Brussels Cookies • Easy Recipe! (2024)

Copy Cat Pepperidge Farm Brussels Cookies are dead ringers for the originals…no special skills needed for these delicate chocolate filled lace cookies!

Brussels Cookies • Easy Recipe! (1)

Brussels cookies are an elegant lace sandwich cookie inspired by the famous Pepperidge Farm cookie. These crisp cookies are a family favorite and we make my homemade version every year for the holidays!

Table of contents

  • copy cat Brussels cookies
  • what are Brussels cookies?
  • ingredients for Brussels Cookies like Pepperidge Farm’s
  • tips for making copy cat Brussels cookies
  • more classic cookie recipes
Brussels Cookies • Easy Recipe! (2)

copy cat Brussels cookies

You might already know that I have an obsession with the Pepperidge Farm treats from my childhood. Have you tried my Cold Chocolate Snacking Cake? I nailed that recipe just like I nailed these Brussels cookies…they aren’t difficult to make, but they are delicate. There is no definitive copy-cat recipe online, so I had to do some sleuthing. I tried 3 versions and came up with the best. So you’re lucky… I fell into all the pitfalls so you don’t have to.

Brussels Cookies • Easy Recipe! (3)

what are Brussels cookies?

Pepperidge Farm’s Brussels cookies date back to the founding of the company, established by Margaret Rudkin in 1937, which initially began as a small family bakery in Fairfield, Connecticut that specialized in high-quality, European-inspired bread using natural ingredients.

The Brussels cookie was introduced by Pepperidge Farm as part of its collection of distinctive cookies. The cookie is named after the capital city of Belgium.

The cookies are known for their thin, crispy texture and a layer of sweet, caramelized sugar on the top. They almost have a praline type of texture, minus the nuts, of course. That paired with the dark chocolate center layer makes them very sophisticated.

A quick search on the Internet reveals that the likely source of the Brussels crisp outer cookie is the Swedish oatmeal lace cookie, a vintage recipe that spreads when baked and crisps up almost like candy when cooled. If you sandwich some melted dark chocolate in between two of them, you’ve got a dead ringer for the classic Pepperidge Farm Brussels.

Brussels Cookies • Easy Recipe! (4)

ingredients for Brussels Cookies like Pepperidge Farm’s

  • flour
  • sugar
  • oat flour
  • baking powder
  • melted butter
  • corn syrup
  • cream
  • vanilla
  • chocolate
    • the filling for Brussels cookies is a simple melted chocolate. You can use whatever type you love, I used bittersweet.
Brussels Cookies • Easy Recipe! (5)

You know the best part about making Brussels cookies from scratch? You can put an extra thick layer of chocolate inside. Or customize them with white chocolate. Or Nutella!

Brussels Cookies • Easy Recipe! (6)

tips for making copy cat Brussels cookies

Stick to the exact recipe, these cookies are small and delicate, and any little variation can affect the outcome.

Use a teaspoon to portion out the dough. You can slightly round the teaspoon, or not. This the right amount for these cookies. And remember, the dough will spread.

Be sure to use a silpat or silicone baking mat ~ I’ve tried parchment paper and the cookies spread too much. Wipe the silpat down with a paper towel between batches to remove any excess grease.

I found an uninsulated baking sheet works best. If yours is insulated the baking time may be several minutes longer.

I always do a few test cookies and make adjustments as necessary.

Brussels cookies are done when they are flat, bubbling throughout, and have a fine golden ring around the edge. Watch the oven like a hawk, they finish cooking quickly.

Let the cookies cool right on the baking pan until they have firmed up enough to move (at least 5-ish minutes), and use a very thin spatula or offset spatula to ease them up off the silpat. They are delicate and can break easily.

I recommend melting chocolate chips for the center, since they tend to melt up thicker than baking chocolate, which is good here because you don’t want chocolate seeping through the lacy texture of the cookie when you fill it.

If you’re feeling lazy use Nutella to fill your Brussels cookies!

Brussels Cookies • Easy Recipe! (7)

more classic cookie recipes

  • Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Thin and Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
  • Scottish Shortbread
  • Best Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
  • Melting Moments
Brussels Cookies • Easy Recipe! (8)

Brussels Cookies • Easy Recipe! (9)

Brussels Cookies

3.58 from 158 votes

Brussels cookies are crispy oatmeal lace cookies filled with dark chocolate! Like Pepperidge Farm, but better!

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Prep Time:25 minutes minutes

Cook Time:5 minutes minutes

Total Time:30 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 sandwich cookies

Equipment

Ingredients

cookies

filling

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat, this is important. The cookies will not spread properly otherwise.

  • Add the flour, oat flour, sugar, and baking powder to a bowl and whisk to combine. Blend in the melted butter, corn syrup, cream, and vanilla until a soft smooth dough forms.

  • Using teaspoon as a measure, roll small balls and place them on the silicone lined baking sheet, a couple of inches apart.

  • Bake for for about 6 minutes*, until they are flat and bubbling and just starting to turn golden around the edges. Let the cookies cool for about 5 minutes before removing from the pan to a cooling rack. You'll need a very thin spatula to do this. The cookies are soft and delicate but will harden as they cool.

  • When the cookies are completely cool, flip them over and match them up in pairs. Lay them out on a piece of waxed paper.

  • Put the chocolate in a glass measuring cup and heat in short bursts in the microwave, stirring in between until just melted.

  • Spread a small amount of chocolate onto the bottom cookie, and then top it with another. You can use a small spoon and spreading knife, but do it very gently as the cookies shatter easily.

  • Let the cookies sit to harden, or put them in the refrigerator. Once they are filled and chilled, they will be a little more sturdy. In fact, they taste great straight from the fridge.

Notes

Ovens and baking sheets vary quite a bit, so your cookies could take longer than mine did. They will be done when flat and bubbling, with the edges just starting to turn golden. Don’t over bake. They will seem underdone at first, but will firm up as they cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes.

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Sue Moran

Keyword: baking, Christmas, cookies, copy cat, dessert

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cookie · Calories: 160 kcal · Carbohydrates: 17 g · Protein: 2 g · Fat: 9 g · Saturated Fat: 6 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g · Trans Fat: 0.1 g · Cholesterol: 11 mg · Sodium: 30 mg · Potassium: 100 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 11 g · Vitamin A: 128 IU · Vitamin C: 0.01 mg · Calcium: 15 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although The View from Great Island attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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Brussels Cookies • Easy Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a good cookie? ›

The key is to always use top-quality ingredients as they'll result in a better cookie; it really is that simple.
  • Always use butter.
  • Choose the right sugar.
  • Choose the right flour.
  • Check your flour is in date.
  • Choose the right kind of chocolate.
  • Cream the butter and sugar.
  • Beat in the eggs.
  • Fold in the flour.

What kind of cookies are brussels? ›

Brussels cookies are crispy oatmeal lace cookies filled with dark chocolate!

What makes cookies fluffy and not flat? ›

Flour adds fluff and texture to the cookies. Adding too little flour can cause cookies to be flat, greasy, and crispy. Most recipes assume you'll use all-purpose, but if you want a lighter, crumblier cookie texture, choose one with a lower protein content such as cake-and-pastry flour.

How to make cookies thick and not flat? ›

A low proportion of sugar relative to flour reduces spread, keeping the cookies thick. A high proportion of mix-ins helps thicken the dough. Blending chocolate chip styles creates a more dynamic flavor. Overnight refrigeration hydrates the flour, again helping the cookies stay thick.

What makes cookies chewy and not hard? ›

The science is simple: According to the flour authorities over at Bob's Red Mill, cornstarch can help “soften the rigid proteins of the flour, resulting in a light and chewy dessert.” “The cornstarch complements the flour in absorbing the liquids, but won't develop gluten structure like the flour will,” stresses ...

Do you flatten cookie dough before baking? ›

Flattening the cookie dough provides more surface area that comes into contact with the ice bath, shortening the time it takes to chill. Then submerge the dough in the ice water and let it chill. After 20 minutes the dough will be completely chilled and ready for baking.

What are Pepperidge Farm Brussels cookies? ›

Pepperidge Farm Brussels Dark Chocolate Cookies are a celebration of the fundamentals of a perfect cookie — made with premium ingredients and baked to absolute perfection, these lacey-thin, crisp cookies embrace a layer of smooth, luxurious dark chocolate.

What is the famous cookie in Belgium? ›

Lotus and its speculoos or Biscoff cookies are a worldwide success. So much so, in fact, that it's the fifth most popular cookie in the world! The cookie was developed almost a century ago by Jan Boone, the grandfather of the current CEO of Lotus.

Is Brussels known for chocolate? ›

Brussels' love affair with chocolate began at the beginning of the century. Pharmacist Jean Neuhaus came up with the idea of covering medicine in chocolate in order to disguise its unpleasant taste. In 1912, he replaced medicine with fresh cream, and the praline was born!

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

What happens if too much butter is in cookies? ›

Too much butter makes cookies turn out just as you'd expect: very buttery. This batch of cookies was cakey in the middle, but also airy throughout, with crispy edges. They were yellow and slightly puffy in the middle, and brown and super thin around the perimeter.

Can I use baking powder instead of baking soda? ›

Baking powder is made of baking soda plus cream of tartar and cornstarch. Baking powder can be substituted for baking soda by tripling the amount of baking powder. Baking soda can be substituted for baking powder by dividing the amount of baking powder needed by 4 and adding twice that amount of cream of tartar.

What is the best flour for cookies? ›

All-Purpose Flour: The Versatile Choice

This balanced protein level makes it versatile enough to produce both soft and chewy cookies as well as slightly crisp ones. If you're looking for a safe bet or are new to cookie baking, all-purpose flour is your go-to option.

What does refrigerating cookie dough do? ›

"When your dough is refrigerated, the butter hardens. So when you bake them, they spread less and hold their shape better," adds Epperson. "Which means a better likelihood of a soft, chewy cookie in the center." Chilling the dough creates fluffier cookies with better consistency.

Can I use cake flour instead of all-purpose flour for cookies? ›

You can also use cake flour to bring a more tender crumb to other sweets, like Chocolate Crinkle Cookies. If a recipe doesn't specify a certain type of flour, it's generally advisable to use all-purpose flour.

How to bake cookies like a pro? ›

After you cut out shapes, allow the dough chill on the pan in the refrigerator to prevent over spreading as they bake. For drop cookies, use a scoop to ensure even amount of dough for each cookie—uniform sized cookies bake more evenly. Give about 2 inches of space between cookies on the pan for spreading while baking.

How to make cookie better? ›

It might be old hat by now, but it's still true: Salt makes cookies taste better. There's salt in the dough, of course, but for an extra hit and a nice crackly texture, sprinkle your dough balls with flaky salt (we love Maldon) before baking.

What is the secret to making soft cookies? ›

Baking cookies quickly in a hot oven – at 375 degrees F as opposed to a lower temperature – will make for soft results. They'll bake fast instead of sitting and drying out in the oven's hot air. Ever so slightly underbaking your cookies will give you softer results than cooking them the full amount the recipe says.

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