These buttery and crisp jam cookies are the perfect Valentine’s Day treat. Each bite melts in your mouth, with a sweet jam center that feels both comforting and festive. Perfect for gifting or enjoying with a warm cup of tea, these Best Jam Cookies are as beautiful as they are delicious.
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Why These Are the Best Jam Cookies
These cookies have everything you could love in a Valentine’s Day treat. The shortbread base is buttery, tender, and perfectly crisp around the edges. Each cookie is sandwiched with a glossy layer of strawberry jam that adds just the right amount of sweetness. They use simple ingredients and come together with ease. You can shape them into hearts for Valentine’s Day or any shape you like for other celebrations. Best of all, they bake evenly every time, giving you reliable results and irresistible flavor.
What You’ll Need
Key Ingredients
Butter is the heart of these cookies, giving them their soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Be sure to use unsalted butter at room temperature for the best flavor. Icing sugar keeps the dough smooth and light, while vanilla adds warmth. Sifted all-purpose flour helps the cookies stay delicate. Strawberry jam gives a sweet, fruity center, but you can switch it up with raspberry, cherry, or apricot jam for a fun twist. Always use high-quality jam so the flavor really shines through.
Tools and Equipment
You’ll need a stand mixer or hand mixer, a rolling pin, parchment paper, baking sheets, and two cookie cutters—one large (3-inch) and one small (1½-inch). A wire rack helps cool them evenly, and a sifter or fine-mesh sieve is handy for dusting powdered sugar.
How to Make the Best Jam Cookies Step-by-Step
Make the Dough
Start by preheating your oven to 325°F. In a stand mixer, beat together butter, icing sugar, salt, and vanilla for about three minutes until the mixture is fluffy. Gradually add flour and mix until the dough begins to come together. Knead lightly by hand for about a minute to make it smooth. Wrap it in plastic and chill for at least thirty minutes so it’s easier to roll.
Roll, Cut, and Shape
Next, roll the chilled dough on a floured surface to about a quarter inch thick. Cut out 3-inch circles, then use a smaller cutter to remove the center from half of them. These will be your top cookies. Arrange them on parchment-lined baking sheets, keeping them slightly apart.
Bake and Cool
Bake for fifteen to twenty minutes, rotating the pans halfway through to ensure even coloring. Once the edges turn lightly golden, remove them and let them cool completely on a wire rack. This step is key to keeping their delicate texture.
Assemble the Cookies
After cooling, dust the cutout tops with icing sugar. Spread a thin layer of strawberry jam on the full cookies. Gently place the dusted tops over the jam to create the classic sandwich look. The jam peeking through the center makes them especially festive for Valentine’s Day.
Pro Tips for Perfect Jam Cookies
Use the best quality jam you can find for rich flavor. Butter should be fully softened, not melted, before mixing. Always sift your flour and icing sugar to prevent lumps and create a smooth dough. Work quickly while rolling since the dough softens easily from the butter. Add flour lightly to manage stickiness, but avoid overworking it. For holidays, you can use themed cookie cutters like hearts or stars. Keep a close eye while baking; slightly golden edges mean they’re ready. Overbaking will make them dry instead of crisp and tender.
Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions
Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to four days at room temperature. To freeze, place them in a sealed container and store for up to three months. When ready to enjoy, let them thaw at room temperature. You can also make the dough ahead of time, wrap it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to two days before baking. This helps with planning during busy holidays and keeps your cookies fresh.
Serving Ideas and Variations
Try these cookies with different jams like raspberry, cherry, or fig for a unique flavor each time. For special occasions, use heart, star, or flower-shaped cutters. They pair beautifully with tea or coffee and make a thoughtful edible gift. For a festive dessert spread, pair them with Classic thumbprint cookies perfect for holiday trays or Heart cookies for Valentine’s Day. The buttery shortbread and bright jam center make them as pretty as they are tasty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are jam cookies called?
They’re often known as Linzer cookies or sandwich cookies, depending on the region.
What is the most popular cookie?
Chocolate chip cookies remain the favorite for many, but jam-filled cookies are a classic holiday staple.
What are 5 basic types of cookies?
Drop, bar, rolled, pressed, and molded cookies are the main types.
What makes a cookie a jam cookie?
A jam cookie typically features a buttery base and a layer of jam or jelly as the sweet filling.
Other Recipes You May Enjoy
- Linzer cookies with raspberry jam filling
- Cherry snowball cookies for a festive dessert
- Giftable cookie mix in a jar
- Mini red velvet cakes for Valentine’s Day
Conclusion
These Best Jam Cookies bring buttery richness and fruity sweetness together in every bite. Whether you bake them for Valentine’s Day or as a year-round treat, they’re guaranteed to impress. Try them with your favorite jam flavors, share them with loved ones, and enjoy the sweet moments they bring. You can find more creative baking inspiration on Pinterest.
Best Jam Cookies
Equipment
- Stand mixer or hand mixer For creaming butter and sugar
- Rolling Pin To flatten dough evenly
- Cookie cutters (3-inch and 1.5-inch) For shapes and centers
- Baking sheets Line with parchment paper
- Wire rack For cooling cookies
- Sifter or fine mesh sieve For dusting icing sugar
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ¾ cup sifted icing sugar, plus extra for dusting
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
- ½ cup strawberry jam
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. In a stand mixer, beat butter, icing sugar, salt, and vanilla until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add flour and mix until dough just begins to form. Knead by hand for about 1 minute until smooth. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Roll dough on a floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out 3-inch circles, then cut centers from half of them with a smaller cutter.
- Arrange cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 15–20 minutes, rotating halfway, until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool completely. Dust top cookies with icing sugar. Spread jam on full cookies and sandwich with cutout tops.
