Chewy Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

I made these cookies last night and they are very soft and chewy, like a good cookie should be. And they're just so cute!

{image/ recipe found here}

INGREDIENTS

2 bars (4 oz each) bittersweet chocolate, broken into 1-in. pieces

2⁄3 cup sugar

2 large eggs

2 Tbsp butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour

1⁄4 tsp each baking powder and salt

1⁄2 cup mini–semisweet chocolate chips

mint- or coffee-flavored buttercream*

PREPARATION

1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Line baking sheets with nonstick foil or parchment paper. Put chocolate in large glass bowl. Microwave on high 1 minute, stirring every 20 seconds, until chocolate is melted and smooth.

2. Stir in sugar, eggs, butter and vanilla; mix well. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt until blended. Stir in mini-chips.

3. Drop level tablespoons 11⁄2 in. apart onto prepared baking sheets. Bake 10 minutes until cookies are puffed and set. Cool on baking sheet 2 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

4. For each sandwich, spread 1 Tbsp buttercream frosting onto bottom of cookie; press another cookie on top. Refrigerate in an airtight container with wax paper between layers.

*Buttercream Frosting Recipe

3 oz cream cheese, softened

2 Tbsp butter, softened

2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 Tbsp milk

1⁄4 tsp vanilla extract

PREPARATION

Beat ingredients in medium bowl with electric mixer until smooth. Then beat on high speed 1 minute until fluffy.

Mint Use 1⁄4 tsp peppermint extract instead of vanilla; add a few drops of green food color.

Coffee Dissolve 1 Tbsp instant coffee in 1 Tbsp hot water; add instead of milk.

Apple Instead of milk, add 1 to 2 Tbsp apple juice until spreadable.

* * * * *

These were very good and E liked them a lot-- I'll definitely make them again because they are just so cute! :)

--Becky