These delightful confections are more than just a snack; they’re a sweet symphony of flavors, a harmonious blend of textures, and a testament to the beauty of baking’s simplicity. From their delicate, and crumbly cookie layers to the sweet and fruity jam centers that burst with vibrant flavor, jam sandwich cookies encapsulate the essence of homemade goodness.
Crafted from a handful of basic ingredients, these cookies achieve a delightful contrast of textures. The cookie layers offer a tender crumble that yields to each bite, while the jewel-like centers of high-quality fruit jam or preserves provide a burst of sweet and tangy delight.
Preparing the Cookie Dough
Creating jam sandwich cookies begins with crafting a versatile and delightful cookie dough. In a mixing bowl, cream softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture achieves a light and fluffy consistency. Mix in a touch of vanilla extract to impart a delightful aroma. Gradually introduce flour and a pinch of salt, ensuring thorough mixing until a soft, pliable dough forms.
Chill and Solidify
Form the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until it’s firm enough to handle.
Forming the cookies
With the dough perfectly chilled, your oven preheated to 350°F (175°C), and a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, it’s time to shape the cookies. On a lightly floured surface, the chilled dough is rolled out to a thickness of about 1/8 inch. Using an array of well-floured cookie cutters, you can create various shapes, from hearts and circles to stars and more. For half of the cookies, employing a smaller cutter within the larger shape results in a delightful window effect at the center.
Baking the Delights
Once the cookies are expertly cut, they’re placed on the parchment-lined baking sheet and introduced to the oven, where they bake for approximately 10 minutes or until they take on a lightly golden hue.
Artful Assembly
Following the bake, the cookies are allowed to cool completely, setting the stage for the sweet assembly process. Each whole cookie, those without the charming window, welcomes a delicate layer of fruit jam or preserves. Then, with a final touch of creativity and an optional dash of powdered sugar for an elegant finish, you place a cutout cookie on top of each jam-covered counterpart to create the delightful sandwich.
Five Tips for Perfect Jam Sandwich Cookies
- Choose Quality Jam: Opt for high-quality fruit jam or preserves to ensure the best flavor. Experiment with different fruit varieties to find your favorite combination.
- Chill the Dough Adequately: Properly chilling the cookie dough allows it to firm up, making it easier to work with and preventing cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- Precision in Cutting: Use well-floured cookie cutters to cut out the cookies. A bench scraper can help transfer delicate cookie shapes to the baking sheet.
- Even Baking: To ensure even baking, rotate the baking sheet halfway through the baking time. This helps prevent cookies from browning unevenly.
- Get Creative: Jam sandwich cookies offer endless opportunities for creativity. Experiment with different shapes, jam flavors, and even decorative techniques like powdered sugar dusting or drizzling melted chocolate.
Essential Equipment for Making Jam Sandwich Cookies
To make the process of creating these delightful cookies smoother, having the right equipment can be a game-changer. Here’s a list of essential items that will come in handy:
- Mixing Bowls: Multiple mixing bowls in various sizes for preparing and dividing the dough.
- Electric Mixer: A stand mixer or handheld electric mixer to cream the butter and sugar effectively.
- Measuring Tools: Precise measuring cups and spoons for accurate ingredient portions.
- Parchment Paper: To roll out and assemble the dough, and for easy cleanup.
- Rolling Pin: A rolling pin for flattening the dough into even rectangles.
- Cookie Cutters: A variety of cookie cutters to create different shapes for your jam sandwich cookies.
- Bench Scraper: A bench scraper is useful for transferring delicate cookie shapes to the baking sheet.
The result? A delightful treat suitable for any occasion, from an afternoon tea to a holiday gathering, offering endless opportunities for flavor experimentation, and an array of creative shapes and decorative techniques to explore. Enjoy the creative process and the delightful outcome of these classic and charming jam sandwich cookies. Happy baking!
Jam Sandwich Cookies
Ingredients
- 340 g butter room temperature
- 200 g sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 440 g flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup raspberry jam
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder for chocolate cookies!
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Slowly beat in or stir in the flour and salt until the dough forms. At this point you can also mix in the cocoa powder if you want to make them chocolate flavoured!
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour or for up to several days.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175℃).
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about ⅛ inch thick.
- Cut the dough with your cookie cutter of choice and transfer to a lined baking sheet.
- Cut out the center of half the cookies. I use the end of a piping tip for this.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until very slightly browned at the edges. Allow to cool completely.
- Dust the cookies with the hollow center with icing sugar. To the rest of the cookies, spread about half a teaspoon of jam and then place a sugar-dusted cookie on top. Lightly press down.