Gingerbread Chocolate Sandwich Cookies- A creamy, chocolate filling layered in between two soft and light gingerbread cookies. These are perfect any time of the year, why save them just for the holidays?

So in all of my research, I realize that there are two schools of thought when it comes to gingerbread cookies. You either like them crispy or soft.
There doesn't seem to be any in between with these cookies? Or is it just me?
Me? I am soft gingerbread cookie lover. But with that being said, I wouldn't turn down a crispy one.
Let's not get crazy!
If you are looking for some other healthy holiday treats, you would love these Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookies, Red Velvet Cookie Cups, Gluten Free Butter Pecan Cookies and these Pecan Cheesecake Bars.
All of these would be even more yummy with some Low Carb Bulletproof Hot Chocolate, Apple Chai Latte, Eggnog Latte and definitely some Spiked Apple Cider!
Also, my cookbooks are both on sale now and would make a great gift! The Everything Wheat Free Diet Cookbook and The Greek Yogurt Cookbook are both the lowest prices I have seen!
Why You Should Make These Gingerbread Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
With all of the treats and desserts hanging around during this time of year, I always like to have healthier options for me and my family to enjoy. It's all about moderation and not deprivation, especially during the holidays.
These gingerbread chocolate sandwich cookies do contain sugar, but I cut down on the sugar by adding some applesauce. It adds a natural sweetness and a wonderful moisture to these cookies.
White hole wheat flour adds some fiber and is less processed than typical all purpose flour. These little small tweaks really do add up.
These cookies are so easy to whip up but they also look fancy like you spent hours making them, They are perfect for all of your holidays parties and cookie exchanges.
Recipe Ingredients
- White whole wheat flour - This contains more fiber than whole wheat flour because it contains the wheat germ and the fiber-rich bran. It's a great, lighter alternative to all purpose flour.
- Ground ginger, cinnamon and ground cloves- All of these wonderful spices add so much flavor to all of your baked goods, especially the holiday flavored ones.
- Butter - I use organic, 100% grass fed better because it contains so many more nutrients and just plain old tastes better!
- Unrefined brown sugar - You can use either a brown sugar alternative (sugar free) or an unrefined brown sugar. Both will taste delicious in these cookies.
- Unsweetened applesauce - Use the unsweetened applesauce since it's already naturally sweet. There are so many unnecessary sugars in the other kind.
- Molasses - This creates a moist and chewier cookie with also adding a little natural sweetness. Molasses is not optional for me and my gingerbread cookies!
- Vanilla extract - I use pure vanilla extract which doesn’t contain any artificial flavors or additives, it’s just pure vanilla made from alcohol. I use this one.
- Milk - I used unsweetened almond milk to cut back on dairy and sugar but you can use whatever you like or what you have in the house.
- Powdered sugar - A powdered sugar substitute (sugar free) or an unrefined powdered sugar would both work great in this recipe.
- Cocoa powder - Make sure the ingredients only say 100% cocoa. Many of the varieties in grocery stores contain added sugars.
How To Make These Gingerbread Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Set aside.
In another bowl, mix butter and sugar until creamed together. Add applesauce, molasses and vanilla and mix again and slowly stir until dough forms.Stir in the flour mixture until soft dough forms.
Drop by spoonful onto ungreased baking sheet.
Optional, gently sprinkle cookie dough with sugar. Bake about 10 minutes in preheated oven until golden brown.
Allow to cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Don't they look amazing?
I rolled half of the cookies in sugar but you can roll them all the way if you'd like.
Or you can leave it off as well, they are sweet enough on their own. But the sugar does make them look even prettier!
Recipe FAQ's and Expert Tips
I store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
I have completely prepared these cookies and made them into sandwiches and then froze them for later and they were delicious. I wrapped them in parchment paper and placed in an airtight container or plastic bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.
You can use blackstrap molasses which will give a deeper flavor and color or even regular cooking molasses which works great as well. Both should be easy to find in grocery stores.
Related Recipes
Red Velvet Cookie Cups from Lauren Kelly Nutrition
Easy Christmas Cut Out Cookies from The Cookie Rookie
Peppermint Crunch Cookies from Lauren Kelly Nutrition
Peanut Butter Blossoms from The Chunky Chef
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Gingerbread Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
Ingredients
- Cookies:
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¾ unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup unrefined brown sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup dark molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- unrefined sugar for topping optional
- Sandwich Filling:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon milk
- ⅔ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Set aside.
- In another bowl, mix butter and sugar until creamed together.
- Add applesauce, molasses and vanilla and mix again.
- Stir in the flour mixture until soft dough forms.
- Drop by spoonful onto ungreased baking sheet.
- Optional, gently sprinkle cookie dough with sugar or you can roll cookie dough balls into a bowl of sugar.
- Bake about 10 minutes in preheated oven until golden brown.
- Allow to cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While cookies are cooling, mix ingredients for filling together in a small bowl.
- Once cookies have cooled, spread about 1 tablespoon of filling in between 2 cookies.
- Store in airtight container for up to days in the refrigerator (if they last that long!)
Mel
The most perfect cookies that ever existed! We loved these!
Kristen
These cookies were amazing. The gingerbread cookies with the chocolate filing was such a good combination that I would have never thought of before.
Lauren Kelly
Yes, I agree chocolate and gingerbread are perfect together!
Natasha
These gingerbread cookies look fancy and taste too good too! I'll definitely be making these on Christmas, my family cannnot wait to eat this again!
Anna
I absolutely love these cookies! They are so fun to make and fill! We will be sharing them with friends and family this holiday season.
Kristyn
These are one kind of sandwich my kids won't complain about!! The chocolate & gingerbread taste so good together!! They are soft & delicious!
Allyson Zea
I loved every bite of these! They were also super easy to make!
Lauren Kelly
Thanks Allyson!
Matt Taylor
I love sandwich cookies and these gingerbread chocolate ones are awesome! Such a nice flavor combination, and easy to make too!
Lauren Kelly
So happy to hear that, Matt!
Bella Hardy
Definitely, your gingerbread chocolate sandwich cookies are awesomeness! This is a great recipe Lauren, as you know I made it a short while ago and it was lovely, in fact, have made it again since.
Jill Roberts @ WellnessGeeky
Gorgeous pictures. I made these gingerbread chocolate sandwich cookies for the super bowl party and it was a crowd favorite. I'm also gonna pin this post on my Pinterest board my followers will love it. Thanks for sharing, Lauren!
lauren.kelly
Love that! Thanks so much Jill!
Laura @MotherWouldKnow
Soft and chocolatey - I can't imagine a more wonderful cookie combination. And then to add gingerbread. Stop me before I make a batch, she says, reaching for the ingredients.
Sandra
These are totally adorable!! They look like a rustic French Macaron!!
lauren.kelly
Thank you Sandra!
Angela | Mind Over Batter
Though I am not one to discriminate, I do enjoy a soft gingerbread cookie. Now, turning a soft gingerbread cookie it into a sandwich filled with chocolate is just perfection. Perfection.
lauren.kelly
I'd never discriminate either Angela 🙂
Kirsten
Lauren,
I'm firmly in the soft cookie camp, although my momma taught me never to refuse a homemade cookie so I wouldn't turn away a crispy one. The box of crispy ones? Makes excellent crumb topping after a spin in the food processor.
I think the sandwich cookie idea is darling, and that sprinkle of sugar on top is very enticing.
Thanks!
lauren.kelly
Thank you Kirsten!
Catherine
Dear Lauren, I absolutely love the sound or these little sandwiches. Gingerbread and chocolate is a perfect match. These look wonderful. xo, Catherine
lauren.kelly
Thanks so much Catherine!
Colleen (Souffle Bombay)
Mmmmm, these look good! the filling is like a little tongue sticking out and giving itself a lick, lol! Great giveaway!!