Give Your Kids Coal (Cookies) This Christmas!

These delectable coal cookies will have you begging to be on Santa's naughty list! Made with black cocoa and a smooth buttercream center, they taste like gourmet Oreos.

Ingredients
Filling
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (85g)
1 cup powdered sugar (125g)
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
⅛ teaspoon table salt
Cookie
1 cup unsalted butter, softened (226g)
1 ½ cups granulated sugar (300g)
2 large eggs, room temperature preferred
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
3 ½ cups cake flour (395g)
⅔ cup black cocoa powder (80g)
2 teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoons table salt

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from the links below.

Instructions
00:00 Introduction
Filling
00:30 Place butter in a medium-sized mixing bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until it is smooth and creamy.
00:38 Gradually add sugar, stirring on low speed until fully incorporated.
00:47 Add vanilla extract and salt and stir to combine. Use a spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl and stir again.
01:30 Line a baking tray or large plate with wax paper. Scoop filling by 2 teaspoon-sized scoops (11g) and drop onto prepared tray. Place in freezer while you prepare your dough (filling must chill for a minimum of 20 minutes).
Cookies
03:00 In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat butter and sugar together very well, until light and fluffy.
03:30 Add eggs and vanilla extract and beat together again to thoroughly combine.
04:11 In a separate, medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together flour, black cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
05:40 Gradually add dry ingredients into wet (I do this in 3 or 4 parts), stirring after each addition until ingredients are thoroughly combined.
Assembly and Baking
07:10 Scoop cookie dough by 3 Tablespoon-sized scoop (64g) and roll gently between your palms. Use your thumb to press an indent all the way into the center and press one frozen filling dollop into the center. Use the cookie dough to completely conceal the filling, and roll gently between your palms to create a smooth, even ball of dough. Place in freezer to chill for 30 minutes.
08:00 Preheat oven to 375F (190C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
08:10 When the dough has finished chilling, remove from freezer and place on prepared baking sheets, spacing cookies at least 2” apart. Bake in preheated 375F (190C) oven for 11-12 minutes. Allow cookies to cool completely on baking sheet before enjoying!

Notes
Black cocoa
I usually can’t find this ingredient in my local grocery store so I buy it here from Amazon.
All-purpose flour
If you want to substitute all-purpose flour instead of cake flour, use 3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour plus 2 Tablespoons of cornstarch.

Storing
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

[hv]

Loving all your recipes. Sad stand mixer I love you. You don’t disappoint.

[chastityraggs]

When I first saw these, I immediately thought about Oreo cookies, just not in a sandwich form... Great idea!!! Thank you Sam!!!

[annalockwood]

I made these to share at a Christmas party. They are delicious, but the portion size is quite large. Yummy as a treat on its own, but maybe too much for a potluck with tons of nibbles. More than one person saved the other half for later. So tasty!

[kellyr]

I made a similar cookie sans filling many years ago with the black cocoa. When my family came for brunch I'd always put cookie trays out on the tables. At first glance, some of them thought I'd burnt cookies😂. I'll have to try these with the filling, thanks Sam 🤗

[karenbalkaranali]

This is so unusual, but awesome at the same time

[anderson]

Sorry for being late but only when Luke approves a recipe can I endorse it as well!! Sam all the best to you and your family in 2025! Happy New Year!!!

[beanie]

This is perfect for a Christmas party. Each year for Halloween we let kids choose a trick or treat bowl which the trick is full of not the best option. For the Christmas party I may make these for kids to tell us if they’ve been naughty or nice. If naughty they will get these. Just perfect timing.

[jessicacannon]

I'm going to make these for sure. If u need me to use that stand mixer for u if can suffer through😅😂😊

[Marge]

I'm making these for Christmas! They look amazing, like all of your recipes!🎄🍪

[Lettuce-and-Tomatoes]

Well, it looks like there will be no photos in your Christmas cards this year of the boys sporting mullets. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Otherwise, fantastic video!!! So, how about making this stylish hairstyle happen for Easter? 😉

[Stephanie-cqmf]

These are a cute idea. I wish I had your patience of all that in and out of the fridge and freezer.

[backpackmatt]

I prefer to measure my cookies with an electric scale. Sorry but I'm a perfectionist. I like the idea of "Coal Cookies" though...the idea is very intriguing. 🐧🍎🍏💙

[CretiveOne]

Sugar Spun, could you do a no-bake cheesecake video please?

[oriffel]

will white bread flour work as a substitute for cake flour?

[ShadowmarkReturns]

Shouldn't you use cream of tartar to neutralize the extreme alkaline of black Cocoa?

[sjenkins]

How do you test and [publish so many recipes so

[CharleneDulmage]

I cannot get black cocoa locally, can I use some black food colour?