Crispy Jam Cookies Recipe

Heavenly Jam-Filled Cookies Recipe For Sweet Tooths

Soft, buttery dough meets sweet jam in these irresistible crispy jam cookies that melt in your mouth.

Golden edges promise a delightful crunch with every bite.

The simple ingredients create a magical balance of textures and flavors.

Home bakers love how quickly these treats come together in the kitchen.

Elegant yet approachable, these cookies work perfectly for afternoon tea or casual gatherings.

A sprinkle of powdered sugar adds the final touch of charm to these delectable treats.

You’ll fall in love with their delicate, crisp exterior and tender center.

Bake a batch and watch them disappear in moments.

Serving Guide For The Best Jam Cookies

  • Sweet Treat Pairings: Serve these jam cookies alongside a steaming mug of chamomile tea for a cozy afternoon snack.
  • Dessert Platter Perfection: Create a colorful cookie platter with different jam flavors, mixing and matching to delight guests at parties or gatherings.
  • Gift-Worthy Packaging: Pack these cookies in decorative tins or clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon for a homemade gift that shows you care about your loved ones.
  • Festive Holiday Touch: Sprinkle extra powdered sugar on top during Christmas or add red and green colored jams for a seasonal twist that brings extra cheer to your cookie tray.

Storing And Prepping The Best Jam Cookies

  • Fridge-Friendly Storage: Keep cookies in a sealed container between layers of parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain their delicate texture for 5-7 days.
  • Smart Batch Preparation: Prepare cookie dough ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze raw dough balls for 2-3 months, allowing spontaneous baking whenever cravings strike.
  • Freezing Finished Cookies: Arrange completely cooled jam cookies in single layers inside freezer-safe containers, separating each layer with wax paper. Freeze for up to 1 month without losing flavor or texture.
  • Room Temperature Freshness: Keep cookies in a ceramic cookie jar with a tight-fitting lid at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and heat sources to maintain their crisp edges and soft centers.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Calories: 130 kcal

Servings: 25

Everything In The Best Jam Cookies

For Cookie Base:
  • All-Purpose Flour: The sturdy foundation that gives cookies their classic texture and structure, choose unbleached flour for richer flavor.
  • Unsalted Butter: Provides rich, creamy depth and helps cookies achieve a tender crumb, select high-quality butter for best results.
  • Granulated Sugar: Delivers sweetness and helps cookies achieve golden-brown edges, opt for fine crystals that blend smoothly.
  • Egg Yolk: Adds richness, moisture, and helps bind ingredients together, use fresh room-temperature eggs.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor complexity, select pure extract for most authentic taste.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness and intensifies other flavors, use fine sea salt for even distribution.
For Filling and Topping:
  • Jam: Brings vibrant fruity burst and colorful center, choose high-quality preserves with real fruit chunks.
  • Powdered Sugar: Creates delicate sweet finish, sift before dusting to prevent clumps.
  • Chopped Nuts (Optional): Provides delightful crunch and nutty undertone, toast nuts beforehand for deeper flavor.
For Optional Texture Enhancement:
  • Parchment Paper: Ensures even baking and prevents sticking, use unbleached if possible.

Tools You’ll Need For The Best Jam Cookies

  • Large mixing bowl: Essential for creaming butter and sugar, and mixing dough ingredients.
  • Electric mixer or hand whisk: Perfect for achieving light, fluffy butter and sugar mixture.
  • Separate mixing bowl: Needed for whisking dry ingredients.
  • Plastic wrap: Used to chill and wrap the cookie dough.
  • Baking sheets: Crucial for baking the cookies evenly.
  • Parchment paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
  • Thumb or small spoon: Helps create indentations in cookie dough.
  • Wire cooling rack: Allows cookies to cool completely without getting soggy.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Ensures precise ingredient quantities.

How To Make The Best Jam Cookies

  • Whip Up the Dough

Blend softened butter and sugar until they transform into a fluffy cloud. Add egg yolk and vanilla, mixing until everything comes together like best friends. Gently fold in flour and salt, creating a tender dough that’s soft and promising.

  • Chill and Rest

Wrap your dough in plastic like a cozy blanket and let it relax in the refrigerator. This downtime helps the flavors mingle and develop a richer personality.

  • Shape and Prepare

Heat the oven to a toasty 350F. Roll the dough into adorable bite-sized balls. If you’re feeling adventurous, roll them in chopped nuts for extra crunch. Arrange them on a baking sheet with some personal space between friends.

  • Create Jammy Centers

Press your thumb or a small spoon into each cookie ball, making a little nest. Carefully fill these cozy centers with vibrant jam, being careful not to overflow.

  • Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the tray into the oven and bake until the edges turn a delicate golden brown. This usually takes about 12-15 minutes of patient waiting.

  • Cool and Serve

Let the cookies rest briefly on the baking sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack. For an elegant touch, dust with a light snowfall of powdered sugar. These delightful treats will keep happily in an airtight container for up to five days.

Pro Tips For The Best Jam Cookies

  • Dough Chill Trick: Refrigerate the dough for up to 24 hours to develop deeper flavor and make rolling easier.
  • Texture Boost: Roll cookie balls in finely chopped almonds, pecans, or pistachios for a delightful crunch and nutty undertone.
  • Jam Adventure: Experiment with different jam flavors like raspberry, apricot, strawberry, or even marmalade to create unique taste profiles.
  • Gluten-Free Swap: Replace regular flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend to make these cookies celiac-friendly without compromising taste.
  • Vegan Transformation: Substitute butter with plant-based margarine, use a flax egg instead of egg yolk, and ensure other ingredients are plant-based for a delicious vegan version.
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Crispy Jam Cookies Recipe

Crispy Jam Cookies


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4.6 from 19 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 25 1x

Description

Jam-filled cookies bring pure delight to dessert tables across kitchens. Buttery shortbread rounds cradle sweet fruit preserves, creating simple yet irresistible treats you’ll savor with coffee or tea.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¼ cups / 280 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup / 227 g unsalted butter, softened
  • ⅔ cup / 133 g granulated sugar
  • ½ cup / 170 g fruit jam or preserves (raspberry, strawberry, or apricot)
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 tsp / 5 ml vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp / 1.5 g salt
  • powdered sugar for dusting
  • finely chopped nuts for rolling

Instructions

  1. Dough Preparation: Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, blending in egg yolk and vanilla extract to create a smooth base. Gently incorporate sifted flour and salt, kneading until a uniform, pliable dough forms.
  2. Chilling Phase: Wrap the dough in plastic film and refrigerate for 30 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and texture to firm up. This crucial resting period enhances the cookie’s structural integrity.
  3. Shaping and Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350F (175C). Roll chilled dough into uniform spheres, optionally coating with finely chopped nuts for added crunch. Arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving ample space between cookies.
  4. Jam Filling Technique: Create gentle wells in each dough ball using your thumb or a small spoon. Carefully fill these indentations with jam, ensuring a balanced distribution without overflowing the centers.
  5. Baking and Finishing: Bake for 12-15 minutes until cookie edges transform to a golden, crisp tone. Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling. Dust with a delicate layer of powdered sugar for an elegant presentation.
  6. Storage: Preserve the cookies in an airtight container, maintaining freshness for up to 5 days, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify.

Notes

  • Chill Dough Thoroughly: Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading and ensure a compact, firm cookie texture during baking.
  • Select Quality Jam: Choose thick, low-moisture fruit preserves to prevent excessive leakage and maintain clean, defined wells in the cookies.
  • Manage Thumb Pressure: Create cookie wells gently with minimal pressure to avoid cracking the delicate dough structure while forming jam indentations.
  • Control Baking Time: Watch cookies closely during the 12-15 minute baking window, as ovens vary; golden edges indicate perfect doneness without burning.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 25
  • Calories: 130
  • Sugar: 5 g
  • Sodium: 30 mg
  • Fat: 8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 15 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 20 mg
Marcus Foley

Marcus Foley

Food Critic & Kitchen Coach

Expertise

Recipe Testing and Troubleshooting; Time-Saving Kitchen Hacks; Global Flavor Exploration; Engaging Food Writing and Honest Reviews.

Education

Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), New York, NY

  • Program: Diploma in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Hands-on training in foundational techniques, flavor development, recipe creation, and kitchen efficiency, with an emphasis on real-world application and storytelling through food.

Marcus Foley, based in Atlanta, GA, is a friendly food expert who makes cooking fun and simple.

With hands-on training from the Institute of Culinary Education and years of tasting everything from street food to fine dining, he shares easy kitchen hacks, global flavor ideas, and step-by-step recipes that turn kitchen mishaps into delicious surprises.

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