Black Forest Cookies – Cherry Jam and White Chocolate Filled Holiday Treat Recipe
Black Forest Cookies, inspired by the classic Black Forest cake, are delightful Christmas treats featuring a rich cocoa dough, creamy white chocolate filling, and a luscious cherry jam center. These elegant cookies combine the flavors of cocoa, white chocolate, and cherry jam, topped with a touch of dark chocolate for a festive and indulgent holiday dessert.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 32 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies (12 sandwich cookies) 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough:
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated 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 melting
- A small handful of chopped dark chocolate, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a bowl, knead together the flour, softened unsalted butter, sugar, vanilla sugar, egg, and cocoa powder until you form a smooth dough. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 30 to 60 minutes to allow it to rest and firm up.
- Make the White Chocolate Filling: While the dough chills, finely chop the white chocolate. Bring the heavy cream to a boil in a saucepan, then pour it immediately over the white chocolate. Stir continuously until the mixture is smooth and completely melted without any lumps. Place the filling in the refrigerator and chill for several hours to let it set and thicken.
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 320°F (160°C) for fan/convection ovens or 356°F (180°C) for conventional ovens to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Shape and Bake the Cookies: Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the dough evenly. Use a cookie cutter to cut out circles. For half of these circles, cut a smaller hole in the center to later hold the cherry jam. Arrange all cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until firm but not overly browned. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
- Melt and Prepare the Dark Chocolate: Finely chop the milk or dark chocolate. Slowly melt it in a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over simmering water, stirring until smooth.
- Dip and Decorate Cookie Tops: Briefly dip the cookie halves with holes in the centers into the melted dark chocolate. Place them on parchment paper and immediately sprinkle with the chopped dark chocolate. Allow the chocolate to set and harden completely.
- Whip the White Chocolate Filling: Beat the chilled white chocolate cream filling with a hand mixer or whisk until it becomes creamy and fluffy. Transfer it to a piping bag fitted with a round or star-shaped nozzle.
- Assemble the Cookies: Pipe a swirl of the white chocolate filling onto the whole cookie bases (without holes), leaving the center clear for the jam. Next, gently warm the cherry jam or jelly to make it more spreadable. Optionally, mix in cherry schnapps for added flavor. Spoon or pipe the cherry jam into the centers of the filled cookies.
- Finish: Top each jam-filled cookie with a chocolate-dipped and sprinkled cookie half, gently pressing to sandwich the layers. Let them rest briefly to set, then enjoy your festive Black Forest Cookies!
Notes
- Vanilla sugar can be substituted with 1 teaspoon vanilla extract if unavailable.
- For a boozy touch, add cherry schnapps to the cherry jam, but omit for a kid-friendly version.
- Be sure to strain the cherry jam or jelly to achieve a smooth filling without chunks.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days; refrigeration may stiffen the filling.
- Use a double boiler or careful indirect heat to melt chocolate to prevent burning.
Keywords: Black Forest Cookies, Christmas Cookies, Holiday Cookies, Chocolate Cherry Cookies, Festive Cookies, German Dessert, White Chocolate Filling, Cherry Jam Cookies
