Introduction

These best jam cookies are delicate, buttery treats filled with sweet strawberry jam. They combine a tender shortbread-like texture with a vibrant jam center, making them perfect for tea time or a delightful snack.

The Best Jam Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup icing sugar, sifted, plus extra for dusting
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted, plus extra to roll out the dough
1/2 cup strawberry jam

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter, icing sugar, salt, and vanilla extract until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Step 2: With the mixer running, gradually add the sifted flour until just combined and a ball of dough starts to form.
Step 3: Remove the dough from the mixer and knead gently by hand for about 1 minute to form a smooth ball. Wrap it in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
Step 4: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness, adding flour to the surface and rolling pin as needed to prevent sticking.
Step 5: Use a 3-inch circle cookie cutter to cut out cookie shapes. Reroll and cut any scraps to use up all the dough.
Step 6: Take half of the circle cookies and use a 1 1/2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the center.
Step 7: Arrange the whole and cutout cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets.
Step 8: Bake the cookies on the top and bottom oven racks, rotating and swapping the pans halfway through, until the edges turn light golden, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 9: Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack. Dust the cutout cookies with icing sugar. Spread strawberry jam on the bottom side of each whole cookie, then sandwich them with the dusted cutout cookies, jam side down.

Tips & Variations

For a different flavor, try raspberry or apricot jam instead of strawberry.
If you don’t have a heart-shaped cutter, any small shape will work for the window cutout.
Make sure the dough is well chilled to prevent it from shrinking while baking.
Use good quality unsalted butter for the best buttery flavor.

Storage

Store the jam cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They can also be frozen unassembled for up to 2 months—thaw completely before adding the jam and assembling. If the jam softens the cookies after sitting, briefly chill them before serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of jam?

Yes, you can use any fruit jam you like. Raspberry, apricot, or blueberry jam all work well and offer a nice twist on the classic flavor.

How do I prevent the dough from sticking while rolling?

Lightly flour your rolling surface and rolling pin, and occasionally dust the dough with flour as needed. Chilling the dough well also helps reduce stickiness.

The Best Jam Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 66 reviews

Delight in these classic jam cookies featuring a buttery, tender dough paired with a sweet strawberry jam center. Perfectly baked to a light golden hue and dusted with delicate icing sugar, these cookies offer a beautiful combination of textures and flavors that make an ideal treat for any occasion.

Author: Isabella
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup icing sugar, sifted, plus extra for dusting
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted, plus extra to roll out the dough

Filling

1/2 cup strawberry jam

Instructions

Prepare the dough: Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the room-temperature unsalted butter, sifted icing sugar, salt, and vanilla extract until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process should take at least 3 minutes to ensure proper aeration for tender cookies.
Form and chill the dough: Gradually add the sifted all-purpose flour to the butter mixture while the mixer runs, mixing until just combined and a dough ball forms. Remove the dough from the mixer and knead briefly by hand until smooth. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up, making it easier to roll out.
Roll out the dough: On a clean, floured surface, roll the chilled dough out to a 1/4-inch thickness, adding additional flour to the surface and rolling pin as needed to prevent sticking.
Cut cookie shapes: Using a 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut out circle shapes from the dough, gathering and rerolling scraps as needed. For half of the circles, use a 1 1/2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the center, creating a cutout cookie.
Arrange for baking: Place both the whole circle cookies and the cutout cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them evenly to allow for slight spreading during baking.
Bake the cookies: Bake the cookies on the top and bottom racks of the oven, rotating and switching the baking sheets halfway through the cooking time to ensure even baking. Bake until the edges are lightly golden, approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
Cool the cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on the baking sheets to set properly before assembling.
Finish with jam and sugar dusting: Dust the cutout cookies generously with sifted icing sugar. Then, spread a layer of strawberry jam over the flat side of each whole cookie. Sandwich each jam-coated cookie with a sugared cutout cookie, sugar side facing up, to create charming jam-filled cookies.

Notes

Using room temperature butter is key for achieving the right dough consistency.
Chilling the dough ensures less spreading and a firmer texture.
Be gentle when rolling out the dough to maintain tenderness.
Feel free to substitute strawberry jam with any other favorite fruit jam or preserve.
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
These cookies can also be frozen after baking; thaw at room temperature before serving.

Keywords: jam cookies, butter cookies, strawberry jam, dessert, homemade cookies, baked cookies, sugar dusted cookies