Funfetti Cookie Sandwiches for Guillermo

My brother's favorite cake happens to be Funfetti, so, taking inspiration from NYC's Momofuko Milk Bar's Birthday Cake Truffle, I decided to make cookie sandwiches and send them to him instead!

I found a recipe online via seriouseats.com, changed the frosting recipe, and kicked up the color a bit with additional sprinkles.

For the cookies:

• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 package funfett cake mix
• 2 tablespoons additional sprinkles
  

For for the frosting:

• 1 stick of butter - room temperature
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups confectioners sugar ( plus more if you want a thicker frosting )
  
• 1 T cream ( plus more if you want a thinner frosting )
  
• Rainbow sanding sugar ( I got mine at Dean & Deluca: http://www.deandeluca.com/pantry/baking-ingredients/dean-and-deluca-rainbow-sanding-sugar.aspx )
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Cream the butter and cream cheese. Blend in egg and vanilla
3. Add cake mix in two parts, mixing well. The batter was so thick that I had to discontinue the use of my hand-mixer and combine it by hand. I tell ya, it was a workout! If you have a standing mixer you should be fine, but make sure it's locked in place!
4. Using a small cookie scoop, drop balls of cookie dough on an ungreased baking sheet (or use silicone sheets, if you have them). Leave about 2 inches between the cookies
5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool cookies for at least 15 minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring to a wire cooling rack; the cookies are very delicate when they first come out of the oven and they will break if you try to transfer them too soon
6. While the cookies are cooking, mix together all ingredients listed in the frosting recipe, making sure to sift your confectioners sugar into the mix. Separately, pour 1/2 cup or so of the sprinkles onto a small plate
   
7. When the cookies are cool, use an offset spatula or spoon to place desired amount of frosting between two cookies. Gently, roll the sandwich cookie on its side through the plate of sprinkles and VOILA! Your fabulous and festive funfetti cookie sandwiches are good to go!
   

Since I was sending these cookies to southern California, I placed each cookie in a cupcake liner to help hold them together. Also, I made the cookies the night before sending them so they could settle and harden a bit.

I then placed each cup in a plastic sandwich bag (not a ziploc sealer ) and tied them off with a bit of string.


























Finished product!

I mailed the sandwiches in a plastic box filled with marshmallows for extra cushioning.

... and this is how the final piece looked. Happy birthday to my amazing brother - 25's going to be the best year yet!