Description
Heart Jam Cookies: Buttery shortbread cookies filled with sweet jam. Quick, comforting, and perfect for sharing with loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- ⅓ cup high-quality raspberry or strawberry jam
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Dough In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt, then set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. This creates the foundation for your **Heart Jam Cookies**. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), mixing until well combined. Gradually add the flour mixture, beating on low speed just until the dough comes together. Don’t overmix or your cookies will be tough.
- Step 2: Chill and Roll Divide the dough into two equal portions and form each into a flat disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour or up to overnight. When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Working with one disk at a time, roll the dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Keep the second disk refrigerated until needed.
- Step 3: Cut and Shape Using a 2.5-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out as many hearts as possible from the rolled dough. These will form the bases of your **Heart Jam Cookies**. Transfer these hearts to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Re-roll scraps as needed. From half of the hearts, use a smaller heart-shaped cutter (about 1-inch) to cut out centers, creating frames. These will be your top cookies.
- Step 4: Bake to Perfection Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. Don’t overbake – they should not brown completely. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. The solid hearts will form the bottom of your **Heart Jam Cookies**, while the frames will become the decorative tops.
- Step 5: Assemble with Jam Once cookies are completely cooled, dust the top cookie frames with powdered sugar using a fine mesh sieve. Place about ½ teaspoon of jam in the center of each solid cookie base. Carefully place the powdered sugar-dusted frames on top, gently pressing to secure. The jam will show through the heart cutout, creating a beautiful jewel-like center for your **Heart Jam Cookies**. Allow the assembled cookies to set for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 30mg