Tessa’s Recipe Rundown
Taste: The cookies are mildly sweet and pair beautifully with the semisweet chocolate filling.
Texture: The cookies are slightly crumbly with a little bite, while the chocolate is super smooth.
Ease: The assembly was probably the most hands-on (and messy) part. An offset spatula makes it much easier!
Pros: Impressive and scrumptious.
Cons: A little messy – but it would be a super fun recipe to make with your kids.
Would I make this again? I have made these countless times!
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These homemade Milano cookies are even more delicious than the store-bought variety!
I’ve always loved Milano cookies, but the peppermint variety is my absolute favorite.
So, when I went to work on this recipe, I was eager to recreate the mint version – and guess what? They’re so easy to make.
I love creating copycat recipes. There’s something special about taking a store-bought item and creating a homemade version. It’s a fun challenge every time to see if I can make it just as good, or even better.
These cookies are perfect for any party, after-school snack, or really anytime you’re craving a delicious nostalgic snack!
How to Make Homemade Milano Cookies
What are Milano Cookies?
Sold commonly in grocery stores across the US, Milano cookies are deliciously buttery oval-shaped cookies, sandwiched together with a layer of chocolate. Based on Italian-style cookies, the cookie itself is a little crisp and somewhat shortbread-like in texture. They are available in a wide variety of flavors, such as Peppermint Chocolate, Orange Chocolate, Raspberry Chocolate, and Milk Chocolate. The same cookies are known as Monaco Cookies in Canada.
No Leavening Agent?
Much like shortbread and other similar cookies, these Milano cookies don’t contain baking powder or baking soda. Their only leavening comes from creaming the butter and sugar together. Learn more about creaming butter and sugar here. It’s important to avoid your butter getting too warm – about 67°F is perfect. Use an instant-read thermometer for accuracy – but if you don’t have one, see the image below to learn how to tell when your butter is the perfect temperature for creaming.
How to Pipe Milano Cookies
- As you pipe, press into the dough slightly so it doesn’t mound too much.
- Stop squeezing the dough before you pull away.
- Don’t worry about any lumps or bumps, they’ll smooth out when baking.
- If you want to make sure the cookies are uniform, you can draw a guide on your parchment paper using a ruler and a pencil. Draw 3-inch lines spaced an inch or two apart, and flip the parchment over so the pencil lines don’t get on the cookies. Eyeballing it totally works too!
Milano Cookie Recipe Tools
For these Homemade Milano Cookies, there are a few small and inexpensive tools that make them much easier:
- Ateco plain tip (#808) and a disposable piping bag to pipe out uniform logs of cookie dough.
- You can also use a quart-size baggie and simply snip a 3/4-inch hole in one side to pipe the dough.
- Use a small offset spatula to spread the filling over the cookies.
- Place cookies in jumbo paper cupcake/muffin liners before serving, so they really look like the packaged Milanos!
Milano Cookie Flavor Variations
- I opted for peppermint extract, but feel free to experiment with other extracts to make other flavor variations.
- I haven’t tested anything but peppermint, but orange or raspberry would also be delicious – just keep in mind that other extracts may vary in strength, so start with less and add a little more as needed, to taste.
- Feel free to omit the mint layer if you prefer the plain chocolate variety!
- You can also use dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate if you prefer.
How to Store Milano Cookies
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Can You Freeze Milano Cookies?
Yes, but I recommend just freezing the baked, cooled cookies before adding the chocolate. Place in an airtight container or a freezer bag for up to a month. Thaw for a few hours and allow to come to room temperature before adding the chocolate and assembling.
More Cookie Recipes You’ll Love:
- Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Soft & Chewy Sugar Cookies
- Glazed Lemon Cookies
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Thin & Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies
More Nostalgic Recipes:
Homemade Milano Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 stick (113 grams) unsalted butter, at cool room temperature
- 2/3 cup (133 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 large egg, at cool room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups (159 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 4 ounces (113 grams) semisweet chocolate chips
Mint Layer (optional)
- 3/4 cup (94 grams) powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, using an electric mixture, beat the butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl. Add the vanilla and egg and beat to combine. With mixer on low, gradually add the flour and salt and beat until just combined.
- Transfer dough to a quart-size zip-top bag; with scissors, snip a 3/4-inch hole in one corner (or use a pastry bag with a plain tip). Pipe about 24 logs, about 3-inches long, spacing 1/2 inch apart, onto two parchment-lined baking sheets. For best results, chill until firm, 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Bake until cookies are light golden at the edges, about 15 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Transfer to wire racks and let cool.
- Melt the chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth.
- If desired, in a separate bowl, whisk together confectioners’ sugar, peppermint extract, and 3 to 4 teaspoons of water.
- With a small offset spatula, spread the melted chocolate on the flat side of half the cookies and mint glaze on the other half (if using). Sandwich cookie halves together.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container up to 5 days.
Recipe Notes
This post was originally published in 2016 and updated with weight measurements, additional recipe tips, and a step-by-step video.
I made these. And while the cookies themselves are delightful, combining 2 cookies with the chocolate are quite heavy. Not quite like the delicate milano. I found other recipes that call for confectioner sugar and only egg whites. And a ganache vs a basic chocolate
Hi Tessa,
Your recipie looks amazing. I am going to make it, but i don’t have a parchment paper. Is it okay if i bake it without the paper by lightly greasing the pan?
I never grease the pan when I bake cookies because it can cause them to spread more. Do you have a Silpat or anything else?
Yeah dear. Salted butter for no salt recipe confused me and i thought i will never be able to make those cookies 🙁 i figured out i can make butter, so i made my own unsalted butter!! 🙂
One question, you didn’t mention the size of milano cookies while piping. I piped a few and the were standing upright, about one inch…then they fell down which made two of the cookies sort of join together while baking. The cookies were done in 12 mins (I guessed it by the golden edges which were now turning brown). My dad says i should’ve cooked for more time till the “cookie was deep-ish brown on the edges”. They taste delicious. Gave a slight bite but were a bit soft on the inside and just a tiny bit chewy. What is the texture i am looking for when it comes to milano cookies? I never ate homemade cookie so… Should I cook it for 15min or it depends on the size and golden edges?
I don’t have any unsalted butter in my country. No one likes it. Only the salted one (however, i only use same brand butter). What should i do? How am i supposed to use the salted butter in each recipe if there is no salt at all in the written recipe? And even if there is, what am i supposed to do? Skip the salt as the butter already has it?
Yep, skip the salt called for in the recipe. As for recipes that don’t call for salt, there’s really no workaround if you truly can’t get unsalted butter :/
Yum! Your Milano cookies look so good. I don’t allow myself to buy the ones in the store often because I want to eat them all.
Please! How do you get these flat (thin) & round??
Mine came out domed; tasted great
Hi Tessa.. I love ur recipes.. I wanna ask, can I try these cookies in a microwave??
Plz help..
No, they need to be baked in an oven.
Hi Tessa,
I love love love your blog….great recipes ..I tried making these today but mine didn’t brown around the edges and the centres still seemed undone ..popped it back in the oven for a while longer but they were the same;(.. Can you please tell me what I may have done wrong? Looking forward to hearing back from you …
Thanks
I received your email for these cookies and immediately went to my kitchen. Wow what a great recipe.
I left some plain, joined some with chocolate and the rest with chocolate and mint , just divine, thank you.
This is the best version I have ever seen. I think a butter rum extract version would be to die for!! Thank you, Tessa!
Tessa,our computer facilities went haywire and we lost everything and were told it could not be retrieved.Would it be possible for you to resend the two books we purchased from you? This time I will print out hard copies so I won’t have to bother you again. Thank you for whatever assistance you can provide. Kind regards, CJ
Here in South Africa we do not have Milanos…..but I guess now we will, because I’m gonna make ’em! Yeah! They do look delicous and just the kinda cookie I adore….so guess what I’m going to be doing this weekend!!!