From The Perfect Cookie: Your ultimate guide to foolproof cookies, brownies & bars, by America’s Test Kitchen (Penguin Random House, 2017)
Tart lemon filling is sandwiched between chewy, warmly spiced molasses cookies for a study in balance and contrast. To pair, a rum-based cocktail echoes the flavor of the robust molasses in the cookie. A straight pour of aged rum would be harmonious, too.
Published: December 13, 2017
Ingredients for Cookies
Ingredients for Filling
Directions for Cookies
Whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ground ginger, salt and ground cloves together in bowl. In second bowl, melt and cool ¾ cup butter, and mix with ½ cup sugar, molasses and egg, until combined. Stir flour mixture into molasses mixture. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.
Spread ½ cup granulated sugar in shallow dish.
Heat oven to 375˚F. Roll dough into ¾-inch balls, then roll in granulated sugar. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets, and press flat. Bake until tops just begin to crack, 8–10 minutes, switching and rotating sheets halfway through. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Repeat with remaining dough. Let cookies cool completely.
Make filling and assemble sandwiches
Whisk butter, powdered sugar and lemon juice in bowl until smooth. Spread 1 heaping teaspoon filling over half of cookies, then top with remaining cookies, pressing lightly to adhere. Let filling set for 1 hour before serving. Makes about 42 sandwich cookies.
Palmetto Cocktail Pairing
In a mixing glass, combine 1½ ounces aged rum, 1½ ounces sweet vermouth, 1 dash orange bitters and ice. Stir until chilled and strain into a coupe glass.
