Graham Cracker & Leftover Frosting Sandwich Cookies
I struggled deciding what to call these.
I struggled if I should even share such a simple recipe.
I struggled not eating 17 of them while I typed this.
These are like a cookie, a no bake after school treat, and perfect midnight snack all rolled into one. (Yes, I’m a sucker for the midnight snack.) My mom used to make these for my brothers and I whenever she had leftover frosting. It’s funny because I have fewer memories of the umpteen million cupcakes and cakes my mom made over the years than I do of these afterthought cookies.
It had been years since I’d eaten one of these tasty treats but after catering a wedding for a dear friend of mine a few weeks back, I had a ton of frosting leftover. It was too good to go to waste and I found myself “dipping” graham crackers into the containers of frosting anyway so I made it official and put the frosting to good use. So simple to make, these were a huge hit with both my boys, which I was so hoping they would be. I loved them just as much today as I did 25 years ago.
The wedding was a simple Mexican buffet so the cupcakes were inspired by that. A cinnamon-mocha cupcake with spicy chocolate frosting and a margarita cupcake with tequilla buttercream. Both were outstanding but the margarita cupcakes were out of this world good. I promise to make them soon and share the recipe! The chocolate frosting had just enough spice that neither of my kids really liked it but they both dug into the tequilla buttercream. *Ahem.*
While no recipe is really needed, just some leftover frosting and a few graham crackers broken in half, there are a few tips to ensure these are the best they can be. First off, don’t use too much frosting. Yes, there is such a thing. But don’t skimp either. I think a few tablespoons per sandwich is the way to go. Don’t frost all the way to the edges because otherwise, when you squeeze the graham crackers together, frosting will squeeze out. And if that happens, it forces you to like it off the sides resulting in a stomach ache not to mention your cooties are all over every cookie.
The single most important thing you can do is freeze them. Unless of course, you need to eat them right away. But if you can find the willpower, wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them for a least a few hours. I don’t know exactly why but something magical happens when you freeze them. The frosting doesn’t totally freeze and the graham crackers get soft- not soggy, just soft. Perfect frosting graham cracker goodness.
Like I said before, any leftover frosting will work but just for fun, here’s my recipe spicy chocolate buttercream!
Have a great Monday everyone!!!
And just for fun here are a few other no bake desserts you might enjoy:
Nutella No Bake Cookies, The Vintage Mixer
No Bake Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars, Brown Eyed Baker
No Bake Biscoff Granola Bars, Two Peas and their Pod
S’mores No Bake Cookies, Gimme Some Oven
Spicy Chocolate Buttercream
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Melt butter in a medium size sauce pan over low heat. Return from heat and stir in cocoa and spices. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Add milk or powdered sugar accordingly so you have desired consistency. Makes just about 2 cups of frosting.
25 Comments
Tequila buttercream?! Wow, that sounds amazing! There is nothing better as a kid to find a special treat like this in your lunch box. I’ve made a similar treat for my kids, using Nutella.
I love the idea of using Nutella too. My mom has been known to sweeten cream cheese with honey and sandwich that as well! Endless possibilities!
Aw, we used to make these when I was a kid! Definitely a legit recipe. 🙂
Miss you, Kelley!!!
THanks, Ali! Miss you too!! xo
My kids love it when I make these. I’ve never thought to freeze them. Thanks for sharing that tip.
Barbara, they are even better when frozen! Enjoy!!
LOVED these as a kid. It was such a treat and excellent surprise 🙂 that spicy chocolate buttercream sounds super heavenly! I miss your face, Kelley!!
Thanks, Julie. Hope you’re feeling better! xo
Lovely! I grew up eating frosting on graham crackers. It was the granola bar of the 70’s I think. I love both of these frosting flavors. MMmm thanks for bringing back yummy memories.
Seems like my mom wasn’t the only one making these! 🙂
Love that you posted this! 🙂 I can vouch for this incredible chocolate buttercream, definitely will be trying it soon!
I’m hoping you’ll make and post your homemade version soon! I know a taste tester if you need one…….
Not only did my mom make them for us but I think they were what my kids looked forward to the most sometimes when I was baking a cake; these would be immediate but the cake might have to wait for later.
True confession. I have made frosting just to make some of these; as a matter of fact…well, I’m not telling. But eyeing the cabinet now to see if I have graham crackers. I blame it all on you!
ha! I have made frosting just for these cookies as well. You are not alone my friend!
I have good memories of this “cookie” too… my mom made it all the time. I find that graham crackers go great with absolutely any flavor of frosting! Thanks to these little treats, I have a hard time keeping graham crackers in my house!
Because every frosting is good on graham crackers- I think that’s why they are so genius!!
I could use one or six of those right now!
My mom made those for us when I was a kid too. That brings back so many memories!
I have to confess that my favorite part would be the way the crackers would turn kind of soft and the frosting would get kind of firm. I can still taste my mom’s mediocre chocolate frosting. (Don’t tell her I said that!)
I bet it’s even better with your fancy buttercreams. 🙂
I promise I won’t tell. And I agree, when the graham crackers get soft, you just can’t beat them!!
I’m not sure how I missed these! My Grandma used to make these for me all the time when I was little. It was the highlight of my visit to Grandma’s house. That and her Tapioca. She always kept chocolate buttercream frosting in the frig and a box of graham crackers in the pantry. Instant over the top delicious treat. Wow, haven’t thought about these for years! Thanks so much for posting. 🙂
If you can get them, Trader Joes has the best graham crackers. No high fructose corn syrup…and they taste awesome! This week, I volunteered at a community meal. We had store-donated cakes to cut and serve. Frosting not the best, but not the worst either…after cutting, there was quite a bit of frosting left on the cake board. Enough to frost TWO boxes of graham crackers generously. Sort of makes one think…and the crackers were way more satisfying than the cake.
i have always made these for my boys. They are infinitely better served frozen. we like them best with chocolate buttercream on one side and peanut butter on the other and frozen! yum.
What a great idea!! They sound delicious!
My mom, who was born in 1922, said they often had these as treats during the Great Depression. Her mom called them “Marguerites”. We still call them that in our family.
I love it. My mom said she grew up eating these as well. I so loved them as a kid!