christmas. Have a lovely holiday and New Year!
I love this apron! http://www.etsy.com/listing/116073881/peace-joy-hope-holiday-apron-with-polka
One of my favorites too Jess! Thanks for visiting and entering the contest.
I liked you on FB!
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Erin, I could eat a bunch of these little sweet treat cookies.
I followed you on FB :)
I followed you on twitter
I tweeted about the giveway
This is a cute one for the holidays http://www.etsy.com/listing/84288955/holiday-candy-apron-with-ruffle-trim
tweeted about the cookie exchange, I hope to join you all next time you have something like this :)
Thanks so much Suzanne! And absolutely, we’d love to have you next time around. Have a very merry Christmas!
The cookies look amazing!! I like the red polka dot apron! Thanks for the giveaway! http://www.etsy.com/listing/107288070/love-those-red-polka-dots-half-apron [email protected]
Thanks so much Sherry!
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So apparently Facebook no longer notifies you when someone tags your FB page, so I thought I would let you know that I shared this with my FB fans :) https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151821759788070&set=a.174654903069.124188.163690253069&type=1
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These look delicious and they are the perfect size! I’m a huge sandwich cookie fan and the fact that these are molasses and stuffed with maple cream cheese just made them even better. Can’t wait to try them out!
Thanks so much Danae! I love little puffy sandwich cookies like these too.
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G’day! One word Erin? YUM!
Wish I could try each and every one!
Cheers! Joanne
Viewed as part of Helene’s Christmas Cookie Collection 2013
Thank you so much Joanne! Hope you enjoy every bite :)
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These cookies look delicious! I want to bake them for a cookie exchange, however I have to bake them on a Thursday for a Sunday exchange (3 days in advance). Can they sit in the fridge with frosting for 3 days? Or do you recommend I make frosting 3 days in advance and frost the day of?
I could also hold off and make frosting the morning of, possibly too.
Thank you!
Hi Alyson! I would recommend making both the cookies and the frosting in advance (keeping the frosting separately in the fridge), then frosting the cookies the day of. I hope you enjoy the cookies…and all the ones you get in return!