Black Forest Cookies – Christmas Cookies Ideas Recipe
These Black Forest Cookies are a delightful Christmas treat inspired by the classic Black Forest cake. Featuring a buttery cocoa-infused dough, a creamy white chocolate filling, and a cherry jam center, these cookies offer a perfect balance of rich chocolate and fruity sweetness. Finished with a dark chocolate dip and sprinkled with chopped chocolate, they are ideal for festive occasions and holiday cookie exchanges.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 42 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough:
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 packet vanilla sugar (about 1 teaspoon)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
For the Filling:
- 7 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
- 3.4 fluid ounces heavy cream
- 10.5 ounces cherry jam (strained) or cherry jelly
- Optional: 1-2 tablespoons cherry schnapps
Additionally:
- 3.5 ounces milk or dark chocolate, for dipping
- A small handful of chopped dark chocolate, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, softened butter, sugar, vanilla sugar, egg, and cocoa powder. Knead all ingredients together until a smooth dough forms. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes to allow it to rest and firm up.
- Make the White Chocolate Filling: Finely chop the white chocolate and place it in a heatproof bowl. Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan until it reaches a boil. Immediately pour the hot cream over the chopped white chocolate and stir continuously until the mixture is smooth, glossy, and free of lumps. Cover and chill the filling in the refrigerator for several hours until it is set and firm enough to whip.
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 320°F for convection baking or 356°F for a conventional oven to ensure even baking.
- Shape the Cookies: Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. Using a round cookie cutter, cut out circles for the base cookies. For half of these circles, cut out a smaller hole in the center to create the top cookie that will showcase the cherry filling. Place all cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until firm to the touch but not overbrowned. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare the Dark Chocolate Coating: Finely chop the milk or dark chocolate and melt it gently over a double boiler, stirring to ensure a smooth texture. Dip the cookies with the center hole briefly into the melted chocolate, then place them on parchment paper. Immediately sprinkle with the chopped dark chocolate for added texture and visual appeal. Allow the chocolate to set and harden at room temperature.
- Whip the White Chocolate Filling: Using a hand mixer or whisk, beat the chilled white chocolate filling until it reaches a creamy, pipeable consistency. Transfer the filling into a piping bag fitted with a round or star tip.
- Assemble the Cookies: Pipe a generous swirl of white chocolate filling onto the solid base cookies, leaving the center clear for the jam. Warm the cherry jam or jelly slightly to make it more spreadable and optionally stir in 1-2 tablespoons of cherry schnapps for extra flavor.
- Fill and Finish: Spoon or pipe the warmed cherry jam into the center of each filled cookie. Top each with a chocolate-dipped cookie with the hole, pressing gently so the jam is visible through the opening, creating a beautiful contrast.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the dough is well chilled before rolling out to prevent spreading while baking.
- Straining the cherry jam removes any chunks, giving a smoother filling texture.
- The cherry schnapps is optional but adds an authentic Black Forest flavor.
- Dipping cookies quickly into chocolate prevents them from becoming soggy.
- Store the assembled cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator; consume within a week for optimal freshness.
- To avoid overbaking, keep a close eye on the cookies as ovens vary.
Keywords: Black Forest cookies, Christmas cookies, holiday cookies, cherry jam cookies, cocoa cookies, white chocolate filling, festive cookies
