Raspberry Shortbread Sandwich Cookies

This post and recipe was created for #SummerDessertWeek! I was sent samples by some of the sponsor companies but as always opinions are 100% mine.

Why This Recipe Works

The magic of these cookies is that I made them with pure freeze-dried raspberry powder. Using the powder, which is generally sold as a supplement or to add to smoothies, does a few things for this recipe:

1. Since it doesn’t contain any liquid, raspberry powder provides a punch of raspberry flavor without making the cookie tough. So you get a true, crumbly and sandy shortbread without sacrificing huge fruit flavor.
2. It makes the cookies a gorgeous color. As you can see from the photos, the powder truly makes a stunning cookie. They even look a bit like macarons to me, but they are pure raspberry-butter goodness.
3. Experiment with other freeze-dried fruit powders to make your favorite fruit flavored shortbread.
4. They’re filled with Nutella, so if you think raspberry-chocolate-hazelnut sounds like a dreamy combination, these shortbread sandwich cookies are for you. If you don’t like Nutella, you can leave them as plain cookies, or consider sandwiching them together with some dark chocolate ganache.
5. This is an easy-to-make recipe that only contains 6 ingredients.

How to Make Them

Like most shortbread, you really need minimal equipment and ingredients to make them. Here’s the rundown:

Ingredients

• salted butter: Use the best quality salted butter you can find. I used a salted cultured butter from Vermont Creamery. Other good choices are Kerry Gold or Plugra. If you don’t want to use salted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt (at least–taste the dough to make sure) per stick of butter.
• powdered sugar: I like the fine texture I get from powdered sugar, but you could also use granulated sugar. You can even consider pulsing granulated sugar in your food processor or blender to make your own powdered sugar.
• freeze-dried raspberry powder: This is the magical ingredient in these cookies. It provides huge raspberry flavor and gorgeous color in an all-natural product.
• cake flour: Since cake flour has a low-protein content, your cookies will stay nice and tender, sandy, and crumbly–exactly what shortbread should be!
• chocolate hazelnut spread: You can use Nutella of course. I used Pernigotti Gianduia, which has a bit more hazelnut flavor than Nutella. Or you can make your own spread. For instance, I have this recipe for cocoa cashew spread that would be lovely. Check out my Nutella comparison post to get the lowdown on several different brands you might consider, as well.

Procedure

These cookies are not hard to make at all. Here’s what you’ll do:

1. Cream the salted butter and powdered sugar together until smooth.
2. Blend in the raspberry powder and vanilla until evenly incorporated.
3. Add the flour and mix in on low speed until you get a shockingly pink, slightly sticky but stiff dough.
4. Divide the dough into 2 discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for an hour.
5. Working with 1/2 of the dough at a time, roll out between 2 sheets of parchment paper until it’s about 1/4″ thick.
6. Cut and bake at 325 until dry and set, about 12 minutes. You can reroll the scraps to use as much of the dough as possible.
7. Cool and sandwich the cookies together with chocolate hazelnut spread, ganache, or even raspberry jam.
8. Enjoy!

Tips for Success

This dough starts out a bit soft, so it really is best to refrigerate it for an hour or so before rolling it out.

I have a wonderful set of graduated round cutters that I never want to be without. Not only can I cut all sizes of round cookies, but I can use them as egg rings, cut out pieces of spongecake, use as small ring molds, etc.

I made my cookies using the third from the smallest size in this set of graduated cutters.

Take care not to let the cookies brown. Even just one extra minute can make a difference. They will still taste just as good, but the color won’t be as vibrant.

Raspberry Shortbread Q & A

A Note About Measurements

For convenience, consistency, and accuracy, almost all my recipes are written by weight, either in ounces and/or grams, even the liquids.

I strongly encourage you to purchase a kitchen scale and learn to use it.

This is the one I used for years. I love it and highly recommend it:

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12/06/2023 11:55 am GMT

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Sponsor product used: Dixie Crystals Powdered Sugar

Raspberry Shortbread Sandwich Cookies

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Jennifer Field

These raspberry shortbread sandwich cookies get their intense raspberry flavor and color from 100% natural freeze-dried raspberry powder. The raspberry flavor really shines in these cookies, and that bright-tart flavor is beautifully complemented by the mellow, nutty Nutella filling.

They're rich, so make these cookies small–no more than 1 1/4" in diameter. That way you can eat 4-5 without feeling too badly about it!

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Chill Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 27 minutes mins

Course Cookies and Bars

Cuisine British

Servings 40 small sandwich cookies

Calories 94 kcal

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• 4 oz powdered sugar about 1 cup I used Dixie Crystals
• 8 oz 2 sticks salted butter
• 2 oz by weight, freeze-dried raspberry powder (about 3/4 cup)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 10 oz cake flour about 2 1/4-2 1/2 cups
• 1 cup chocolate hazelnut spread such as Nutella or Pernigotti

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 325F. Set racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven.
• Line two sheet pans or cookie sheets with parchment. Set aside.
• In the bowl of your stand mixer or in a bowl using a hand mixer, cream the sugar and butter together until smooth and creamy.
• Scrape the bowl, and add the raspberry powder and vanilla. Mix on low speed until well combined.
• Add the cake flour and mix in on low until you have a stiff but somewhat sticky dough.
• Divide dough in half, form into discs about 1" thick, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for an hour.
• Working with one half of the dough at a time, roll out between 2 sheets of parchment paper until it’s about 1/4" thick.
• Cut small rounds (or your preferred shape) out of the dough and place on parchment-lined cookie sheets about 1" apart. Reroll scraps twice to cut a few extra cookies.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking. Cookies will look dry on top and be firm to the touch. They should not brown.
• Remove to cooling racks and let cool on the cookie sheets for 5 minutes before removing to racks to cool completely.
• Pipe (or spread with an offset spatula) about 1 1/2 teaspoons of chocolate hazelnut spread on 1/2 of the cookies (on the bottom sides). Sandwich together with the rest of the cookies.
• You can eat them right away, but the filling will firm up a bit as some of the moisture is drawn into the cookies. If you can stand to wait 4-6 hours, do. Store cookies at room temperature in airtight containers for up to a week.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 94kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 21mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6g

Keyword cookies, raspberry shortbread, raspberry shortbread sandwich cookies, sandwich cookies

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Disclaimer: These posts and recipes are part of the week long event, #SummerDessertWeek but all opinions are 100% mine! We would like Thank our amazing sponsors: Dixie Crystals and Circulon. These wonderful sponsors provided the prize packs for our giveaways and also sent samples and products to the #SummerDessertWeek bloggers to use in their recipes.