Strawberry Cheesecake Sandwich Cookies

Pinterest strikes again!  Home of every good idea on the Internet, Pinterest has given me a ton of good recipe and decorating ideas, but so far, these cookies are my favorite.  It's not very often that I find something I'm so excited to make.  I love it even more that I got to make up the recipe myself.  It makes me feel so creative, even thought I'm really not.

These rich and delicious cookies are so simple to make but look so beautiful.  They use mostly prepackaged items, and you could even use a soft and chewy bakery chocolate chip cookies if you wanted. I love how the strawberries balance out the sweetness and richness of the chocolate and cheesecake.  I'm going to make these for my niece's bridal shower this summer.

Strawberry Cheesecake Sandwich Cookies
 Makes about 18 sandwich cookies

1 lb. strawberries, sliced thick

For the cookies:

1 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 (12 oz.) bag chocolate chips

  Heat oven to 350°.  Cream the shortening and sugars until creamy.  Add the vanilla and eggs, one at a time, and mix well after each addition.  In a separate bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together then add to the shortening mixture and mix well.  Add the chocolate chips and mix again. 

Place the dough on a baking sheet using a cookie scoop to ensure the cookies are all the same size.  Bake for 9-11 minutes.  The cookies will look undercooked.  Remove from the pan immediately and allow to cool completely.

For the cheesecake frosting:


1 small box cheesecake pudding (you can use any flavor you like)
1 cup milk
~1 to 1 1/2 cup whipped topping


Mix the pudding and milk together until partially set.  Fold in the whipped topping.  Use more or less whipped topping depending on the flavor you want.


To Assemble:

Spread a layer of  cheesecake frosting on the bottom of 2 cookies.  Add thick slices of strawberries then sandwich them together.  Store in the refrigerator.  Remove from the refrigerator 15 minutes before serving.

Source:  Cookie recipe from my dear friend Amy S.
Inspired by Pinterest