As we step into April, the air is filled with the freshness of spring, and we can’t help but get caught up in the beauty of the season. The cheerful atmosphere is everywhere—blooming flowers, soft breezes, and vibrant colors—and it’s hard not to be enchanted.

It’s the perfect time to indulge in joyful moments with loved ones and share delicious homemade treats. Today, let’s bake some delightful jam cookies that will not only fill the house with an irresistible aroma but also bring smiles to everyone’s faces.

Let’s get started with the full recipe, step by step!

1. Preparing the Jam Filling

Before we dive into making the dough, we need to prepare the jam filling. This is the heart of our cookies, and it’s important to get it just right. You can choose your favorite fruit jam flavor—peach, blueberry, or anything else you love!

Ingredients:

- Peach Flavor:

- 2 tablespoons peach jam

- ½ tablespoon cold boiled water

- 1 teaspoon cornstarch + ½ teaspoon water (mix these to make a slurry)

Blueberry Flavor:

- 2 tablespoons blueberry jam

- ½ tablespoon cold boiled water

- 1 teaspoon cornstarch + ½ teaspoon water (mix these to make a slurry)

Steps:

1.In a stainless steel bowl, place the jam of your choice. Add ½ tablespoon of cold boiled water and mix well to loosen the jam slightly.

2. Heat the jam over low heat and bring it to a gentle simmer.

3. Gradually add the cornstarch slurry to the simmering jam while stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Continue stirring until the jam thickens to your desired consistency.

4. Once the jam is thick, turn off the heat and let it cool down completely before setting it aside.

2. Preparing the Cookie Dough

Now that our jam is ready, let’s move on to the cookie dough. This dough is what will hold the sweet jam filling inside, creating that delicious cookie sandwich.

Ingredients:

- 200g cake flour (low-gluten flour)

- 50g powdered sugar

- 100g unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)

- 1 egg

- 1/8 teaspoon salt (about 1g)

- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Steps:

1. First, ensure that the butter is at room temperature. When you press it with your finger, it should leave an impression. Cut the butter into small cubes for easier mixing.

2. Sift the cake flour into a bowl to ensure it’s light and airy.

3. Sift the powdered sugar into a separate bowl to remove any lumps.

4. You’ll need both a large and a small cookie cutter (choose shapes that you like—round, square, etc.).

Mixing the Dough:

1. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the butter cubes until creamy. It should look smooth and soft.

2. Add the powdered sugar and salt to the butter and continue mixing for about 2-3 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.

3. Break the egg and gradually add it in, mixing well after each addition (about 4-5 batches).

4. Add the spirit (optional) and mix again until smooth.

5. Gradually add the sifted flour in two batches. Use a spatula to gently fold the flour into the mixture, but don’t overmix it—just mix until everything comes together into a dough. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies!

6. Once the dough is mixed, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 30 minutes to chill. This will make it easier to roll out.

3. Rolling and Shaping the Dough

After chilling the dough, it’s time to roll it out and cut it into shapes. This is where we get to have some fun with different designs!

Steps:

1. Take the dough out of the fridge and dust your work surface lightly with cake flour to prevent sticking.

2. Roll the dough between two sheets of plastic wrap to about 0.3 cm thickness. This makes it easier to work with and keeps your counter clean.

Tip: If the dough feels too soft and sticky, place it back in the fridge for 5 minutes to firm up before rolling it out again.

3. Once you’ve rolled the dough out, use the large cookie cutter to cut out round shapes. Then, use a smaller cutter to cut out the center of half of the rounds. These will be the top of the sandwich, with the jam peeking through the hole.

4. Carefully place the cut cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly greased.

5. Gather the leftover dough and press it into a ball without kneading it, then roll it out again to cut more cookies until all the dough is used up.

4. Baking the Cookies

It’s time to bake these beautiful cookies to perfection!

Steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 150°C (300°F).

2. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes. Keep an eye on the cookies, and if necessary, rotate the baking sheet halfway through to ensure even baking.

3. When the cookies are golden around the edges, take them out and let them cool on a wire rack.

5. Assembling the Jam Cookies

Once the cookies are completely cooled, we can start assembling them into those delicious jam-filled sandwiches.

Steps:

1. Match the cookies into pairs—one with a solid round base and one with the hole in the center.

2. Spoon a small amount of the cooled jam filling onto the solid base cookie.

3. Place the cookie with the hole on top to form a sandwich, with the jam peeking through.

4. Once assembled, you can store the cookies in an airtight container in the fridge to keep them fresh.

Storage Tips

If you want the jam to be thicker, feel free to simmer it with cornstarch slurry as mentioned in the beginning. However, if you’re short on time, you can skip this step and use store-bought jam.

These jam cookies are perfect for any occasion, whether you're celebrating the holidays or simply enjoying a sweet treat with friends and family. I hope you enjoy baking them as much as I did. Let’s make this holiday season even sweeter, Lykkers! Happy baking!

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Video by Yummy Kitchen Recipe