APRICOT-FILLED SANDWICH COOKIES

Apricot-Filled Sandwich Cookies image

I bake these delightful cookies every year for Christmas and when I share a tray of my homemade treats with the faculty at school, these are always the first to disappear! I've even had requests to make them for wedding receptions.-Deb Lyon, Bangor, Pennsylvania

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 50m

Yield about 4 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
FILLING:
2 cups dried apricots
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
TOPPING:
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon shortening
4 teaspoons confectioners' sugar

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs. In another bowl, combine flour and walnuts; gradually beat into creamed mixture. , Shape into 1-1/2-in.-thick logs. Cut crosswise into 1/4-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until bottoms begin to brown, 10-12 minutes. Cool completely on pans on wire racks., Meanwhile, for filling, combine apricots and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir until apricots are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain; cool to room temperature. Pulse 1/4 cup granulated sugar, cinnamon and apricots in a blender or food processor until smooth. Spread over bottoms of half of the cookies; cover with remaining cookies. , For topping, melt chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cookies. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 119 calories, Fat 6g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 18mg cholesterol, Sodium 34mg sodium, Carbohydrate 16g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.