Ingredients

The following ingredients have 10 Servings
  • 1 cup 226g unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 3 oz. cream cheese (at room temperature)
  • 1 cup 200ggranulated sugar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups 300g all-purpose flour, plus 3-4 tablespoons more
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Red and green gel food color
  • 1/2 cup 113g unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature)
  • 4 cups 450g confectioners’ sugar
  • Milk or cream

Instruction

  • Make the cookies: Cream the butter and cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the sugar and beat until well combined. Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla extract.
  • In a separate mixing bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Pour over the creamed mixture and mix on medium-low speed until combined. Scrape down the bowl as needed and mix again briefly. The dough should be thick and easy to handle (not sticky).
  • Divide the dough in half and return one half to the mixing bowl. Add red food color and mix on low speed until combined. If the dough is sticky with the addition of food color, mix in additional flour 1 tablespoon at a time until it is not sticky. Wash the mixing bowl and dry; add the second portion of dough and add green food color. Mix on low until combined. Add additional flour to the red portion if needed.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Roll each portion of dough into 20 tablespoon-sized balls, so you’ll have 20 green dough balls and 20 red. Cut each ball in half and press the red halves onto the green halves. Roll them between your palms and place the balls on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Flatten the balls slightly before baking. Cover with sanding sugar or sprinkles, if using.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the cookies are slightly puffed and fragrant (the cookies will not brown much). Cool the cookies completely on a wire rack.
  • Make the cream filling: Cream the butter and cream cheese together in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the confectioners’ sugar and mix on low speed. Gradually add milk or cream a little at a time until the mixture thins to piping consistency. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag with the end snipped, or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped.
  • Pipe the frosting onto one cookie and sandwich with another. Repeat with all cookies.