Vanilla Creme Sandwich Cookies
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These vanilla creme sandwich cookies are SO GOOD. Luscious vanilla creme filling is sandwiched between light and buttery vanilla wafers. Make a batch of these homemade Golden Oreos in just 50 minutes. They’re irresistible.
It’s simple to make a batch of homemade Golden Oreos. All you need for this easy recipe are some basic refrigerator and pantry items.
To make these treats, we mix the dough, cut out the wafer cookies, and chill the dough. We bake the cookies for 14 minutes. Then we assemble the cookies by sandwiching luxurious vanilla creme frosting between them. It’s that simple.
Serving Ideas: Include them on dessert tables for baby showers, wedding showers, birthdays, and graduation parties. They’re also ideal for Mother’s Day and PTA teacher appreciation luncheons. For gifts, stack them in small cello bags and tie the top with a ribbon.
🛒 Ingredients
Vanilla Wafer Cookies
- Salted Butter: For a beautifully supple dough with a rich buttery taste. If using unsalted butter, add an extra 1/8 teaspoon salt to the cookie dough.
- Powdered Sugar: For the perfect amount of sweetness.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of the butter and sugar.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a bright hint of lemon flavor.
- Kosher Sea Salt: Balances the flavor of the other ingredients.
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides strength and structure for the cookie dough.
- Cornstarch: Contributes lightness to the dough so it’s a bit more delicate.
Vanilla Creme Filling
- Salted Butter: The base of our luscious buttery frosting. If desired, feel free to use unsalted butter instead. You can add a pinch of salt to taste.
- Powdered Sugar: Combined with butter, it creates a luscious creme filling.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a fresh hint of lemon flavor.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Contributes a delicious vanilla flavor and bakery aroma.
- Pinch of Salt: If needed to balance the flavors and tamp down sweetness.
🔖 Helpful Information
🥣 Recipe Yield/Cookie Cutters: This recipe yields 14 sandwich cookies if cut with a fluted-edge biscuit cutter. It will yield a baker’s dozen (13 cookies) if a smooth-edged cutter is used.
⏲ Kitchen Tip: If you bake often, you can save money and resources by using reusable silicone baking mats instead of parchment paper to line your baking trays.
📖 Recipe Steps
This delicious recipe starts by making a batch of vanilla wafer cookies. While the cookies are baking and cooling, we’ll make the vanilla creme filling. The final part of this recipe is assembling the vanilla creme cookies.
Make the Vanilla Wafer Cookies
RECIPE PREP: Line 3 baking trays with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment, cream softened butter and sugar together. With a rubber spatula, scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl. Mix 2 to 3 minutes on medium-high until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add vanilla, lemon juice and salt. Mix well. Add flour in 2 parts, mixing after each addition. Scrape down bottom and sides of the bowl. Add cornstarch. Continue mixing until the dough moves away from the sides of the bowl. The dough should be beautifully supple.
- Transfer dough to a clean, dry work surface. With a rolling pin, roll out dough until just under 1/4-inch thick. Cut out 28 wafer cookies with a round 2-inch fluted-edge biscuit cutter. If the dough sticks to the board, lightly sprinkle the dough with powdered sugar and briefly knead it in. Or lightly dust the board with flour. Transfer cut-out cookies to a prepared baking tray. Stamp the tops with 2 to 4 lines using the biscuit cutter handle or the tines of a fork.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Put a tray of cookies in the freezer for 15 minutes. Remove from freezer and bake 14 minutes, or until the sides of the cookies have set. The bottoms should still be pale with a few areas that are golden blonde. Let cookies cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. As a tray of cookies enters the oven, slide the next tray of cookies into the freezer to chill.
Make the Vanilla Creme Filling
- In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together.
- Add vanilla extract and lemon juice. Mix to incorporate.
- Do a taste test. If mixture is too sweet, add a tiny pinch of salt.
- Continue mixing until filling is smooth with no lumps.
Assemble Vanilla Creme Sandwich Cookies
Once the wafer cookies have completely cooled, it’s time to assemble our Golden Oreos – the vanilla creme sandwich cookies.
- Add 1 tablespoon filling to the middle of 14 wafer cookies.
- With 2 fingertips, slightly flatten the filling into a disk.
- Top with remaining wafer cookies.
- With your fingertips, gently apply even pressure to the top of the cookie until frosting has evenly spread to the edges.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQ
These are the most commonly-asked questions about homemade vanilla creme sandwich cookies, and the most helpful answers for recipe success.
Yes it can! Wrap dough tightly in plastic wrap, then slip it into a zip-top kitchen bag. Refrigerate it up to 3 days.
Yes it can! Transfer the frosting to an air-tight container, or spoon it into a piping bag and seal the end with a rubber band. Store it in the fridge away from foods with odors. It can stay fresh for up to 3 weeks.
Yes. Cooled wafer cookies can be frozen without vanilla creme filling. Line the bottom of an airtight container with parchment paper. Arrange cookies in an even layer. Separate layers with parchment paper. Freeze up to 1 month. Defrost and apply the creme filling.
When kept in an airtight container at room temperature, they’ll stay fresh on the countertop for up to 5 days.
🧑🏼🍳 Expert Tips
- Best way to apply filling to sandwich cookies: Use a piping bag with a round metal tip.
- How to make homemade sandwich cookies extra special: Add citrus zest to the cookie dough and/or the vanilla creme filling. Use a fluted biscuit cutter for wavy edges. Sprinkle the top of the cookies with sanding sugar before baking.
- How to make holiday sandwich cookies: After sandwich cookies are assembled, roll the sides in colored sprinkles. I recommend soft sprinkles rather than crunchy ones. For Christmas or Valentine’s Day use red jimmies. For St. Patrick’s Day use green. For Easter cookies, use rainbow sprinkles.
🍪 More Yummy Cookies
If you love homemade Golden Oreos, you’ll enjoy making and eating these yummy cookies too. For our complete collection of cookie recipes, visit our Cookies Category.
- Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Panera Kitchen Sink Cookies
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Iced Oatmeal Cookies
- Mexican Wedding Cookies
- Lemon Biscotti Cookies
Rate This Recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Friends say these vanilla creme sandwich cookies are the best homemade Golden Oreos. If you agree, give this recipe a 5-star rating in the comments.
Vanilla Creme Sandwich Cookies
- Total Time: 50 Minutes
- Yield: 14 Sandwich Cookies 1x
Description
These vanilla creme sandwich cookies are so delicious! They’re homemade Golden Oreos. Luscious vanilla creme filling is sandwiched between light and buttery vanilla wafers. Make a batch in just 50 minutes.
Ingredients
VANILLA WAFER COOKIES
- 3/4 cup butter, room temperature
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
VANILLA CREME FILLING
- 1/3 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt, if needed
Instructions
MAKE VANILLA WAFER COOKIES
RECIPE PREP: Line 3 baking trays with parchment paper or reusable silicone baking mats.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment, cream softened butter and sugar together. With a rubber spatula, scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl. Mix 2 to 3 minutes on medium-high until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add vanilla extract, lemon juice and salt. Mix well. Add flour in 2 parts, mixing after each addition. Scrape down bottom and sides of the bowl. Add cornstarch. Continue mixing until the dough moves away from the sides of the bowl. The dough should be beautifully supple.
- Transfer dough to a work surface. With a rolling pin, roll out dough until just under 1/4-inch thick. Cut out 28 wafer cookies with a round (2-inch) fluted-edge biscuit cutter. If the dough sticks to the board, lightly sprinkle the dough with powdered sugar and briefly knead it in. Or lightly dust the board with flour. Transfer cookies to a prepared baking tray. Stamp the tops with 2 to 4 lines using the biscuit cutter handle or the tines of a fork.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Put a tray of cookies in the freezer for 15 minutes. Remove from freezer and bake 14 minutes, or until the sides of the cookies have set. The bottoms should still be pale with a few areas that are golden blonde. Let cookies cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. As a tray of cookies enters the oven, slide the next tray of cookies into the freezer to chill.
MAKE VANILLA CREME FILLING
- In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together.
- Add vanilla extract and lemon juice. Mix to incorporate.
- Do a taste test. If mixture is too sweet, add a tiny pinch of salt.
- Continue mixing until filling is smooth with no lumps.
ASSEMBLE SANDWICH COOKIES
Once vanilla wafers are completely cooled, assemble the sandwich cookies.
- Add 1 tablespoon filling to the center of 14 wafer cookies.
- With 2 fingertips, slightly flatten the filling into a disk.
- Top with remaining wafer cookies.
- With your fingertips, gently apply even pressure to the top of the cookie until the frosting has evenly spread to the edges.
Notes
Can I use unsalted butter for this recipe? Yes. For the cookie dough, add an extra 1/8 teaspoon salt to the recipe. For the creme filling, add salt to taste.
How to store these cookies: Place the cookies in an airtight container. They’ll stay fresh on the countertop (at room temperature) for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 21 Minutes
- Chill Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 14 Minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Vanilla Wafer Sandwich Cookies 👉🏻 Join the Convo
Are you excited to make homemade Golden Oreos? Will you make a batch for yourself and a second batch to share? Join the conversation in the comments below.
Hi, so 2x I made these and both times I needed to add a little water to have the dough stick together. 2nd time I measured precisely! Lol. Never the less YUM!
Can these cookies be frozen.
We’ve made these cookies twice following the ingredients and process provided. The flavor is *fantastic* however they crumble apart as soon as they are touched. Can you please help provide a solution?
Thank you!
Hello Peg. I haven’t experienced that issue before. These cookies should not be that delicate! While adding filling, pressing the cookies together with filling, and being stacked, they should be holding up well. They should not be crumbling. I’m wondering if you’re using margarine rather than butter? Just for reference, I use Tillamook brand butter or the Kirkland butter from Costco. I’m also wondering if the flour was measured correctly (fluff, sprinkle, swipe). Flour should never be scooped directly from the bag or the measurement will be off (too much flour). Instead, fluff up the flour in the bag with a spoon. Then, by the spoonful, sprinkle flour into the measuring cup. With a knife, swipe off the top to level it out. As the dough comes together it should be supple, but not overworked. It’s also important to chill the cut-out cookies in the freezer for 15 minutes before baking. I hope this helps! – Denay
These cookies have become our favorites. They are so soft and delicious, that you can not just eat one. They are perfect for a mid day snack with a cup of coffee or your favorite tea.
These ARE so delicious!! The cookies are yummy and buttery, and the creme filling is the bomb!! This recipe is a huge hit in our household!! ♥️
I would love to reach in and grab one of these! They look absolutely delightful…a perfect accompaniment to my afternoon tea!
These are so delicious and easy to make! Thanks for the great recipe.
These were one of my favorite cookies as a kid.I haven’t had them in so long and I can’t wait to make these, yum!
These are absolutely adorable! My roommates and I are big cookie people so this is definitely going on the list of recipes to make; I bet they’re even better than the store-bought!
Believe me this is awesome for us I buy these all the time the beloved is obsessed with vanilla, I cant wait to make these today!