If you’re on the hunt for a dessert that’s not only delicious but also shows off a bit of flair, then this Chocolate Raspberry Sandwich Cookies Recipe is going to be your new best friend. These cookies are decadently chocolatey with a rich, fudgy center, paired perfectly with a tangy and creamy raspberry frosting that’s just bursting with fresh berry flavor. Trust me, you’ll want to keep this recipe handy because it’s one of those treats that always wows guests and has my family asking for seconds.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect Balance of Flavors: The rich chocolate cookies and tart raspberry frosting complement each other beautifully.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Dough chills overnight, so you can prep in advance and bake fresh when ready.
- Show-Stopping Presentation: These sandwich cookies look impressive but are totally doable for everyday baking.
- Fresh and Homemade: You’re making your own frosting from fresh raspberries – no jarred jams here!
Ingredients You’ll Need
For these Chocolate Raspberry Sandwich Cookies, the ingredients give you a luscious cookie with a tender crumb, plus a bright, creamy frosting that’s both tangy and sweet. Choosing good quality cocoa and fresh raspberries really makes a difference!
- All-purpose flour: The base for structure, measure it by spooning into your cup to keep cookies tender.
- Cocoa powder: Use unsweetened natural cocoa for a deep chocolate flavor.
- Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise just right without getting cakey.
- Salt: Enhances all the sweet and chocolatey flavors.
- Unsalted butter: Softened but not melted; the backbone of a rich cookie.
- Brown sugar: Adds moisture and a slight caramel note that I love.
- White sugar: Balances the sweetness with crispness.
- Egg: For binding, make sure it’s room temperature for best texture.
- Vanilla extract: A splash for warmth and depth.
- Chocolate chips: Semi-sweet or dark, your choice for extra melty pockets of chocolate.
- Raspberries: Fresh is best, but frozen can work if there’s no syrup.
- Cream cheese: Full-fat and brick style for rich, tangy frosting.
- Powdered sugar: For smooth sweetness in the frosting.
Variations
I love making this Chocolate Raspberry Sandwich Cookies Recipe my own by switching things up depending on my mood or pantry supplies. Feel free to experiment a bit; that’s part of the fun.
- Swap the berries: I once tried fresh blackberries instead of raspberries, and it gave a deeper berry flavor that was just divine.
- Dairy-free version: Use vegan butter and dairy-free cream cheese to make these allergy-friendly without losing texture or taste.
- Jam shortcut: Running low on time? Use good-quality seedless raspberry jam to replace the fresh raspberry puree – it’s a total timesaver.
- Dark chocolate lover’s twist: Double the chocolate chips or toss in chunks of your favorite dark chocolate bar for an extra indulgent cookie.
How to Make Chocolate Raspberry Sandwich Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Whisk and Mix Your Dry Ingredients
Start by whisking together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. I like to do this first because it saves time and ensures all your dry ingredients get evenly distributed. It also helps avoid any clumps of cocoa powder, which can be a common frustration.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars Until Fluffy
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with the brown and white sugars until light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer. When I first tried this recipe, I didn’t cream the butter enough and ended up with denser cookies, so don’t skip this step! Then, beat in the egg and vanilla until it’s all combined.
Step 3: Combine and Chill the Dough
Slowly add your dry ingredients into the wet mixture while mixing on low. The dough will be sticky – that’s okay! Fold in your chocolate chips. Now, here’s where patience pays off: cover the dough and chill it in the fridge for at least 3 hours or overnight. This chilling step is essential to prevent spreading and to deepen the flavors.
Step 4: Shape and Bake Your Cookies
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line your cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. I usually scoop the dough with a tablespoon measure to get even-sized cookies about the size of a golf ball. Space them about 2 inches apart because they will spread a bit. Bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for the tops to look set but still soft. Let them cool completely—you don’t want to squish out your frosting!
Step 5: Make the Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting
While your cookies cool, blend the raspberries until smooth, then strain the puree through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds. Heating this puree gently on the stove until it thickens is a trick I discovered that concentrates that raspberry flavor beautifully without watering down the frosting. Let the puree cool, then beat softened butter and cream cheese together. Add powdered sugar and salt gradually, mixing in raspberry puree in between until your frosting is perfectly creamy and balanced.
Step 6: Assemble Those Sandwiches
Spread a generous tablespoon of the raspberry cream cheese frosting on the bottom of one cookie, then gently press a second cookie on top to create your sandwich. This is the moment I love because they just look so inviting and pretty. You’ll end up with about 14 delicious sandwiches that are perfect for sharing (or not!).
Pro Tips for Making Chocolate Raspberry Sandwich Cookies Recipe
- Chilling is Non-Negotiable: I learned the hard way that skipping the chill means flatter cookies, so give yourself that time—it’s worth it.
- Handling Sticky Dough: If your dough feels too sticky to work with, lightly dust your hands or spoon with flour for easier shaping.
- Seed Removal Magic: The straining step for the raspberry puree took me a few tries, but it makes the frosting silky smooth and seed-free—worth the patience!
- Cool Your Cookies Before Frosting: Spreading frosting on warm cookies will melt it, so keep those cookies fully cooled for neat sandwiches.
How to Serve Chocolate Raspberry Sandwich Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I like to sprinkle a tiny pinch of powdered sugar over the top just before serving—it adds an elegant touch that makes the cookies look bakery-grade. Fresh raspberries on the side also make the plate pop with color and flavor.
Side Dishes
This recipe pairs wonderfully with a nice cup of hot coffee or a creamy latte. For special occasions, I’ll serve these cookies alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a simple whipped cream to complement the richness.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I’ve arranged these sandwich cookies on a tiered dessert stand with fresh mint leaves scattered around. It instantly elevates the look! Another fun idea is to gently dip half of each sandwich in melted chocolate and let them harden for an extra chocolate punch.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Because of that fresh raspberry frosting, I always store these cookies in an airtight container in the fridge. They stay fresh and the flavors actually mellow wonderfully over a day. I’ve found they keep well for about 3-4 days before the cookies start softening too much.
Freezing
If I want to freeze these, I do so before assembling—freeze the baked cookies and the frosting separately. Once thawed, assemble fresh sandwiches. This keeps the cookie texture nice and avoids sogginess.
Reheating
Since these are sandwich cookies with cream cheese frosting, I recommend enjoying them chilled. If you prefer a softer cookie, let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before eating. Avoid microwaving once frosted to preserve texture and flavor.
FAQs
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Can I use frozen raspberries in this Chocolate Raspberry Sandwich Cookies Recipe?
Absolutely! Just make sure your frozen raspberries aren’t packed in syrup or sweetened. Thaw them first and drain any excess juice before blending and straining to keep your frosting from getting too watery.
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Why is chilling the cookie dough important?
Chilling the dough solidifies the butter, which helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking. It also improves the texture and intensifies the chocolate flavor, giving you a thicker, fudgier cookie.
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Can I skip making the raspberry puree and use raspberry jam instead?
Yes, you can! If you’re short on time, using good-quality seedless raspberry jam is a great shortcut. Just stir it into your frosting in place of the fresh raspberry puree. The flavor will be slightly different but still delicious.
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How should I store these sandwich cookies?
Because of the fresh raspberry frosting, keep your assembled sandwich cookies in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll last 3-4 days. If you expect to keep them longer, consider freezing the cookies and frosting separately and assembling fresh later.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely love how this Chocolate Raspberry Sandwich Cookies Recipe turns out every time—it’s a perfect blend of chocolate indulgence and fruity freshness that you’ll find yourself craving again and again. When I first made these at home, they quickly became my go-to for celebrations and sweet little pick-me-ups. If you try this recipe, I know you’re going to fall for the way the raspberry frosting cuts through the richness of the cookie in the most delicious way. So go ahead, make a batch, and prepare to impress yourself, your family, and your friends!
Print
Chocolate Raspberry Sandwich Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 8 minutes
- Yield: 14 sandwich cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delight in these rich and fudgy Chocolate Raspberry Sandwich Cookies featuring soft chocolate cookies filled with a tangy and creamy raspberry cream cheese frosting. Perfectly balanced with a slight bitterness from cocoa and a sweet-tart raspberry filling, these sandwich cookies are a decadent treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Chocolate Cookies
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 2/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 cup raspberries, fresh or frozen (if frozen, not in syrup)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 oz full-fat cream cheese, brick style
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined. This forms the dry base for your cookie dough.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with the brown sugar and white sugar until the mixture is light, creamy, and fluffy. This aerates the dough and ensures a tender cookie.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract into the creamed butter and sugar mixture until a uniform batter forms.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture to the wet batter about half at a time. The dough will be sticky. Then gently fold in the semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips evenly throughout the dough.
- Chill Dough: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 3 hours, or preferably overnight. This chilling step solidifies the butter, prevents excessive spreading, and enhances flavor.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking.
- Form Cookie Dough Balls: Scoop the chilled dough into balls about 1 to 1.5 tablespoons in size, slightly smaller than a golf ball. Place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. This recipe yields around 28 cookies.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes until the tops are set but the cookies remain soft. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare Raspberry Puree: Place the fresh or frozen raspberries into a blender or food processor and pulse until smooth. Strain the puree through a fine metal sieve into a small bowl, pressing with a spoon to remove all seeds.
- Reduce Raspberry Puree: Transfer the strained raspberry puree to a small saucepan over low heat. Bring it to a gentle boil while stirring continuously. Continue boiling until the puree thickens to a jam-like consistency, reducing to just a few tablespoons. Remove from heat and let it cool completely.
- Make Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Add the cream cheese and beat until smooth and combined. With the mixer on low, gradually add about 1 cup of powdered sugar and the salt until incorporated.
- Add Raspberry Puree to Frosting: Stir in one tablespoon of the cooled thick raspberry puree ensuring it is well incorporated. Gradually add the remaining powdered sugar in half-cup increments, mixing in the remaining raspberry puree by tablespoons as well, until you achieve a smooth, spreadable frosting consistency.
- Assemble Sandwich Cookies: Spread about 1 tablespoon of raspberry cream cheese frosting on the flat side of one chocolate cookie. Top with another cookie, pressing gently to create a sandwich. Repeat with the remaining cookies to yield approximately 14 sandwich cookies.
Notes
- Chilling the cookie dough is essential to achieve the perfect texture and flavor. Prepare and chill the dough overnight for best results.
- If pressed for time, substitute the fresh raspberry puree and reduction steps with 1-2 tablespoons of seedless raspberry preserves or jam. Skip the puree reduction steps and simply mix preserves into the frosting.
- Store the assembled sandwich cookies in the refrigerator due to the fresh berry frosting. They will keep well for 3-4 days chilled.
- Ensure frozen raspberries used for frosting are not packed in syrup to avoid added liquid.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich cookie
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg