The Tips
A Few Weeks in Advance
Decide early on what you are going to bake. That way, there’s no last minute scrambling through Pinterest/books/your favorite blogs for recipes. This also gives you time to…
The Day Before
Day Of
Immediately After
2015 Christmas Cookie Boxes
Rich and delicious eggnog buttercream frosting snuggled inside of Snickerdoodle Sandwich Cookies makes for a perfect holiday treat!
( November 2016 Update : I updated the old iPhone photos in this post, but if you scroll all the way to the bottom, there’s still one old photo to remember Baking Mischief’s pre-DSLR days by. 😉
We’re so close to Christmas that I can practically taste it! There are two big things I love about this time of year. One we’re going to talk about in a minute, but the other is Christmas movies!
I have a very strict Christmas-movies-between-Thanksgiving-and-Christmas-day-only policy, so by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, I’m chomping at the bit to watch all of my favorites.
A few on the list this year are A Muppet Christmas Carol , While You Were Sleeping, Iron Man III , and Polar Express . The family traditionally gets together and watches Love Actually , but I swear that film gets sadder every year, so we decided to give it a pass this Christmas. Do you have any favorite holiday films?
And now back to my first love of Christmas time, Christmas baking! December is probably my favorite baking month, because I have an excuse to make ALL THE COOKIES, like my Miniature Hot Chocolate Cookies , my Butterscotch Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies , my Chai Sugar Cookies with Eggnog Glaze , and basically every cookie I’ve pinned on Pinterest for the last month (guys, I make so many cookies in December).
But there’s one cookie that holds a special Christmas place in me heart: Snickerdoodles.
They are the cookies I make on Christmas eve every year to eat while we sip hot chocolate and wait for Santa. But everyone has a snickerdoodle recipe , and mine is very much more of the same. So I thought I’d put a little twist on it. Enter Snickerdoodle Sandwich Cookies with Eggnog Buttercream Filling.
I’m going to be honest. These are the sort of ridiculous, ridiculously good, desserts you can only really justify around the holidays. They’re rich and buttery and AMAZING. The decadent eggnog buttercream takes the humble cinnamon snickerdoodle and elevates it to the stuff of dreams.
I tried a couple different fillings with these cookies and the minute this one crossed my lips, I knew I’d found a winner. I’ve been throwing test batches at everyone I know for the last couple of weeks (so I don’t eat them all myself!) to rave reviews and now I cant wait to share them with you!
Ingredients
Snickerdoodles
- ▢ 4 tablespoons ( 2oz ) unsalted butter room temperature
- ▢ 1/4 cup ( 48 g) shortening
- ▢ 3/4 cup ( 150 g) granulated sugar
- ▢ 1 large egg
- ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ▢ 1 1/3 cups ( 187 g) all-purpose flour
- ▢ 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- ▢ 1/8 teaspoon salt
- ▢ 2 tablespoons ( 25g ) granulated sugar
- ▢ 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Eggnog Buttercream
- ▢ 1 1/2 cup ( 180 g) powdered sugar sifted
- ▢ 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- ▢ Pinch of salt
- ▢ 1/2 cup ( 4oz ) unsalted butter softened
- ▢ 1-2 tablespoons eggnog or heavy cream
Instructions
Snickerdoodles
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Cover two cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream butter, shortening, and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla.
- Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. On low, mix in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt until just combined.
- In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of sugar with the cinnamon. Scoop 36 1/2-ounce mounds of dough into balls (just over 1-inch wide) and roll in sugar mixture. Place on a baking sheet 1 1/2-inches apart. These are small cookies, so you should be able to fit 18-20 on a standard-size cookie tray.
- Bake for 6 to 8 minutes. They are done when they are just golden and look set. You don’t want them to crisp up too much since we are turning them into sandwiches.
- Allow cookies to cool completely.
Eggnog Buttercream
- In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside. Cream butter and add the powdered sugar mixture and 1 tablespoon of the eggnog, beating until combined. If your frosting is too dry, mix in a little more eggnog, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
Assemble
- Pair cookies by size so that you have 18 sandwiches with matching halves.
- The best way to fill these cookies is to “pipe” the buttercream. Spoon the buttercream into a disposable plastic bag and cut off a corner. Pipe frosting in the center your first cookie, about two-thirds of the way to the edge and then top with a second cookie and squeeze gently until the frosting comes to the edges. I recommend experimenting with a couple cookies to see how much frosting you need before finishing the entire batch.
Nutritional Information Snickerdoodle Cookies Adapted from AllRecipes
Original Snickerdoodle Cookie Sandwiches Photography, circa 2015 (iPhone 5)
Charming shortbread tea bag cookies, dipped in chocolate, with printable “Sherlock” tea tags.
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://bakingmischief.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sherlock-tea-bag-cookies-with-printable-tea-tags-1.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Charming shortbread tea bag cookies, dipped in chocolate, with printable “Sherlock” tea tags from BakingMischief.com. - 12”>
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://i2.wp.com/bakingmischief.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sherlock-tea-bag-cookies-with-printable-tea-tags-1.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Charming shortbread tea bag cookies, dipped in chocolate, with printable “Sherlock” tea tags from BakingMischief.com. - 13”>
Are you ready for the Sherlock winter special? We all have the shows we love, possibly beyond reason. Sherlock is one of mine. The problem with loving this show is that it airs a three-episode season and then goes away for YEARS. The delight of loving it is that every time it comes back, it feels like an event. We aren’t even getting three episodes this time around, just a single 90-minute episode, but it’s Sherlock , so it’s cause for celebration.
We’re celebrating around here by making these Sherlock -themed tea bag cookies. The cookie base is my favorite crumbly, buttery shortbread, covered with melted chocolate and adorned with custom tea tags for a perfect Sherlock dessert. As a bonus, I have a fun extra recipe to use up the scraps so nothing goes to waste! (Scroll down to see!)
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://bakingmischief.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sherlock-tea-bag-cookies-with-printable-tea-tags-2.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Charming shortbread tea bag cookies, dipped in chocolate, with printable “Sherlock” tea tags from BakingMischief.com. - 14”>
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://i2.wp.com/bakingmischief.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sherlock-tea-bag-cookies-with-printable-tea-tags-2.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Charming shortbread tea bag cookies, dipped in chocolate, with printable “Sherlock” tea tags from BakingMischief.com. - 15”>
I love this show so much, I broke out my dusty old wacom tablet and created three different tea tags for you to use. Click on each tag to download a printable sheet of the design. Number four will give you a mix of the three.
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://bakingmischief.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sherlock-tea-bag-cookies-with-printable-tea-tags-222b.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Charming shortbread tea bag cookies, dipped in chocolate, with printable “Sherlock” tea tags from BakingMischief.com. - 16”>
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://i2.wp.com/bakingmischief.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sherlock-tea-bag-cookies-with-printable-tea-tags-222b.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Charming shortbread tea bag cookies, dipped in chocolate, with printable “Sherlock” tea tags from BakingMischief.com. - 17”>
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://bakingmischief.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sherlock-tea-bag-cookies-with-printable-tea-tags-smiley-face.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Charming shortbread tea bag cookies, dipped in chocolate, with printable “Sherlock” tea tags from BakingMischief.com. - 18”>
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://i2.wp.com/bakingmischief.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sherlock-tea-bag-cookies-with-printable-tea-tags-smiley-face.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Charming shortbread tea bag cookies, dipped in chocolate, with printable “Sherlock” tea tags from BakingMischief.com. - 19”>
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://bakingmischief.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sherlock-tea-bag-cookies-with-printable-tea-tags-surprisingly-okay.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Charming shortbread tea bag cookies, dipped in chocolate, with printable “Sherlock” tea tags from BakingMischief.com. - 20”>
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://i2.wp.com/bakingmischief.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sherlock-tea-bag-cookies-with-printable-tea-tags-surprisingly-okay.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Charming shortbread tea bag cookies, dipped in chocolate, with printable “Sherlock” tea tags from BakingMischief.com. - 21”>
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://bakingmischief.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sherlock-tea-bag-cookies-with-printable-tea-tags-all-three.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Charming shortbread tea bag cookies, dipped in chocolate, with printable “Sherlock” tea tags from BakingMischief.com. - 22”>
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://i2.wp.com/bakingmischief.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sherlock-tea-bag-cookies-with-printable-tea-tags-all-three.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Charming shortbread tea bag cookies, dipped in chocolate, with printable “Sherlock” tea tags from BakingMischief.com. - 23”>
British Government/Silver Fox fans, I also made a special tag just for you. <3 <3
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://bakingmischief.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sherlock-tea-bag-cookies-with-printable-tea-tags-3.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Charming shortbread tea bag cookies, dipped in chocolate, with printable “Sherlock” tea tags from BakingMischief.com. - 24”>
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://i2.wp.com/bakingmischief.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sherlock-tea-bag-cookies-with-printable-tea-tags-3.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Charming shortbread tea bag cookies, dipped in chocolate, with printable “Sherlock” tea tags from BakingMischief.com. - 25”>
Ingredients
Cookies
- ▢ 1 cup ( 8oz ) unsalted butter room temperature
- ▢ 1/2 cup ( 60g ) powdered sugar sifted
- ▢ 2 cups ( 280g ) all-purposflour
- ▢ 1/8 teaspoon salt
- ▢ 6-8 oz sweetened baking chocolate
- ▢ Chocolate sprinkles for bonus recipe only
Tags
- ▢ Thread or twine cut into 12-inch pieces
- ▢ Double sided tape or glue stick
- ▢ Printed tea tags downloads available above
- ▢ Printed tea bag stencil optional
Instructions
Cookies
- Cover two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
- Cream the butter and sugar. Stir in flour and salt, mixing until just combined. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of your bowl.
- Dump dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap. Wrap and smash into a 1-inch thick disk. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Roll dough out on a piece of floured parchment paper, to 1/4 inch thick. Make sure to flour the top of the dough before rolling it out, so your rolling pin doesn’t stick.
- Cut out rectangles of about 1.75 inches x 2.25 inches. A pizza cutter works great for this!
- Using the stencil or eyeballing it, cut the two top corners off of each cookie, then use a straw to punch a hole in the cookie for the string.
- Use a spatula to place cookies on a baking tray 1 inch apart. You can squish and re-roll the scraps to make more cookies, or you can save them and make the bonus recipe below.
- Refrigerate the cut out dough for 15 minutes. This will help them keep their shape in the oven. Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Bake the cookies for 7-9 minutes until lightly golden. If they have formed any air bubbles while baking, gently (and carefully) pat down while the cookies are still warm. Set aside to cool.
- Once cookies have cooled, in the microwave, melt chocolate in a mug or other deep container. Start with 30 seconds, stir, and continue to microwave and stir in 15-second increments until melted.
- Dust any stray crumbs from your first cookie and dip until chocolate covers about half of it. Continue with the remaining cookies. When your chocolate gets low, you can sweep the cookies back and forth in the chocolate to help scoop it up the sides of your cookies so that they look uniform. Place on parchment paper and allow to set.
- Thread string and cut out tea tags. Using double-stick tape or a glue stick, fold and stick sides of paper together. Trim corners if desired. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutritional Information (Calories are for 30 cookies made with 7 oz chocolate) Cookies inspired by: As Easy as Apple Pie Shortbread adapted from: In the Kitchen with Stefano Faita
Bonus Recipe!
If you’re a Sherlock fan, I’m sure you’ve seen one-thousand-and-one of these Martin Freeman hedgehog memes. With your extra dough scraps, why not make your own little hedgehog?
Squish scraps together, divide into 1-ounce pieces and roll into balls (about 1.5 inches each). Shape into teardrops and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Bake 12-14 min at 350 degrees F, until the cookie is lightly golden brown. Holding the cookies upside down, dip back halves in chocolate and cover with sprinkles. Dot on eyes and nose with a toothpick. Instant John Watson.
Hedgehog Cookies inspired by: Taste of Home
Hey Sherlock, what do you think of the cookies?
