Flat cocoa hexagons joined with orange-scented dark-chocolate ganache, an Italian-style home sandwich variation.
Chocolate Orange Sandwich Cookies
Follow the tray sizes, portions and baking intervals in the instructions below.
Allow about 215 minutes: 45 hands-on, 60 chilling or resting, 30 whole-batch cooking and 80 cooling/setting. Cooling includes tray rest. Follow the method for batch sizes and doneness cues.
Kitchen tools you’ll need
- Kitchen scale and US measures
- Fine sieve
- Mixing bowl
- Fine citrus grater
- Rolling pin
- 2-inch hexagonal cutter
- Two 13 × 18-inch baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
- Small saucepan
- Heatproof bowl
- Small spreading knife
Flat cocoa hexagons joined with orange-scented dark-chocolate ganache, an Italian-style home sandwich variation.
Ingredients
Optional sprinkles are for decoration and are not included in the nutrition estimate. Spice weights are approximate.
Instructions
Mix cocoa-orange shortcrust
- 1Mix cocoa-orange shortcrustSift flour, cocoa and powdered sugar into a bowl. Add salt and rub in cool butter until the mixture is sandy. Stir in egg and the 6 g dough zest, then press into a disk without prolonged kneading. Wrap and refrigerate 1 hour.
Cut hexagonal halves
- 2Cut hexagonal halvesHeat oven to 350°F (177°C) conventional or 325°F (163°C) fan. Roll between parchment to 3/16 inch thick. Cut 40 solid hexagons using a cutter about 2 inches across opposite flat sides, rerolling scraps briefly. Arrange 20 on each of two lined 13 × 18-inch sheets, 1 inch apart.
Bake until set
- 3Bake until setBake one sheet at a time 12–15 minutes, 30 minutes for both. Cocoa obscures browning, so check for matte dry tops, firm outer corners and bases that release after a 5-minute tray rest. Cool another 25 minutes on a rack.
Prepare orange ganache
- 4Prepare orange ganacheHeat cream and the 2 g filling zest in a small saucepan until steaming, about 3 minutes counted as active work. Pour over chopped chocolate, wait 2 minutes and stir smooth; retain the fine zest in the filling. Cool 30 minutes until thick enough to spread. Divide about 8 g onto the flat sides of 20 cookies and add the remaining tops. Refrigerate 20 minutes to set. Cooling includes 30 minutes for the cookies, 30 for ganache and 20 for final setting.
Chef’s Science & Pro Tips
Ingredient science
Use only the colored outer orange peel; white pith makes the filling bitter.
Technique & texture
Choose natural unsweetened cocoa consistently; sweetened drink powder cannot replace it by weight.
Finishing & serving
Spread rather than whip the ganache so the sandwiches have a narrow even seam.
Storage and make-ahead
| Method | How long | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Room temperature | Up to 2 hours for serving | Keep the remaining cream-filled sandwiches refrigerated. |
| Refrigeration | Up to 3 days | Store airtight with parchment between layers. |
| Raw freezing | Up to 1 month | Freeze the plain cocoa dough disk; thaw in the refrigerator before rolling. |
| Baked freezing | Up to 1 month | Freeze unfilled cooled hexagons airtight and make fresh ganache after thawing. |
| Restoring | Before serving | Thaw halves sealed, fill and chill; let serving portions stand briefly before eating. |
Notes
- Use only the colored outer orange peel; white pith makes the filling bitter. Choose natural unsweetened cocoa consistently; sweetened drink powder cannot replace it by weight. Spread rather than whip the ganache so the sandwiches have a narrow even seam. This home formula has not been kitchen-tested.
Nutrition
Approximate nutrition per serving calculated from ingredient weights divided by 20; required fillings and toppings included, optional decorations excluded. Brands, unused coating and actual serving size affect the estimate.
THE COOKIE INDEXITALIANCHRISTMAS COOKIES
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add fresh orange juice to the filling?
Keep to zest in this formula. Juice changes the ganache liquid balance and can prevent a firm seam.
Why are the cookies dark but still soft when hot?
Cocoa hides color cues and warm butter dough is fragile. Use dry tops and the full cooling rest to assess doneness.
Does the filling contain uncooked egg?
No. Egg is baked in the cookie dough; the filling is chocolate, heated cream and orange zest.
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