Banana-nut Sandwich Cookies

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 (8 ounce) package banana muffin, mix (use between a 7 and 8.1 ounce banana-nut muffin mix package)
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 1 -2 tablespoon milk (optional)
• nonstick cooking spray
• 1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips or 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate piece
• 2 teaspoons shortening

Recipe

• 1 for cookies: in a large bowl, stir together muffin mix, flour and brown sugar.
• 2 add the melted and slightly cooled butter all at once.
• 3 using a fork, stir just till a soft dough forms (if necessary, add enough milk to form dough).
• 4 turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
• 5 pat or lightly roll till 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick.
• 6 cut out cookies using a cookie cutter.
• 7 place two inches apart of cookie sheets, lightly coated with nonstick cooking spray.
• 8 bake in a 350 degree oven for 9 to 10 minutes or till cookies begin to brown.
• 9 remove cookies to a wire rack to cool.
• 10 for butter cream filling: in a medium bowl, beat powdered sugar, the 1/2 cup softened butter and vanilla with an electric mixer till creamy.
• 11 spread a scant tablespoon of filling on the bottom of 1 cookie, put together with another cookie, bottom sides together, to make a cookie sandwich.
• 12 repeat with the remaining cookies and filling.
• 13 place or chocolate pieces and shortening in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave on 50% power (medium) for 1 to 2 minutes or till pieces are melted and smooth.
• 14 cool slightly (about 5 minutes).
• 15 transfer to a heavy resealable plastic bag.
• 16 cut off tip of one corner of bag.
• 17 pipe melted chocolate onto cookies to resemble laces on footballs, or whatever design you'd like based on what shape you made the cookies.
• 18 makes 12 (2 1/2 inch) sandwich cookies.