Buckwheat & Brandy Cookie Sandwiches
Hello, y’all! Two weeks ago, SAVEUR named Chasing Delicious as a finalist in the Best Baking and Desserts Blog category in their 3rd Annual Best Food Blogs Awards 2012. I must thank everyone who nominated me – I am honored y’all thought of me as your favorite dessert blog. If you’ve got the time I’d love your vote too. If I win I will bake everyone cookies! Ok. Wait. Maybe that won’t be possible. An internet hug for everyone? Yes! That’s it. Thank you again!
“It’s going to come down tonight. Cats and dogs.” The weathered, experienced eyes of my grandfather stares up into the bright blue sky. Leather-like hands filled with wrinkles, scars and spots ruffle my hair as his deep, unhesitating voice predicts the future. My own eyes peer up to his then to the sky and back down to him.
“But the weather man said it’s going to be sunny all weekend,” an eight year old me insists.
The old man lets out a chuckle before turning to head back to the house; I still stand in the dry creek bed staring up at the sky, my mind wondering how could my grandfather be so sure of something that wasn’t going to happen. Could he be right? I turn to see I have been left behind; my small legs hustle to catch up with him.
Inside the ancient house, on the lime green couch my mom use to sit on as a child, I twiddle my thumbs in boredom, staring out the large bay windows. I patiently watch the sky, waiting for the right moment I can run to my grandfather and tell him I told you so. But, as my little eyes stare outside, my thoughts are interrupted with a flash and a deafening boom. Seconds later the pounding patter of a heavy rainstorm deafens any other sound first landing on the roof, then the ground outside. The light outside disappears as a large, rain-saturated cloud moves overhead.
The comforting – and simultaneously frightening – sound of heavy storms consumed the weekend. Dark afternoons were filled with captivating stories from my grandfather, from woking intelligence against the Japanese in World War Two, to his days at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and eventually on to his job running a travel agency, including the time he hopped the counter to “persuade” the manager at a New York Hotel that lost the reservations for him and a high school band of 100 on a school trip . Grandmother meanwhile worked away in the kitchen making sure my brother and I were stocked with fresh-from-the oven chocolate chip cookies and tall glasses of warm milk.
Finally after the rain began to clear up, days after my grandpa’s prediction, I build the courage to ask him how he knew it would rain all weekend. With his intimidating, seventy-years perfected, stare he gazed down to me and laughed before walking out of the room with a mere wink. Soon I would learn such predictions are far from magic, but for those years a a child I swore my grandfather was physic. His sense of humor, dry and droll, let jokes span years – I am still waiting on the punchline for some.
To this day I find myself laughing at his waggish humor, wondering what lessons and answers were really sarcastic jabs at my incessant questioning and wondering. And as the temperature on a hot day begins to drop and the air becomes saturated with the delightful smell of metal before a storm rolls in, I think about my grandfather and his all-knowing predictions. As I munch on warm cookies on a wet day I find myself staring out the window, watching large rain drops fall, thinking back to the years of stories I’d listen to hour on end.
Buckwheat & Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches with Brandy Filling
This recipe will yield 12 large cookie sandwiches.
Difficulty: Easy
Tools:
Stand mixer with beater attachment or
Large bowl and wooden spoon
Piping bag(s) & tip(s) or a small icing spatulaIngredients:
24 Buckwheat Chocolate Chip Cookies (recipe below)
8 ounces salted butter
13 ounces powdered sugar
3 tablespoons brandyInstructions:
1. Bake the cookies according to the instructions and set them aside to cool.
2. Mix the butter and sugar together in a bowl until combined.
3. Add the brandy to the sugar and butter and mix until the frosting is light and fluffy.
4. Lay out 12 cookies, upside down, using piping bags or an icing spatula to spread icing onto the bottoms of 12 cookies. Use a star tip for a ridged appearance or a circle tip for a smooth or daisy-shaped frosting appearance – for a uniform ridged or smooth frosting look, pipe one large dollop of frosting into the center of the cooking; for a daisy or dotted appearance, pipe five smaller dollops in a circle, closer to the edge of the cookie.
5. Take the remaining 12 cookies and press them gently onto the frosted cookies until the frosting smooths out and reaches the edge of the cookie.
6. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to three or four days.
While you can use any cookie recipe you’d like, I find the nutty and earth flavors in these buckwheat chocolate chip cookies to pair wonderfully with the sweet brandy frosting. This cookie recipe will deliver delicious chewy and soft thin cookies with a slightly crisp cookie edge – my favorite kind of cookie.
Buckwheat Chocolate Chip Cookies
This recipe will yield 24 large cookies.
Difficulty: Easy
Tools:
Stand mixer with beater attachment or
Large bowl and wooden spoon
2 baking sheets lined with parchment paperIngredients:
4 ounces unsalted butter, at room temp.
5.5 ounces sugar
1 teaspoon molasses
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ounce buckwheat flour
5 ounces cake flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
8 ounces dark chocolate, roughly choppedInstructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F
2. Cream the butter, sugar and molasses together until light and fluffy.
3. Add the egg and vanilla and mix in until completely blended.
4. Add the flours, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Mix in until just combined.
5. Add the chopped chocolate and mix in until evenly distributed.
6. Evenly spoon the dough onto the lined baking sheets. Bake in a preheated oven for 10 to 14 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are just beginning to brown.
7. Cool on the baking sheets for a couple minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy!
Your Grandfather sounds like a wise man! These cookies sound wonderful! I have never used buckwheat for baking, but it is something I will have to try! I love that you have used brandy in the buttery filling, I imagine it is hard to eat just one of these ;).
This looks really good! And I hope it rains here too ’cause it’s extremely hot :(
Nice story. And good cookie! I love brandy, and the filling sounds terrific. Other than pancakes, I don’t believe I’ve ever cooked with buckwheat. Kind of a gap in my education, wouldn’t you say? Cookie recipe looks quite good.
These look heavenly!! Awesome idea!
I love the way you tell stories, Russell. I always become so captivated that I forget about the recipes. These sounds unforgettable, though. They look divine!
Wonderful story, Russell! Great read.
Also, these cookies sounds delicious. I’ve never used buckwheat flour before, but I bet it’s wonderful!
such a sweet memory :) You have a way with words boi! Oh and those cookies! pass me some
I love using buckwheat flour in baking at the moment, it has such a great taste and texture. I haven’t thought of combining it with a boozy cream before but I’m so there.
really good pics russell…
You certainly have a wonderful way with words Russell. What a wonderful story. Your sandwich cookies look like an amazing treat.
Chocolate and brandy is one of my all time favourite combinations – this filling reminds me of Christmas brandy butter and chocolate chip cookies all rolled into one. Yum!
This post is just delicious and I don’t mean because of the cookies … your story is fantastic … beautifully crafted, as are the cookies, incidentally!
The photos are just the icing …
You’re lucky to have had a granddad to love you. :)
I love these cookies. Amazing!
I can almost smell the storm rolling in from here and there is something about the twinkle in a wise old eye that cannot be matched. Buckwheat and Molasses added to chocolate chip cookies and topped off with brandy – how very lovely.
Ah, another boozy treat Russell? Lets stay on this trend for a great while! :)
Love this!
A fabulous memory from your childhood. I think it’s so lovely when grandparents and grandchildren share a bond. I am that way with my mother’s parents and this story just reminded me of that strong connection.
These cookies are so gorgeous!!
I am not a sweet tooth, but you always have the most delicious recipes Russell. This is a must bake cookie. Love the brandy cream filling!
Congratulations!! Well deserved :)
And these sound fantastic – I am very intrigued by the buckwheat component.
Between the boozy pies and this Brandy filling, I think you’ve got me covered ;) Also extra congrats on your nomination! I’ll surely be voting for you!!
Your grandfather sounds delightful, as do the cookie sandwiches…lovely!
Awe, I love grandpa wisdom. My dad has the same personality. I never know if he’s making me think, or telling facts, but You better believe I listened! These look amazing, Russell!
What beautiful memories of your grandfather, you have such a wonderful way with words.
Buckwheat adds such an interesting, rustic flavour to things. Love these sandwich cookies!
These cookies are fit for a gentleman grandfather. Cheers!
Oh those are just lovely! I always love coming here to see your pictures, they totally tell a story.
That filling looks amazing and the cookies sound amazing. I love the thin with a crispy edge a chewy middle! Plus nothing better than trying out a new flour ;)
Hi Russell! Your grandpa reminds me a lot of mine. He loves to tell us stories about WW2 too when the Japs invaded Malaysia. Anyways, I think I might have said it before, but I always leave your blog feeling pumped and refreshed. You really do inspire me to do better, bake better if possible and take more prettier photos too. I have not worked with buckwheat before, and am real curious about it right now. Btw, CONGRATS too ;). Have a good week ahead. Cheers, Jo
oh what a delicious combination that sounds like!
These cookies look awesome!!!
the Boozy the Better….. right!!!
And of course a beautiful post!!
B/W congrats!!! You deserve it my friend!!
How can anyone NOT vote for you when you make stuff like this? Seriously. Gorgeous.
Congratulations again! I could seriously go for some boozy cookies right now. These look absolutely delicious!
Congrats on Saveur!!
What a wonderful childhood memory — and that sandwich cookies, need some now :D
Great story Russel and yours buckwheat cookies look amazing!
Congrats, congrats! Your site is beautiful- I am glad you are a finalist! Love your story too ;)
love the story and the photography is stunning! i want to make these cookies!!
Awww, what a sweet story, Russell. And speaking of sweet…oh my goodness these cookies! The Brandy filling is absolute perfection. I must say, this is one of my favorite recipes I’ve come across.
Congrats on being a finalist! You are definitely one of my favorite dessert blogs! That brandy filling in these cookies sound perfect!
I am a ridiculous fan of all things buckwheat, to the point where I am now looking at growing my own buckwheat. So this recipe thrills me to pieces! Congrats on the Saveur nomination and good luck! From a fellow Saveur finalist (in the video category) Cheers :-)
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