Best Italian Fudge Filled Cookies Recipes

FLORENTINES (ITALY)

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
• Pulse the almonds in a food processor until finely chopped, but not pasty. Stir together the nuts, flour, zest and salt in a large bowl.
• Put the sugar, cream, corn syrup and butter in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a rolling boil and sugar is completely dissolved. Continue to boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, then pour mixture into almond mixture and stir just to combine. Set aside until cool enough to handle, 30 minutes.
• Scoop rounded teaspoons (for 3-inch cookies) or rounded tablespoons (for 6-inch cookies) of batter and roll into balls. Place on prepared baking sheet, leaving about 3 to 4 inches between each cookie since they spread.
• Bake 1 pan at a time, until the cookies are thin and an even golden brown color throughout, rotating pans halfway through baking time, about 10 to 11 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve.
• Optional chocolate topping: Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very low simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, about 1 to 2 minutes more.)
• For sandwiches: Drop about 1/2 teaspoon chocolate onto on the flat side of half of the cookies and press together with remaining halves. Return to rack and let chocolate set.
• For chocolate decor: Drizzle melted chocolate over Florentines as desired. Set aside at room temperature until chocolate is set.

FUDGE-FILLED DESSERT STRIPS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour and mix well. , Turn onto lightly floured surface; knead until smooth, about 3 minutes. Divide dough into fourths; cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until easy to handle. , In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and milk; stir until smooth. Stir in walnuts. Cool to room temperature. , Roll out each portion of dough onto an ungreased baking sheet into an 11x6-1/2-in. rectangle. Spread 3/4 cup chocolate filling down the center of each rectangle. Fold long sides to the center; press to seal all edges. Turn over so the seam sides are down., Bake at 350° for 27-32 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. Cut into 1/2-in. slices. Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired.

ITALIAN GRANDMA COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl; set aside.
• In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until well combined, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Add the lemon juice and flour mixture and mix until the dough just comes together.
• Fill a 16-inch piping bag fitted with a large star tip with three-quarters of the dough. Pipe 3-inch-long strips 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets (or pipe into stars if you prefer).
• Roll the remaining dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Put some sprinkles in a bowl and roll the balls in the sprinkles to coat. Place the balls 1 inch apart on another parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill the dough for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bake until the cookie edges are just golden brown, about 11 minutes. Allow to cool completely before decorating and enjoying.
• To decorate: Spread raspberry jam on the underside of one of the long cookies and sandwich with another long cookie. Continue with the remaining long cookies and jam.
• Microwave the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second increments, stirring between each, until melted.
• Dip the sandwiched cookies first in the chocolate, then in the sprinkles. Set the cookies aside on parchment until the chocolate is set, about 5 minutes. The cookies will keep for a few weeks packed in an airtight container.

FUDGE-STUFFED CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Steps:

• Line a small, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a 1/4-ounce (1/2 tablespoon) cookie scoop, portion hot fudge into 18 balls; place on prepared baking sheet. Freeze, uncovered, until firm, at least 30 minutes, up to 12 hours.
• Meanwhile, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.
• Beat together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. With mixer on low, add eggs, one at a time, beating until just combined after each addition. Beat in vanilla until just combined. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture, beating until just combined. Gently fold in chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
• Cover cookie dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes or up to 12 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 3 large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Using a 1-ounce (2 tablespoon) cookie scoop, portion 1 scoop of chilled cookie dough, and place in the palm of a floured hand. Using a floured thumb, gently create a cavity in the center of the cookie dough. Place 1 frozen fudge ball in center cavity; scoop an additional cookie dough portion, and place on top of fudge ball, wrapping excess dough around fudge ball and rolling in hands to seal.
• Place on a prepared baking sheet; repeat process with remaining dough and fudge balls, placing 4 inches apart on prepared baking sheets (6 per sheet).
• Refrigerate, uncovered, until firm, at least 30 minutes, up to 12 hours.
• Bake one baking sheet at a time in the preheated oven, until golden brown, 14 to 16 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Serve warm or transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 30 minutes more. Repeat with remaining stuffed cookie dough balls.