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You are here: Home / Recipes / Sweet Treats / Soft Vanilla Sandwich Cookies

April 3, 2018

Soft Vanilla Sandwich Cookies

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These soft vanilla sandwich cookies are delightfully cute and delicious! A soft cookie sandwiched together with raspberry jam and topped with vanilla icing! Biscuits versus cookies, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that these soft vanilla sandwich cookies are delicious! 

pile of vanilla sandwich cookies in white ramekin on white surface

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Do any of you have those recipes that are passed down generations? You know, the ones you’ve been making since you were a kid, and you continue to make and will probably teach your own kids? Well, this is one of them.

My Grandma Fleur used to make these vanilla sandwich cookies all the time, and then my Mum did and now I do.

There is one funny story associated with cooking, my grandma and recipes from friends. Apparently, Gran had that one friend, who used to give her friends recipes with one or two ingredients missing, so that when they made them, their recipes didn’t turn out. Then they would say to her ‘oh you must be such a good cook, my recipes never turned out’! ????????????

Can you image?! Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret, these vanilla sandwich cookies have ALL the ingredients, and work every time!

close up on vanilla sandwich cookie

The original recipe was from one of my Grandma’s friends Joan, and have been simply known as ‘Joan’s Kiss Biscuits’. I have no idea why they are called Kiss Biscuits, but I do know that they are one of Australia’s many baked delicacies!

There was nothing more exciting as a child than going to the bakery to get one, knowing that you’ll end up with jam everywhere and sprinkles in the back seat of the car but that you’d love every minute of it!

Essentially what they are, is a soft vanilla cookie, sandwiched together with raspberry jam and iced with vanilla icing. And no, do not substitute the raspberry jam for any other kind. Has to be raspberry, no questions asked!

Secret Tips for Making the Perfect Vanilla Sandwich Cookies

The first secret to making these cookies is how much of the cookie dough you roll out. As a general rule, I use about a teaspoon of the mixture then roll it into balls. Don’t be too fussy, but just try and be consistent. Original kiss biscuits are kind of flat, but I prefer them risen and soft.

tray of cookie dough, 6 vanilla sandwich cookie dough rolled into small balls

The second secret to making these perfectly soft and fluffy is the cooking time. Over the years, I’ve tried and tested these babies to find out that the ultimate cooking time is around 8-10 minutes. This is where things start to get a little technical. I’ve made these in my Mums oven, and they take exactly 8 minutes. I made them in my oven the other day, and they took closer to 12-14 minutes.

You want them to just have a slightly brown edge and underside, but they will continue to cook once taken from the oven.

Using a non-stick silicone baking mat with help the process of even cooking. I noticed that my oven gets really hot on the bottom rack and burns the bottom. So I used my top rack to get an evenly cooked cookie. I am trusting that you guys know your oven and know how it cooks!

Every oven is different, so just make sure you keep an eye on them!

See image below for confirmation of what does happen when you overdo it! Obviously, you want your cookies to be like the cookie on the right in both pictures – just golden brown and delicious!

4 cookies on a tray, two upside down, one burned, one light and golden brown

These biscuits/cookies are soft, fluffy and deliciously buttery. You won’t go back once you’ve tried them! Every time I make them I’m reminded of home and hours spent with Mumma bear sitting on the bench top as a young lass watching her cook and bake.

With Easter just passed, I’m feeling a little nostalgic, so I decided now was a perfect time to reshare this recipe!

A bonus note – these vanilla sandwich cookies freeze beautifully. After you’ve cooked them and cooled them, match them together according to size, and place them in a freezer bag or Ziploc bag.

Once you are ready to use them, whip them out and once you’ve got around to making the icing, they are already defrosted and ready to go.

These would be great for:

  • A high tea party with champagne and tea
  • Baby shower – dye the icing blue or pink
  • Gifts for friends – I love to wrap them up in clear cellophane with ribbon and give to friends when I go to their houses
  • Everyday eating – they really are delicious for an everyday cookie!

So, all hail Joan and here wonderful vanilla sandwich cookies! Let me know if you try them, tag us on Instagram @thehomecookskitchen

Georgie x x

seven vanilla sandwich cookies on white board

Vanilla Sandwich Cookies- light, fluffy, soft and so delicious! www.thehomecookskitchen.com

Vanilla Sandwich Cookies

Course: Baking, Cookies
Cuisine: Australian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Servings: 15 cookies
Calories: 265 kcal
Author: The Home Cooks Kitchen

These Vanilla Sandwich Cookies, aka Joan Kiss Biscuits, are a childhood favourite. So easy to make, these beauties and light, fluffy, and delightfully buttery. Careful not to over-cook them, as they will go hard and you'll be sad! But cook them right, and you're in for a delight! (see what I did there?)

Print

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lbs butter at room temperature, note 1
  • 1 cup granulated sugar/caster sugar note 2
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 1/2 cups self-raising flour
  • raspberry jam

Vanilla Icing (ices 12 cookie sandwiches)

  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar note 3
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tbsp butter melted
  • 1/4 tsp hot water
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 180C/355F
  2. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
  3. In a bowl, beat together butter and sugar until creamy and butter is smooth.
  4. Add eggs, one at a time beating after each addition.
  5. Gradually add the self-raising flour, beating after each addition.

  6. Take about one teaspoon of the mixture, and roll into a small bowl. Lay out dough onto parchment paper, leaving adequate room for cookies to spread (note 4)
  7. Bake in oven for 8-10 minutes, until cookies are just very lightly browned (note 5)
  8. Cool on a wire rack.

Cookie Assembly

  1. Once cooled, pair cookies according to roughly size. (note 5)
  2. Spread a small amount of raspberry jam and sandwich cookies together.

Icing

  1. Place powdered sugar/icing sugar in a bowl.
  2. Melt butter in microwave 20 seconds and add to icing sugar along with hot water and vanilla.
  3. Stir until smooth and relatively thick. (note 6)
  4. Ice cookies and leave so icing can set.

Recipe Notes

note 1 - most baking websites will say use unsalted butter. I prefer to use salted butter because I'm a rebel.

note 2 - if you're in Australia, always use caster sugar for baking. It's been killing me that I haven't been able to find it in America. In America, use granulated sugar and it works fine. I always prefer to use caster sugar in baking because it is less grainy.

note 3 - I used about a third of a cup and it wasn't quite enough. Add powdered sugar gradually until you have reached adequate consistency.

note 4 - cookies will spread a lot, so I usually bake around 6 per time on one tray (depending on tray size). Just make sure you leave enough space for spreading.

note 5 - the first batch might take closer to 12-15 minutes while your oven heats up, but usually they take around 8-10 minutes. Don't worry if they don't look fully cooked, you want them really soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. They will also continue to cook once you take them out of the oven. Be aware however of your oven - mine cooks really fast on the bottom, therefore they burnt a lot quicker than the cookies I placed on the top rack. I just used my top rack and in my oven it took around 12 minutes. Just keep an eye on them to make sure they are not over done!

note 6 - after this step, you could freeze them. Place paired cookies into a snap lock/freezer bag and place in freezer.

note 7 - if icing is looking too runny, add more powdered sugar. If it is too thick, add just a touch more hot water. I used 1/3 cup plus 2 extra tablespoons until I reached desired consistency.

Nutrition Facts
Vanilla Sandwich Cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 265 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 55mg 18%
Sodium 121mg 5%
Potassium 32mg 1%
Total Carbohydrates 33g 11%
Sugars 17g
Protein 3g 6%
Vitamin A 8.4%
Vitamin C 0.3%
Calcium 1%
Iron 1.7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe originally appeared on THCK in March 2017 and has since been reuploaded. The recipe is still the exact same delicious recipe though!

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great for gatherings, baby showers or high tea, these vanilla sandwich cookies are the perfect little cookie! Beautifully soft in the middle, slightly crunchy on the outside, and so darn cute!  #cookies #sandwichcookies #cookierecipe
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Filed Under: Sweet Treats Tagged With: baked goods, cookies, sandwich cookies

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Julia @ Drops of Jules says

    March 17, 2017 at 8:22 am

    Your photos are stunning and the recipe sounds fresh and sweet. Sharing this on my link love this week. 🙂

    Reply
    • Georgie says

      March 17, 2017 at 9:47 am

      Aw thanks so much Julia 🙂 it’s so nice to see my hard work finally paying off! And as a relatively new blogger, it’s so nice to hear some positive feedback! thanks for the love x

      Reply
  2. Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says

    March 18, 2017 at 10:43 am

    These are such a beauty! I would love to enjoy a few (and a few more) over some tea. Pinning now – thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Georgie says

      March 30, 2017 at 10:12 am

      YES! they would be perfect with tea! thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  3. Emily Weir says

    March 18, 2017 at 11:20 am

    These looks so tasty and cute! And the pictures are great!

    Reply
    • Georgie says

      March 30, 2017 at 10:12 am

      Thanks Emily 🙂 appreciate the positive feedback!

      Reply
  4. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says

    March 20, 2017 at 9:44 am

    These are so cute, Georgie! I’ve never heard of kiss cookies and I’m quite sure I’ve been missing out all these years. Vanilla and raspberry and sprinkles all combined in one cookie is basically a dream come true :). I’m going to try these sometime soon–pinned!

    Reply
    • Georgie says

      March 30, 2017 at 10:12 am

      Thanks Kelsie! ha ha I think they are an Australian only thing! huge hit back at home when we were kids! they are really delicious and super soft and fluffy!

      Reply
  5. Allie @ Miss Allie's Kitchen says

    March 22, 2017 at 12:30 pm

    GIRL! These are the most fun & stunning things ever! Must pin for later!

    Reply
    • Georgie says

      March 30, 2017 at 10:11 am

      Thanks Allie! They were so fun to photograph 🙂

      Reply
  6. DiklaLF says

    May 6, 2017 at 9:09 am

    I decided I would marry my husband with the first bite of his mom’s cookies, I only had to move continents for it…best decition I ever made! Now I need to travel to your continent and try these , (or maybe I’ll just bake them ????.)Beautiful pictures!

    Reply
  7. Jenn L says

    April 3, 2018 at 9:10 am

    These are so totally up my alley! Love how sweet and little they are – everyone needs a bite-sized sandwich cookie in their arsenal!

    Reply
    • Georgie says

      April 3, 2018 at 9:44 am

      bite sized cookies are the best right!!! thanks Jenn 🙂

      Reply
  8. beth says

    April 3, 2018 at 9:14 am

    Oh, that’s terrible to leave out ingredients!! They were like that though! My mom wouldn’t even give my sister-in-laws recipes, until they were in the family long enough! lol! No wonder these cookies have been passed down! They look amazing!

    Reply
    • Georgie says

      April 3, 2018 at 9:45 am

      ha ha i love that! i don’t think I could not share a family recipe with my inlaws! but isn’t it funny that my grans friends used to deliberately leave out ingredients ha ha

      Reply
  9. Veena Azmanov says

    April 3, 2018 at 9:58 am

    Wow, these SOFT VANILLA SANDWICH COOKIES are so cute! I want to eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Looks very beautiful and delicious! I definitely want to try this! Thank you for sharing this great recipe!

    Reply
    • Georgie says

      April 3, 2018 at 10:08 am

      thanks Veena 🙂 they’re my favourite recipe on the blog by far!!!

      Reply
  10. Ann says

    April 3, 2018 at 10:52 am

    Your photos are mouthwatering and I love that story about your grandma’s friend. How funny! These sound delicious. I love family recipes so will have to give them a try.

    Reply
    • Georgie says

      April 3, 2018 at 11:27 am

      thanks Ann! it was the first photo i took with my new 50mm lens last year and has been my favourite ever since!

      Reply
  11. Kelli says

    April 3, 2018 at 5:59 pm

    Definitely making these for the office! Love the sprinkles – they are so much fun! 🙂

    Reply
    • Georgie says

      April 4, 2018 at 1:42 pm

      they are! these are great for an office morning tea! thanks Kelli 🙂

      Reply
  12. Leslie Haasch says

    April 6, 2018 at 11:19 am

    These are just so cute – I love little bite sized cookies! Well, anything really – but especially cookies!

    Reply
    • Georgie says

      April 7, 2018 at 11:22 am

      thanks Leslie 🙂 bite-size cookies are SO good, it means you can have more right?!

      Reply

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