Jo Wheatley's chocolate orange cookie sandwiches

Why have one cookie when you can have two? Jo Wheatley's indulgent chocolate orange cookie sandwiches are chewy, delicious and more than a little bit messy. If you're looking for an activity to occupy the kids this half term, these are a winner. What are you up to with your kids this week? Let us know in the comments box below.

Makes about 15

Ingredients

• FOR THE COOKIES:
• 200g soft unsalted butter
• 200g light or dark soft brown sugar
• 125g caster sugar
• 2 medium eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 400g plain flour, sifted
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 200g dark chocolate, chopped
• FOR THE CHOCOLATE FILLING:
• 200ml double cream
• 200g milk or dark chocolate, roughly chopped
• finely grated zest of 1 large orange

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C, fan 170°C, gas 5.
2. For the chocolate filling, bring the cream to the boil in a small pan. Put the chocolate in a bowl, pour over the hot cream and mix until shiny and combined. Fold in the orange zest.
3. Chill for 2 hours until set yet spreadable.
4. For the cookies, beat the butter and sugars together with an electric whisk until light and fluffy.
5. Add the beaten eggs a little at a time, whisking until combined. Stir in the vanilla extract.
6. Tip in the flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and a pinch of salt. Mix until you have a clay-like dough.
7. Fold in the chopped chocolate. Take pieces of the dough (about the size of a tablespoon) and roll into balls to make about 30.
8. Transfer to baking trays lined with baking paper, making sure the dough has plenty of room to spread out while cooking.
9. Bake in batches for 12-15 minutes until golden. Leave for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
10. Spread the filling over half of the cookies, then sandwich together with the remaining cookies.

Tip

Add the hot cream to the chocolate – not the other way round – and the chocolate will stay nice and shiny.