Caramel Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches (Vegan + GF)

It’s still January; until now, you have probably successfully stuck to your New Year’s resolutions. Congrats if you did! But all good things come to an end, and it’s time to pause your new diet for a day and indulge in these incredibly rich chocolate and caramel cookie sandwiches. Don’t worry, though. I have healthier recipes coming to make up for this one!

This recipe is inspired by my Soft chocolate chip snickerdoodles, but taken to another level.

Tender vanilla cookies filled with a soft chocolate ganache and a gooey layer of date caramel. I honestly don’t think you can make heavier cookies, but they are so good it doesn’t even matter.

Caramel Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches (Vegan + GF)

It starts with the cookie dough, which is gluten-free and sweetened with coconut sugar. It’s what gives the cookies their golden brown color. Adding applesauce and almond flour to the dough makes these cookies extra soft and tender with a cake-like texture.

Caramel Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches (Vegan + GF)

While your cookies are baking, you make the chocolate filling and the caramel. The chocolate filling requires only two ingredients: dark chocolate and almond milk. It’s made exactly like a ganache. Almond milk is heated in a saucepan and poured over the chopped chocolate to melt it.

Caramel Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches (Vegan + GF)

The caramel flavor comes from medjool dates (natural candy, in my opinion). When I reach for a candy or energy bar, I like to swap it out for a big and gooey medjool date, the best snack ever and 100% natural!

So, the caramel is simply medjool dates that are processed until smooth and creamy. If you don’t have moist medjool dates on hand, you can use other dates and soak them in warm water for about 1 hour. Next comes the fun part: sandwiching the cookies! Spread one layer of chocolate ganache on a cookie, top it with date caramel, and sandwich it with another cookie. That’s it.

Am I going too far if I suggest you dip the cookie sandwiches in more chocolate? Probably, but well…I did it, and it was amazing. You get a thin, crispy chocolate shell with that soft, chocolatey, moist, [put other awesome adjectives here] inside.

Caramel Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches (Vegan + GF)

If you are a chocolate lover, I’m sure you will love these cookie sandwiches, especially if you dip them in more chocolate! Kids will devour these in no time!

Caramel Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches (Vegan + GF)

Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe, and don’t hesitate to tag @fullofplants on Instagram if you take a photo!

Caramel Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches (Vegan + GF)

Caramel Chocolate Sandwich Cookies (Vegan + GF)
Recipe

Caramel Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

4 from 1 vote
Author: Thomas Pagot
Soft and tender vanilla sandwich cookies filled with a rich chocolate ganache and a gooey date caramel. Dip them in dark chocolate if you dare!
Prep Time : 45 minutes
Cook Time : 9 minutes
Resting Time : 1 hour
Total Time : 1 hour 54 minutes
Servings 12 large sandwich cookies
Calories 238 kcal

Ingredients
 

Chocolate ganache filling

  • 5 ounces dark chocolate chopped
  • 1/2 cup almond milk

Cookies

Caramel

  • 1 cup medjool dates about 12 dates, pitted
  • 1 tbsp water optional, I didn't use it

Chocolate shell (optional)

  • 10 ounces dark chocolate chopped
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil

Instructions
 

Chocolate ganache filling

  • Place the chopped chocolate in a small bowl, then set aside.
  • In a saucepan, heat the almond milk over medium heat. Just before it starts boiling, remove it from the heat and pour it into the dark chocolate bowl. Let sit for about 3 minutes to let the chocolate melt. Whisk well to combine the melted chocolate with the milk.
  • Let it cool at room temperature while you prepare the cookies and the date caramel. After about 30-40 minutes it will have thicken and have the consistency of a paste. If it's still too soft, place the bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Caramel

  • Place the pitted medjool dates in the bowl of a food processor and process until you get a smooth paste. Add the water only if needed, if your medjool dates are very moist you won't need it. You want a thick and smooth consistency. Set aside.

Cookies

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the rice flour, arrowroot, almond flour, baking soda, baking powder, and coconut sugar.
  • Melt the coconut oil over low heat until just melted. Combine the coconut oil with the almond milk, applesauce and vanilla extract.
  • Slowly pour in the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until well combined using a wooden spoon. The dough will be soft but you don't need to chill it.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Transfer the dough to a piping bag and pipe 1.5-2-inch rounds of batter onto the prepared baking sheet, 3-4 inches apart, since the cookies will spread. You will probably need to cook them in 2-3 batches.
  • Bake 9 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Let cool completely before removing them from the baking sheet.
  • Spread about 1 tablespoon of the chocolate ganache onto the flat side of a cookie. Spread a tablespoon of date caramel on top of the chocolate ganache and sandwich with another cookie. Repeat with the remaining cookies.

Chocolate shell (optional)

  • Melt the dark chocolate with the coconut oil in a double boiler over medium heat.
  • Gently dip each cookie sandwich in the melted chocolate. You can use a fork or a dipping tool to make things easier. Make sure to tap your fork on the side of the bowl to let excess chocolate drip back into the bowl. Transfer the cookies to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let cool for at least 1 hour.
  • Store the cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days or 5 days in the refrigerator.

Notes

  • If dipping the cookies, make sure to use a chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa butter (70% dark chocolate for example); it will result in a thinner coating.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 filled cookie (without chocolate coating) | Calories: 238 kcal | Carbohydrates: 38.5 g | Protein: 2.4 g | Fat: 9 g | Fiber: 2.1 g | Sugar: 24.5 g
Course : Cookies, Dessert, Sweets
Cuisine : American
Did you make this recipe? Tag @fullofplants on Instagram and hashtag it #fullofplants
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10 Comments

  1. 4 stars
    found the arrowroot, so made them today. They are easy to make and they taste delicious!
    My chocolate ganache wasn’t as thick as yours, but still okay. I dipped some of them in chocolate, but that is a bit to much. So next cookies are gonna be dipped only half in chocolate and I will halve the size… this american cookie size is way to big. I like to eat more cookies instead of having enough after eating one.
    thanx for the recipe!

    1. I also like to make smaller cookies! Concerning the chocolate dipping, you need to make sure you are using a high percentage cocoa butter chocolate so the coating is thinner.