The Lean Veggie - Giada's chocolate orange cookies

Nothing can beat the taste of cakes and cookies that you bake at home. I don't bake as often as I would like to, as almost every tempting recipe has eggs in it. Thats why I jumped at the opportunity to try out Giada's Italian chocolate sandwich cookies.

I did not have polenta or cornmeal, and so I just used all purpose flour. According to the reviewers, the cornmeal made the cookies too gritty, so this was definitely not an ingredient that was missed. After reading the helpful reviews, I modified the recipe and the ingredients, and the end result was amazing. The cookies are super light, with just a hint of orange, and a rich chocolatey taste. The filling is light and creamy and sweetens the not-so-sweet chocolate cookie. So here is the link to Giada's original recipe, and here is my modified recipe below -

Chocolate Cookies:

1/3 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

Sugar - pour till the 100 ml mark in a measuring cup

Cocoa powder - pour till the 50 ml mark in a measuring cup

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 pinch salt

1/4 tsp orange zest

1 tsp orange juice

Orange Filling:

2 tbsp unsalted butter

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp orange juice

1/4 tsp vanilla essence

To make the Chocolate Cookies, in a large bowl use an electric mixer to cream together the butter and sugar until light in color and fluffy. In another medium bowl stir together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, orange juice, and orange zest. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Using your hands, knead the mixture into a dough, gathering the loose powdery ingredients repeatedly till they come together. If the mixture is too dry, add another tablespoon of melted butter. Roll with your hands into a thick log, about an inch and a half in diameter. You can split the mixture into two portions and roll two logs if it is easier. Work on a clean countertop.

Wrap each log in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Then, remove from wrap. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the log into discs, about an 1/8 inch thick. Cover a pizza pan/baking sheet with aluminum foil and spread the discs out. These cookies will not rise or spread, so you can place them fairly close together. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.

Meanwhile, to make the Orange Filling, combine the butter, powdered sugar, orange zest, and vanilla essence in a medium bowl. Use an electric mixer to cream the ingredients together. Add more sugar if needed.

To assemble the cookie sandwiches, place about 1/4 teaspoon of the Orange Filling on a cookie. Spread with a butter knife. Top with another cookie and press the cookies together.