The mission was to make someone's day. It is one thing I definitely could put on my to-do list. It was even easier because carrying out the mission involved baking cookies. I knew who my target was in an instant. What took a while longer was deciding on which cookies to bake. Then, after some thought and a little selfishness thrown in, the decision was made. Jam Filled Butter Cookies happened shortly thereafter.
Cookie favorites vary widely. It's because of so many different types. Crunchy, chewy, chocolate, butter, shortbread, oatmeal, and the list goes on and on. My husband's favorite when it comes to homemade ones would be peanut butter cookies. Second in line are buttery ones. I opted for butter cookies and filled them with his favorite jams; strawberry and grape. Of course I made a few apricot ones for me (did I mention some selfishness thrown in? Sure I did).
Jam Filled Butter Cookies could make someone's day. Especially if you fill them with their favorite flavor of jam or preserves. A little observation or inquiry is all you need to customize these for someone specific. Find out what they prefer and go with it. You can use a variety of flavors if they are for a group. Just make sure it is not a big group because these are small-batch cookies. Two dozen do not go far. Then again, you could double the batch.
The cookies are not overly sweet. There is only a quarter cup of sugar in the dough. Using a tart jam will even cut the sweetness more. Butter is the ruling flavor of the cookie aside from the jam. The texture is reminiscent of shortbread but not quite as dense.
How has someone made your day? Was it with a gift or compliment? Each time someone tries one of my recipes and comes back to let me know how much they enjoyed it totally makes my day. Scroll down to find a list of cookie recipes for the Creative Cookie Exchange. Join me in visiting each one to read how they accomplished the mission of making someone's day.
Jam Filled Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- Jam or preserves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or non-stick liner.
- Whisk together flour and salt in a medium bowl.
- Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
- Add vanilla and almond extracts and beat to combine.
- Add flour and mix until combined (dough will look crumbly).
- Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place balls on baking sheets.
- Flatten cookies slightly and indent centers. Fill centers with jam or preserves.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.
- Cool cookies on baking sheet for 1 minute. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely.
Notes
The Creative Cookie Exchange theme this month is Make Someone's Day Cookies. We chose someone in our lives that we loved and baked them cookies that they love. Maybe you will feel inspired to bake someone that you love a cookie. If you are a blogger and want to join in the fun, contact Laura via email (thespicedlife AT gmail DOT com) and she will get you added to our Facebook group where discuss our cookies and share links.
You can also use us as a great resource for cookie recipes. Be sure to check out our Pinterest Board and our monthly posts (you can find all of them here at The Spiced Life). You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month! Also, if you are looking for inspiration to get in the kitchen and start baking, check out what all of the hosting bloggers have made:
- Almond Butter Cookies from Ninja Baker
- Alphabet Letter Cookies from A Baker's House
- Apple Peanut Butter Doggie Cookies from Cookie Dough & Oven Mitt
- Cherry Pie Cookies from It's Yummi
- Chocolate Chunk Shortbread from Baking in Pyjamas
- Chocolatey Chocolate Chip Cookies from Indian Curries/Stew
- Classic Shortbread with Fleur de Sel from Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Coconut Rum Celebration Cookies from Food Lust People Love
- Cookie Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Noshing With The Nolands
- Double Chocolate Chip Cookies from Spiceroots
- Dulce de Leche Madeleines from The Spiced Life
- Four Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies from Rhubarb and Honey
- Frosted Lemon Cookies from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- Jam Filled Butter Cookies from Magnolia Days
- Lemon Thyme Shortbread Cookies from Sweet Cinnamon & Honey
- Soft Sugar Cookies from DessertStalking Blog
Christmas before last I made kiwi jam just fill some thumbprint cookies with green to go with the red. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out very green so I abandoned that project. If only I had thought to fill them with all the jewel tones of red and yellow and purple. Those are simply gorgeous, Renee.
Renee, you totally made my day with these jam-filled butter cookies. I need a little pick-me-up for breakfast and cookies is perfect for breakfast, right?
Your cookies are perfection, I just love them. Thumbprints are one of my absolute favorites. Love that you filled them with different preserves, that is such a great idea!!
Yum! These are one of my favorite cookies of all time. I can't wait to give your recipe a try!
Sharing cookies is one of the best ways to make someone's day-- it never fails to bring a smile to the giver and to the receiver's face! These surely did the trick as they are pretty and delicious too.
Wow these look so good!! I'm sure they made your sweetie's day, and I'm sure he was happy that you had some apricot ones for yourself =) Beautiful!
I adore thumbprint cookies. Your cookies look perfectly buttery and delectable with the delicious jam filling.
These Cookies, looks so soft and Chewy... now, I know What to do with my Apple Jam I made last week.
You made my day the first time I met you in person, Renee. You were oh so gracious about introducing me to other members of the Sunday Supper group in Florida =)
And you've gifted me today with these gorgeous butter jam numbers...Yum! Glad you included apricot, too! Saving this recipe for my files...And sharing - too good not to!
I'm thinking doubling or even tripling the batch might be in order! And there will be strawberry in there for me. 🙂
Wow jam thumbprint cookies remind me of my childhood! These look so sweet and delicious - thanks for reminding me how much I love them!
These jam-filled bites of perfection take me right back to my childhood. My godmother used to have a batch ready whenever I came to visit. Deliciousness!
A little bit for yourself is perfectly fine in my book! These cookies look fantastic! I could gobble down a dozen of these with some strawberry and grape jam!
Renee, you would make MY day if I could have like 5 of these. . the apricot ones please. 🙂 delicious! love these jam-filled-butter-cookies!!!
This is my kind of cookie! I love thumbprints, especially with a good tart jam! Yours look lovely and perfectly buttery/tender. 🙂
Thanks so much for posting this recipe! I have been asking my Mom for years if she could remember her recipe for butter cookies filled iwth jam. She couldn't remember the whole recipe but this sounds pretty darn close. WIll be making them this weekend. I might even give her some. 🙂
Oh fantastic! I hope you and your mom enjoy them.
I'm a jam lover and would love these little jammy cookies. Yum!
Has anyone made the cookies, Pictures don't tell the taste.
Really pleased with the outcome. Do you have a gluten free version?
I haven't tried this recipe gluten free yet, but when I convert cookie recipes, I usually try Cup4Cup or King Arthur Measure-for-Measure flour. Those have worked well for many cookie and muffin recipes.