It was a hot and sunny June day. The layers in my dress made it difficult to stay cool. I kept fanning myself until it was time to go through the doors. I slowly walked toward him bursting with excitement. This was a very important day. As we were mid-way through the ceremony, he smiled and winked at me. It made me smile and almost burst out laughing. I knew my future with him would be wonderful. He has made me laugh, been by my side, loved me, and so much more for 30 years. Yesterday we celebrated our anniversary and I’m ready to spend the next 30+ years with him.
Chocolate Brownie Wafer Cookies was a small gift for my husband. It started as an attempt to make homemade Oreo cookies but without the filling. He wishes they would sell the chocolate wafer part all by itself. When I buy Oreos, he will scrape out the filling from some of them and make quadruple (or more) stuffed ones for me. Then he eats the plain cookies. I thought how great it would be to make them for him. Well, they didn’t turn out as expected.
The cookies are thin, crunchy, and taste like chocolate brownies. I should have known it would not be so easy to nail the flavor of Oreos. Making the cookies had it’s own complications. The original recipe called for pressing the dough with a cookie stamp or glass dipped in cocoa powder. I have cookie stamps (see my stamped shortbread cookies) and tried to use them. The dough was way too sticky. I tried using the glass dipped in cocoa powder and it didn’t work either. I wound up rolling the dough into logs and freezing the dough.
The frozen dough is easy to slice. It has to be cut very thin (1/8-inch). Use a good heavy knife. Even though the dough is frozen you will still need to chill the slices before baking because they thaw and get to room temperature quickly. Be advised these cookies can burn or scorch easily. I over-baked the first batch and they tasted like burned chocolate. This is one of those times you need to be near the oven and watching them closely. Remove the cookies from the baking sheet as soon as you take it out of the oven.
Have you attempted to replicate store-bought cookies? If so, which ones and how did they turn out? My attempt at Oreo wafers didn’t turn out as planned. It’s all good though because I was very pleased with the results. I will make these chocolate brownie wafer cookies again. Aside from enjoying them as-is, I can see using them for pie crusts, sandwich cookies, with ice cream, and more. Oh the possibilities…
Chocolate Brownie Wafer Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup plus two tablespoons granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter 1 1/2 sticks, at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
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Add the flour to a medium bowl. Sift in the cocoa powder. Whisk to thoroughly combine.
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In a large bowl using a hand mixer on high speed, cream together the sugar and butter.
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Add the salt, egg, water, and vanilla to the creamed mixture. Beat on medium speed until smooth and thoroughly combined.
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Add the dry ingredients and beat until just combined. Do not over mix. It will be a stiff dough.
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Divide the dough in half. On a worksurface lightly dusted with cocoa powder, shape and roll each half into a log about 2 inches in diameter.
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Wrap each log in parchment paper and freeze for 8 hours or overnight. (Dough can be kept frozen for up to 2 weeks).
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Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line baking sheets with a non-stick liner or parchment paper.
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Unwrap 1 log and cut into 1/8-inch thick rounds. Space 1/2-inch apart on the baking sheets.
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Place the baking sheets with the dough rounds in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
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Re-wrap and place dough in freezer between batches.
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Bake the cookies for 16 minutes. Check the cookies at 15 minutes for the first sign of the edges darkening. These cookies burn or scorch easily.
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Remove the cookies immediately from the baking sheet and cool completely on a wire rack.
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Check the bottom of the cookies after each batch. If too dark or burned reduce the amount of baking time.
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Completely cool the baking sheets before using again for the next batch of cookies. Refrigerate them if necessary.
Recipe Notes
*Time above does not include time for freezing the dough for 8 hours or overnight.
Recipe adapted from one in the King Arthur Flour Baker’s Companion
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Family Foodie says
Happy Anniversary Renee! What wonderful cookies to celebrate 30 years with!
Renee says
Thank you Isabel! My husband sure was happy with the cookies.
Diana @GourmetDrizzles says
What a sweet post, and Happy Anniversary!!!
Renee says
Thanks Diana!
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes says
I´ve yet to make nancy silverton´s homemade oreos, and you just reminded me of them. These are superb cookies anyway Renee, no matter the name. i bet your husband loved them anyway! Happy 30 years!
Renee says
Thanks Paula! Now I need to check out Nancy Silverton’s homemade oreos. Perhaps her recipe will lend some clues to how to make them spot on replicas (taste-wise).
Anna says
Sounds like you need some Black Cocoa from King Arthur Flour. It’s really dark.
I’ve only used their Double Dutch blend of half black cocoa and half regular cocoa, not sure which you might want to replicate Oreos. I haven’t made cookies with it in a long time, can’t remember how dark it made the batter.
Renee says
Oh, I need to investigate the black cocoa from King Arthur. It might just do the trick! Thanks so much for the suggestion.
Anita at Hungry Couple says
Happy anniversary!!! I think store bought stuff has so many weird chemical ingredients that we can never fully replicate the flavor. Still, I’d rather have your homemade version. 🙂
Renee says
Thanks Anita! Yes, replicating store-bought is tough with all the commercial ingredients and additives. It’s still fun to try. I hope to get it right one day.
Terry B Gardner (@tbgdesign) says
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Sweet post.
Renee says
Thank you so much Terry!
Susan says
Happy anniversary Renee! You are so sweet to go through all this recipe testing for your husband. Hope he enjoyed these very much! One time a long time ago I recreated oreos and they were delicious but different, however in a good way!
Renee says
My husband is a great taste tester for my recipes (among a whole lot of other things). One day I’ll find that right recipe for the Oreos. It fun to have a foodie quest.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
Aw that’s amazing! Congrats on 30 years 😀
And these cookies look delicious, regardless of if they taste exactly like oreo cookies!
Renee says
Thanks a bunch Kayle!
Carla says
I read somewhere that you need to use black cocoa powder to get the cookies black. I never tried replicating them myself, but I imagine they are harder than expected. Love the photos with the red 😉
Renee says
I need to find the black cocoa powder and give it another try. Thanks for the compliment on my photo. I thought the red was a good choice since it is a color of love.
Linda | The Urban Mrs says
Wow! Happy Anniversary! Wishing you more love and harmony in your family. And I love love these cookies – yay to chocolate.
Renee says
Thanks Linda and yes, yay to chocolate!!