Ultimate Maple Bacon Bourbon Cream Sandwich Cookies Recipes

ULTIMATE MAPLE-BACON BOURBON CREAM SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. For the Maple-Bourbon Bacon Shortbread Cookies: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• 2. In a large pan on medium heat, render bacon pieces until crispy. Remove bacon to drain on paper towels, reserving 1 tablespoon bacon fat for later use. Set aside 25 bacon pieces for garnish, if desired.
• 3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream 1 cup softened butter with brown sugar until well combined.
• 4. Add 1 tablespoon of the bourbon and 1/2 teaspoon of the maple extract, mixing well.
• 5. Add flour and remaining bacon pieces. Mix on low until stiff dough forms.
• 6. Sprinkle clean work surface lightly with flour or powdered sugar to reduce sticking. Roll out dough to 1/8 inch, cut into 50 squares with a sharp knife or cookie cutters.
• 7. Place onto parchment-lined sheets and bake for 14-18 minutes or until set and slightly golden at edges. Let cool completely.
• 8. For the Maple Bourbon Buttercream Filling: In a separate bowl with an electric mixer, beat remaining 1/2 cup butter with 1 cup of the powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon maple extract, and remaining tablespoon bourbon until fluffy and light.
• 9. Place into a disposable piping bag or ziptop bag. Snip point of the bag with scissors, and pipe onto bottom of cooled cookie. Top with the second cookie, pressing lightly to form a sandwich.
• 10. FOR MAPLE-BACON DRIZZLE: In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar, maple syrup, reserved bacon fat (heat gently if needed to liquefy), and thin with milk, 1 tablespoon at a time until drizzling consistency is achieved.
• 11. Place in a ziptop bag, snip the corner, and drizzle on top of sandwich cookies.
• 12. Top each cookie with a reserved piece of bacon, if desired. Let icing set until dry.

MAPLE CREAM SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Cookies:In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs and beat until combined, about 30 seconds. Add flour mixture and beat on low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds, scraping down sides as necessary.
• Divide dough into four disks; wrap each in plastic and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough 1/8 inch thick, lightly dusting with flour to prevent sticking. Cut out cookies using a 4-inch maple-leaf-shaped cutter, dipping cutter in flour as needed. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets and freeze until firm, about 10 minutes. Repeat process with remaining dough.
• Bake, rotating halfway through, until edges begin to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Filling:In the bowl of a electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter until light and fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and maple syrup; beat until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Pipe 2 tablespoons filling onto bottoms of half the cookies, then sandwich with remaining cookies. Filled cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.