Ginger Molasses Cookie Sandwiches with Orange Cream Cheese Filling

Cookies:

• 3 3/4 cups flour
• 1 Tbsp ginger
• 1 Tbsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp ground cloves
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter; room temperature
• 1 cup sugar + more for rolling dough in
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup molasses

Orange Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1 stick butter, softened
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• zest of one orange
• juice of half an orange

Sift together flour, spices, and salt in a medium mixing bowl and set aside. In mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and creamy. Scrape sides and add the egg. Mix thoroughly. Add molasses and blend. Scrape again and with mixer on low, add flour mixture and blend thoroughly. Refrigerate for at least two hours but less than a day.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Roll dough into golf sized balls and roll in sugar before placing on cookie sheet. Press with stamps until you begin to see dough coming out of the edges. Bake for 10-14 minutes. Let cookies cool on pan for 5 minutes and transfer to a cooling rack. Cool cookies completely before adding frosting.

While the cookies cool, whip butter and cream cheese in a mixer until fluffy. Slowly add powdered sugar. Mix in salt, orange zest and juice until full combined. When cookies are full cooled, create sandwich cookies by spreading desired amount of frosting filling between two stamped cookies. Makes about 12-13 sandwiches.