These jam cookies are the perfect blend of buttery shortbread and sweet, vibrant strawberry jam. Made with only a handful of ingredients, they’re easy to prepare and ideal for any season. Whether you’re baking for Valentine’s Day, the holidays, or just craving a nostalgic treat, these cookies deliver a melt-in-your-mouth texture and irresistible flavor. With their signature cutout top and glossy jam center, these are not just cookies — they’re edible art you’ll want to make again and again.
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Why These Jam Cookies Belong in Your Baking Rotation
What makes these jam cookies truly special is their simplicity paired with elegance. The shortbread dough is tender yet sturdy, making it the perfect vessel for luscious fruit filling. These cookies are:
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Bake them up to four days in advance and they’ll still taste freshly made.
- Customizable: Switch up the jam flavors or cutout shapes to suit any holiday or occasion.
- Visually Stunning: That heart-shaped cutout with dusted sugar? Showstopper material.
- Minimal Ingredient Magic: Only six ingredients needed, making it a stress-free baking session.
What You’ll Need to Bake Jam Cookies
• Unsalted Butter: The rich base of the shortbread, it creates a tender crumb and buttery flavor.
• Icing Sugar: Adds sweetness and a smooth texture to the dough; also used for that iconic powdered sugar finish.
• Salt: Enhances all the other flavors in the cookie.
• Vanilla Extract: Brings warm depth and balances the sweetness of the jam.
• All-Purpose Flour: The structure-building ingredient that holds everything together.
• Strawberry Jam: The sweet, fruity star of the show; provides flavor and moisture.
Ingredient Substitutions and Smart Swaps
If you’re short on something or catering to dietary needs, here are smart swaps:
- Butter Alternative: Use plant-based butter for a dairy-free version. Choose one with a high fat content for similar results.
- Flour-Free Option: Swap in almond flour for a nutty, gluten-free twist (note: texture will be more delicate).
- Jam Flavors: No strawberry? Use raspberry for tartness, apricot for brightness, or fig for depth.
- No Vanilla? Almond extract adds a lovely alternative aroma (but reduce to ¼ tsp—it’s strong!).
How to Make Jam Cookies – Step-by-Step Guide
- Preheat the Oven: Set to 325°F to ensure even baking.
- Cream the Butter & Sugar: In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat butter, icing sugar, salt, and vanilla extract until fluffy—about 3 minutes.
- Add the Flour: Mix in sifted flour just until a dough ball starts forming.
- Chill the Dough: Knead briefly, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This prevents sticking and helps maintain shape.
- Roll and Cut: On a floured surface, roll dough to ¼-inch thickness. Use a 3-inch round cutter for full cookies, and a 1½-inch heart cutter to create the window in half of them.
- Bake: Place cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake 15–20 minutes, rotating pans halfway through. They’re ready when edges turn light golden.
- Cool and Dust: Let cookies cool fully. Dust cutout cookies with icing sugar for that classic finish.
- Assemble: Spread jam on the full rounds, then top with cutout cookies (sugar side up) to sandwich them.
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Results
- High-Quality Jam Matters: This is the flavor centerpiece. Use Italian or artisanal jam for best results.
- Room Temp Butter Only: Cold butter won’t cream well, and melted butter will ruin the dough structure.
- Sifted Flour is Non-Negotiable: Prevents lumps and helps dough come together evenly.
- Speed Matters: Work quickly when rolling and cutting—this dough softens fast due to high butter content.
- Use the Right Tools: Metal cookie cutters create cleaner edges than plastic. A small offset spatula helps lift cookies without tearing.
Serving Suggestions and Delicious Variations
Jam cookies are delightful on their own, but they pair beautifully with:
- A Hot Drink: Serve with tea or espresso to enhance their buttery sweetness.
- Chocolate Drizzle: A fine zigzag of dark chocolate over the top adds richness.
- Jam Flavor Swaps: Try blackberry, orange marmalade, or cherry jam for a fresh twist.
- Gluten-Free Version: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and reduce the jam slightly for structure.
- Holiday Shapes: Use stars for Christmas, pumpkins for fall, or flowers in spring.
You can also prepare these in batches and freeze assembled or unassembled cookies for up to 3 months. Just thaw at room temperature before serving.
A Cookie for Every Season
These jam cookies aren’t just for Valentine’s Day. The beauty of this recipe is how easily it adapts to any season or celebration:
- Spring: Use floral cutters and fill with apricot or raspberry jam.
- Fall: Pumpkin-shaped cookies with fig or apple jam taste like autumn.
- Winter Holidays: Dust with cinnamon sugar and use cranberry or cherry jam for a festive touch.
Whether you call them Linzer cookies, sandwich cookies, or simply jam cookies, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser. Buttery, fruity, and endlessly customizable—they’re everything a cookie should be.
Final Thoughts: Why You’ll Bake These Jam Cookies Again and Again
Whether you’re making a batch for a holiday cookie swap, a romantic Valentine’s Day treat, or just to satisfy your sweet tooth on a cozy afternoon, these jam cookies are the kind of dessert that never disappoints. They strike the perfect balance between a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread and the tangy-sweet punch of high-quality jam. With endless customization options and freezer-friendly storage, it’s no wonder they’ve become a household staple.
Once you make these, don’t be surprised if they become your go-to cookie recipe year-round. Easy, elegant, and utterly delicious — these jam cookies truly check every box.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make jam cookies ahead of time?
Yes! Jam cookies are excellent for making ahead. Once assembled, they keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–4 days without getting soggy. You can also freeze unfilled cookies and assemble them later with fresh jam.
What type of jam works best in jam cookies?
While strawberry jam is classic and crowd-pleasing, you can use almost any type of fruit preserve. Raspberry, apricot, cherry, fig, or even orange marmalade offer delicious twists. Just avoid jams that are too runny, as they may leak or soften the cookies too much.
Why is my dough too soft to roll out?
This usually happens if the dough wasn’t chilled long enough or the butter was too warm when mixed. To fix it, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it for another 15–30 minutes. You can also lightly flour your surface and rolling pin to prevent sticking
More Relevant Recipes
- Valentine’s Shortbread Hearts: These tender shortbread cookies, shaped into charming hearts and drizzled with icing, share a similar buttery texture and visual appeal to jam cookies. They’re perfect for holidays or romantic occasions.
- Strawberry Turnovers: Featuring a fruit-filled center and flaky pastry shell, these turnovers are a delightful cousin to jam cookies, offering a similar balance of sweet strawberry flavor and crisp texture.
- Jam Puff Pastry Tarts: With vibrant jam atop crisp puff pastry, these simple tarts echo the fruity sweetness and aesthetic charm of jam cookies, making them a great alternative or addition to your baking list.
Jam Cookies
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 9 cookies
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These jam cookies feature a rich, buttery shortbread base and are filled with sweet strawberry jam. With only six ingredients, they’re simple to make and perfect for any season or holiday. Their heart-shaped cutout and dusting of powdered sugar add a beautiful finishing touch.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature: provides richness and a tender crumb
- 3/4 cup icing sugar, sifted (plus extra for dusting): adds sweetness and a smooth texture
- 1/4 teaspoon salt: enhances overall flavor
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract: adds aromatic warmth
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted (plus extra for rolling): gives structure to the cookies
- 1/2 cup strawberry jam: sweet fruity filling that brings color and flavor
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
- In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, icing sugar, salt, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
- Add sifted flour gradually and mix until just combined. A dough ball will begin to form.
- Remove the dough and knead by hand until fully combined (about 1 minute). Wrap in plastic and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- On a floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Use a 3-inch round cutter to make base cookies and a 1 1/2-inch heart cutter to create windows in half of them.
- Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 15–20 minutes, rotating pans halfway through, until edges are light golden.
- Let cookies cool completely. Dust the cutout cookies with icing sugar.
- Spread about 1 teaspoon of strawberry jam on the flat side of each whole cookie and top with a cutout cookie to form a sandwich.
Notes
- Use high-quality jam for the best flavor and texture.
- Ensure butter is at room temperature for proper creaming.
- Work quickly while rolling and cutting the dough to prevent it from melting.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- You can use different cookie cutter shapes to suit the season.
- Substitute strawberry jam with raspberry, apricot, cherry, or fig jam if desired.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 374
- Sugar: 19.06g
- Sodium: 74.19mg
- Fat: 20.74g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7.74g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44.22g
- Fiber: 0.96g
- Protein: 3.15g
- Cholesterol: 54.23mg