Little Time, Little Chocolate Mud Cake Cookie Sandwiches
I can hardly believe my parents have been here a week already. Actually, I can notice it rather clearly: I only had time to make cookies this week! But these little bites of heaven were enough to keep us talking and eating for a few days! Imagine a chocolate cake with a hint of coffee sandwiched between two dark chocolate shortbread cookies and held together by a dab of chocolate ganache. The combination of textures is just perfect.
A good bit of time is spent around the dinner table catching up, making plans. It’s like being on vacation at home. The weather has been gorgeous and we have spent most afternoons out and about, sightseeing, catching the first flower blooms and enjoying the warm, already summer like temperatures. I hope I don’t sound like a broken record with my "parent stories" but it is one of the most important things on my agenda right now. I want to write it down and share so I can remember and be reminded. It’s a good break for them and a good break for me.
I know B. loves having them around too as he and my mom are like two peas in a pod and he loves catching up with the family "back home". He’s been so gracious in giving our "together time" for the next few weeks that I wanted to bake him something special. I know the man loves cookies. Small word if you saw his face when I asked what kind he would like. "Something fun!" he said.
Small cookies are always fun and since it was for him and I know he likes cakes as much as cookies. Mud cake cookie sandwiches fit the bill perfectly. It may sound odd, ok I admit it, it did sound really strange to my parents but trust me, it works. These are probably the best fun bites I have had in a while. Crunch, creamy and soft. They are great with a simple glass of milk but they are also perfect with homemade chocolate sorbet. Pure chocolate therapy.
Chocolate Mud Cake Cookie Sandwiches Recipe:
Makes 24
For the Chocolate Sable Cookies:
1 stick butter (113 grams) butter, at room temperature
¼ cup (50 grams) sugar
½ vanilla bean, seeded or 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract or 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
2 egg yolks
1 ½ cups (190 grams) all purpose flour, minus 3 tablespoons
3 tablespoons (16gr) cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
1 to 2 tablespoons heavy cream (optional)
Preheat oven to 350F.
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add vanilla, then the egg yolks, one at a time, scraping the bottom and side of the bowl in between each addition. Add the flour, cocoa powder and salt and beat until the dough just starts to come together. Add some heavy cream if the dough still looks very crumbly and dry. Gather the dough into a ball, flatten it a little to a small disk and wrap it well in plastic wrap. Refrigerate two hours before using.
Lightly flour your work area well and start rolling the dough from the center out, lifting it from the work area every 2-3 times you roll over it. With a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out 48 rounds in the dough, gathering scraps and rerolling as you go (you might need to refrigerate the dough for 20 minutes if it becomes too soft to roll out easily).
Place the cookies on 2 parchment lined baking sheets and refrigerate 20 minutes. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool.
For the ganache:
6 oz (180gr) bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/3 cup heavy cream
Place the chocolate in a medium size bowl and set aside.
In a small saucepan set over medium high heat, bring the cream to a boil. Remove from the heat and pour it over the chocolate. Let the mixture stand for 3 to 5 minutes. Slowly stir the chocolate and cream together until the ganache is completely smooth. Let cool to room temperature.
For the Mud Cake (adapted from Pamela Clark):
1 stick (113gr) butter, at room temperature
4 oz (120gr) dark chocolate, chopped
1 cup (200gr) sugar
1/2 cup (125ml) water
3 tablespoons (30gr) coffee liqueur
2 egg yolks
1 cup (125gr) all purpose flour
3 tablespoons (16gr) cocoa powder
Preheat oven to 350F. Slightly coat two 8-x12-inch pans with cooking spray and line them with a piece of parchment paper. Slightly coat the parchment paper with cooking spray or vegetable oil.
In a small pot set over low heat, combine the butter, chocolate, sugar and water and stir until everything is melted and smooth. Remove from the heat, add the coffee liqueur and let cool to room temperature. Whisk in the egg yolks, then the flour and cocoa powder. Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake for 20 minutes. Let cool completely. Cut 24 rounds of the same size as the cookies.
To assemble the cookies:
Spread a small amount of chocolate ganache under each cookie and sandwich a mud cake round in between two of them. Dust with cocoa powder if desired
Comments
Nithya March 10, 2009 um 8:39 am
They look lovely! I can’t wait to make them myself. I would never have dreamt of sandwiching cookies with cake, but now I can’t think of anything else 🙂
Rosa's Yummy Yums March 10, 2009 um 8:43 am
These sandwich cookies are unusual! What an original idea… They look really good!
Cheers,
Rosa
Anonymous March 10, 2009 um 8:48 am
wow!!!! What a good idea and good looking sandwhiches.. Mmmmmm.
anadelicias March 10, 2009 um 8:53 am
Helen, I love your recipes and your photos are amazing… could you post chocolate sobet recipe, please???
Ana
Miette March 10, 2009 um 9:24 am
Those sound amazing good : crispy and softness… Could you post some of them to me ? 😉
Cheers,
Miette
May March 10, 2009 um 9:38 am
What a great idea! Those look so good and I’d definitely try to make them in the future 🙂
Anonymous March 10, 2009 um 10:13 am
The idea is astonishing.
Enjoy your parents and have fun with them.
Hugs,
Anda
Dominique March 10, 2009 um 10:27 am
Très original! il me tarde d’essayer… et de goûter. Toujours aussi belles les photos!
The Cutting Edge of Ordinary March 10, 2009 um 10:30 am
Gorgeous!
Sugar Daze March 10, 2009 um 10:32 am
These look so simple and delicious!
Sunshinemom March 10, 2009 um 10:59 am
Chocolicious:) I am bookmarking this one:)
sunita March 10, 2009 um 11:33 am
Helen, I’m in chocolate heaven!!
Enjoy your special time with your folks 🙂
Culinary Wannabe March 10, 2009 um 11:33 am
I like hearing about your parents' visit, it makes me homesick for my own! What beautiful little cookies. Dangerous when they are that small because you can eat so many!
Anonymous March 10, 2009 um 11:51 am
Yum! They look extra tasty! Glad to hear you’ve having such a great time with your parents visiting.
LizNoVeggieGirl March 10, 2009 um 11:54 am
Glad you’re able to spend time with your family!! And STILL have time to create another impressively divine treat 🙂
Sweet Treats by Dani March 10, 2009 um 12:13 pm
love it! enjoy the time with your fam 🙂
RecipeGirl March 10, 2009 um 12:36 pm
I love the mud cake idea. Your family must be in such awe of your great talents 🙂
Patricia Scarpin March 10, 2009 um 12:46 pm
B. has great taste, I’ll say – he married you, after all. 🙂
Helen, my dear, I don’t even need to tell you I’ll be trying these soon, right? 😀
ChichaJo March 10, 2009 um 1:05 pm
Chocolate and more chocolate! Never too much 🙂 The cookies look adorable and sounds scrumptious!
Anonymous March 10, 2009 um 2:00 pm
Ah…there is nothing like chocolate bliss!
Jo March 10, 2009 um 2:11 pm
These sound absolutely delicious. Imagine having a cooking and eating a cake at the same time. I’m also glad that you are enjoying time with you family.
Julia March 10, 2009 um 2:23 pm
It sounds like you guys are all having a wonderful time together. I love how you described it as being on vacation at home! Those treats look so yummy. Chocolate shortbread–what a wonder!
Nic March 10, 2009 um 2:43 pm
Glad to hear you are having a wonderful time with your parents.
The mud cake cookies look super – I’ll have mine with the choc sorbet please.
Anonymous March 10, 2009 um 2:44 pm
Cookies with cake sounds like something my husband would love too. These are so cute!
Simones Kitchen March 10, 2009 um 2:56 pm
They look absolutely delicious. it wouldn’t be something I would think of to combine cookies and cake but it seems to make perfect sense! I love your mom and dad stories by the way. I am really enjoying reading about it!
MyKitchenInHalfCups March 10, 2009 um 3:00 pm
Oh Helen I could use a little chocolate therapy right now.
You have it right enjoy your mom & dad & B!!
Arlette March 10, 2009 um 3:33 pm
Oh Helene your chocolate cookies are delicous I am going to try them this week.
I am home sick too, I wish my mom and my sisters can come again this year for a visit, or I can go and see every one…. enjoy the visit and the precious moments.
paula March 10, 2009 um 3:35 pm
these look divine. the photos and the cookies.
carolina @ patagonia gifts March 10, 2009 um 3:39 pm
Oh Helen, those delicious chocolate cookies are calling me so loud! Haven’t I mentioned I’m on a diet?
xoxo
Char March 10, 2009 um 4:09 pm
sheer heaven
Rita March 10, 2009 um 4:13 pm
Oh, you made me crave chocolate right now…
Anonymous March 10, 2009 um 4:30 pm
Every day I am left salivating! Your hubby is one lucky man…. but who eats all this? Do you modify your recipes for just one meal so there aren’t any left overs?… or do you gift your sweets daily? They are tremendously gorgeous, creative, thoughtful and decadent. I am inspired by you daily – but do want to know what you do with all the treats!
Valerie
Anonymous March 10, 2009 um 5:09 pm
Those are so cute! I love that you’re sandwiching cake between cookies!
Ashley March 10, 2009 um 5:20 pm
Yummy! They look so absolutely perfect! Glad you’re having a great time with your parents.
La Cuisine d'Helene March 10, 2009 um 5:51 pm
Wow, I would love to snack on those. Gorgeous pictures.
Hélène:)
Karynefoodaddict March 10, 2009 um 5:54 pm
faut dire que ça donne envie! mais dis moi, comment tu traduirais ce beau nom en français???
Rachel March 10, 2009 um 6:00 pm
Chocolate shortbread cookie sandwiches? Be still my heart.
Roberto N. March 10, 2009 um 6:06 pm
These look amazing… gotta try these sometime.
Helene March 10, 2009 um 6:15 pm
Valerie: most of my recipes are for 4 or 6 people so we may have the same dessert two days in a row but most of the time I freeze them for later. Everything can be eaten over 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Certain items like large cakes, cookies and macarons are shared with the neighbors and my Pilates students.
Lucy March 10, 2009 um 6:24 pm
One word: glorious!
They look like pure chocolate heaven 🙂
Natalie March 10, 2009 um 6:51 pm
mmmmm
i could use about 7 of those right now.
Ash March 10, 2009 um 7:01 pm
These look amazingly good!
what a great recipe!
Hayley March 10, 2009 um 8:17 pm
So pretty, as always. I never would have thought to combine all of these desserts.
Paladares da Isa March 10, 2009 um 9:40 pm
Adorei as fotos para além do seu blog.
Sou fã assidua…
Parabéns
Anonymous March 10, 2009 um 9:54 pm
ah, so sweet! and very creative.
cheers,
*heather*
Anonymous March 10, 2009 um 10:44 pm
These look amazing! I’m so glad I came across your blog, I can’t wait to try so many of the recipes 🙂
La Tartine Gourmande March 10, 2009 um 11:53 pm
Profites-en bien ! Ce sont les meilleurs moments. Moi non plus je n’ai le temps de rien ces temps-ci, meme pas de lire les blogs auxquels je suis habituee, c’est pour dire ! Ils ont l’air delicieux tes cookies.
Anonymous March 11, 2009 um 12:26 am
Thank you! Thank you! We got our little care package today and we were so happy to be eating these while reading this post! You are the best. After seeing your wonderful pictures, there is no way I will send you the ones I took of my plating…ahahah! Maybe I’ll send you one of the boys eating them!
xoxo
Cannelle Et Vanille March 11, 2009 um 1:09 am
sharing these little chocolate gems with family must be the best. beautiful photos!
cindy* March 11, 2009 um 1:26 am
these are fun! and different for your parents i am sure…so glad to here you are having a blast with your family (:
jb March 11, 2009 um 4:40 am
These are so adorable and delicious looking! I love miniature treats!
Anonymous March 11, 2009 um 5:09 am
These would make me very happy. Truly. Beautiful photos!
Anonymous March 11, 2009 um 12:53 pm
Looks so yummy the choc cookie sandwiches!
Lovely photos!
Anonymous March 11, 2009 um 1:27 pm
these look so yummy!!!! aah you are a fantastic cook! 🙂
evil & demented little cooker girl March 11, 2009 um 1:47 pm
i really admire your work! another fan here!
🙂 can’t wait to try out your recipes
Helene March 11, 2009 um 4:26 pm
Karyne: c’est difficile a traduire car le "mud cake" est vraiment typique aux US. C’est un gateau chocolat-cafe ou chocolat-liqueur de cafe. "mud" signifie "boue" et on l’appelle ainsi a cause de sa couleur qui rappelle celle de la boue. Donc, tu vois, pas tres joyeux!!
Anonymous March 11, 2009 um 4:44 pm
I am so glad I stumbled upon your beautiful blog! Your baking and images are inspirational. One thing though, would you mind sharing how you made the images sometime for those of us that are particularly interested in the photography aspect. I have really enjoyed visiting!
Lori March 11, 2009 um 6:13 pm
Odd- no
Brilliant- yes
Mouthwatering- absolutely!
laura March 11, 2009 um 7:47 pm
This recipe made my mouth water. My husband would flip if I made him those. Looks like I have a new weekend project!
Anonymous March 11, 2009 um 9:08 pm
Trop bon ces petits cookies tout chocolat !
Et je ne me lasse pas de ton talent de conteuse d’histoires…
Anonymous March 11, 2009 um 9:29 pm
is that Cath Kidston bowl in the background??anyway, just reading the first paragraph nearly put me in a heart attack. i was this close to breaking Lent for some of these…
ganache, chocolate cake, dash of coffee, chocolate biscuits?!?! you’re killing me.
looks fab by the way, as usual. 🙂 x
Anonymous March 11, 2009 um 9:44 pm
When anyone mentions mud cake…I’m in….These look fantastic!
Renee March 12, 2009 um 12:00 am
oh yum! they look unbelievably good!
pastry studio March 12, 2009 um 1:49 am
Oooooo, what a great idea to combine textures into a beautiful little sandwich. I definitely have to make these for a party!
Erin March 12, 2009 um 2:08 am
I’m impressed you blogged at all while your parents were in town. My mom just left today after a 10 day visit, and I didn’t cook or blog the whole time she was here. She’s a great cook, so I sat back and let her cook for us since I had to work during the days 🙂
Anonymous March 12, 2009 um 2:20 am
Chocolate PLUE coffee?
I am in heaven, and I was delivered by this recipe!
🙂
lynda March 12, 2009 um 2:23 am
These look scrumptious! I don’t know how you are findng all this time to bake and create with your parents here, but I am glad you are!
Cookie baker Lynn March 12, 2009 um 3:41 am
I love a dessert where you don’t have to choose between cookies and cake. So glad you’re having this wonderful time with your parents.
Christy March 12, 2009 um 10:02 am
Fantastic!! I can’t believe you have time to make stuff while working on your book and having your parents there. Quite a feat you pulled, I should be ashamed of not blogging more frequently. Love the mud cake chocolate cookie sandwiches!
Anonymous March 12, 2009 um 6:25 pm
Hey… these look like a chocolate lover’s dream. I’m more of a vanilla girl… not that I wouldn’t eat these greedily in a snap. Very good looking. You rule ,T.
Kristin March 12, 2009 um 7:24 pm
As I sit here drooling over the images! Oh that looks like a wonderful treat for a Thursday. I just love coming to your blog. Beautiful-wonderful!
Anonymous March 12, 2009 um 9:01 pm
These look fantastic – can’t wait to make them. I will never, ever grow tired of reading of your visit with your parents. Makes me miss mine evermore. Enjoy each and every moment and be sure to tell us about it.
Anonymous March 13, 2009 um 12:55 am
How do you make all of these lovely sweets without eating them all yourself? Yum!
Cynthia March 13, 2009 um 2:12 am
I know that I do not have to tell you what gorgeous desserts you make.
Anonymous March 13, 2009 um 1:08 pm
It raised my appetite,yummyyy:)
Bir Dut Masalı – nUnU March 13, 2009 um 6:13 pm
mmmmmmmmmmm…
:))
very nice AND DELÄ°CÄ°OUS
SEE YOU AGAÄ°N
BYE.
Philo aux fourneaux – Blog culinaire March 13, 2009 um 9:42 pm
Ils sont magnifiques ces biscuits ! J’aurai aimé piocher dedans
Anonymous March 14, 2009 um 4:18 am
I like the sharp contrast in textures. Even sables by itself are delicious for me so this sounds like such an indulgence.
Helene March 14, 2009 um 8:51 pm
Leemei: it is actually some little bowls (and I mean tiny) that my mom picked up at their local grocery store. No specific markings or brands on the bottom.
Karynefoodaddict March 15, 2009 um 10:23 am
il me semblait bien qu’une traduction était délicate!!! merci quand même d’avoir pris le temps d’y réfléchir!
Kana March 15, 2009 um 2:02 pm
Absolutely decadent!
Anonymous March 15, 2009 um 4:53 pm
that looks so super yummy! I’ll try some day!
Nicole March 15, 2009 um 6:37 pm
What a fun recipe! I think I could do this one too!
Anonymous March 17, 2009 um 5:13 pm
Great looking cookies. Their shape reminds me of macarons.
Are they easier to make (more foolproof)?
Anonymous March 19, 2009 um 9:15 pm
they look amazing, and I know I’m a pest, but don’t you need twice as many cookie circles as mud cake circles? Maybe you just cut 24 mud cakes?
Helene March 19, 2009 um 11:32 pm
You are absolutely right! That is a typo I will fix. Thank you!
Serena@TentarNonNuoce May 17, 2009 um 2:28 pm
Hi tartelette! excuse me…
in one of the photos on the right (the lower one) I seem to notice… a chocolate ice cream? am I right? is there the recipe anywhere?
thanks
ps: I love your blog and your recipes 😉
erika July 16, 2009 um 5:00 am
hi helen!
looooooooooove your blog 🙂
my sister is coming into town saturday and i wanted to make these for her (a true chocoholic) but i'll be away from the kitchen friday for work…is there anyway i can make these thursday and they'll be ok till saturday? or make the components and assemble saturday morning?
thanks so much!!
Tegan January 28, 2010 um 7:44 am
They look delectable. I deffo know what I'm making this Sunday. Are you going to have a post on your macaron classes you held? I read about them on Bakerella's blog which is how i was directed to you!