Homemade Oreos

For Father's Day this year, I made homemade oreos. I've been making these for a few years now here and there and I think they are really tasty. They don't taste exactly like real oreos, but I like them better. =) They are fun to make and they turn out pretty cute looking.

Here's a picture of some that I made a few years ago for a party. I cut the dough with a cookie cutter and got these cute flower shapes.

The recipe that I use for them is one I copied out of a magazine several years ago. I can't even remember the name of the magazine, but here's the recipe:

To make the cookies:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa (I always use Hershey's cocoa)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1 large egg

To make the filling:
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Mix together flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and sugar in a mixer. While on low speed add in the butter and the egg. Continue mixing until dough comes together.

Lay down two sheets of parchment paper. Divide batter in half and place one piece on each piece of parchment paper. Put another piece of parchment paper on top each piece of dough. Roll out dough between the pieces of parchment paper then place the two pieces in the freezer for about 10 minutes.

Pull the pieces back out and then cut out cookies with a cookie cutter or biscuit cutter and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.

To make the filling, put butter and shortening in a mixing bowl and mix at low speed. Then slowly add in the sugar and vanilla. Turn the mixer on high and mix for 2 to 3 minutes until filling is light and fluffy.

Then it's the really fun part -- putting the sandwiches together! I just take one cookie and spread the filling on it with a knife and then top it with another cookie. Pretty simple. =)