Raspberry Jam Cookies

If I could choose a cookie to represent my childhood, these Jam Cookies would be it.

Although my Mom never actually made these, my grandma and every auntie for miles around did. I recently came across this recipe in a family cookbook that my Mom's side of the family compiled over 30 years ago. This recipe is my Great Aunt Myrlene's recipe and one bite of these Raspberry Jam Cookies transported me right back to being a kid again.

My Mom didn't actually bake many cookies, so when she did, it was a real treat. Her Peanut Butter Cookies are what I remember her baking and still crave today. Fortunately my Grandma and all the aunties on my Mom's side of the family were big bakers and made lots of different kinds of cookies. I can recall eating many renditions of these jam filled cookies at  various family gatherings over the years, with this version being THE BEST version I have ever tasted!

🥘 Ingredients

I can honestly say these cookies are THE BEST raspberry jam cookies I have ever eaten because they are the only recipe I've ever come across that uses brown sugar instead of white granulated sugar. And wow - what a difference it makes! That brown sugar gives this cookie an incredible depth of flavor; unlike any other jam cookie!

For this recipe, you'll need:

• unsalted butter
• brown sugar
• egg
• salt 
• cream of tartar
• flour
• baking soda
• seedless raspberry jam
• powdered sugar/icing sugar (optional)

📖 Variations & Substitutions

Jam: These raspberry thumbprint cookies not only make a great holiday cookie, they are fantastic anytime! You can use strawberry or raspberry jam when making these cookies, but I prefer to use raspberry jam. Raspberry jam is a little more tart and pairs well with the sweet base of these cookies. And seedless raspberry jam is the best type of raspberry jam to use because you don't have to deal with seeds, giving you the ultimate cookie eating experience! You could also use another type of berry jam, like Saskatoon berry! I sprinkle a little powdered sugar on them for aesthetics, but it's purely optional.

Cream of tartar: This classic jam cookie recipe also calls for cream of tartar, but if you don't have any in your pantry, don't worry. Here are some simple substitutions for Cream of Tartar.  However, if you can get your hands on cream of tartar, I do recommend following this recipe exactly as written.

Unsalted butter: If you only have salted butter, go ahead and use it, but skip the salt in the recipe!

These classic thumbprint cookies are fun to make with your kids because they are very simple and simple cookies are ideal for teaching kids how to bake. My daughter and I made these together and it was a lot of fun! And this 4 Ingredient Whipped Shortbread is another basic cookie recipe that's great for making with kids. 

💭 Top tip

How to minimize thumbprint cookie cracking. 

Thumbprint cookies tend to crack, so after making these 3 times (yes 3 times !) until they were PERFECT, I learned a few things:

• Keep the dough soft. Once the cookie dough is made, cover and let it rest for at least 15 minutes at room temperature, so that the dough will be easier to handle and less sticky.
• Use the back of wooden spoon dipped in powdered sugar (or icing sugar, as we like to call it in Canada) to make an imprint. You can use your thumb but I found this much more effective for getting a uniform print.
• Then spin it around a little to make it wider (pressing outwards from the center).
• And be sure you don't press down to the very bottom of the cookie or it will be too thin .
• Do NOT heat your jam before adding it to the cookies. 

🌡️Storing

Refrigeration: You can store these cookies in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freezing: These freeze well. If you stack them, be sure to add parchment paper between the layers to avoid sticking.

ENJOY!~

And if you LOVE thumbprint cookies, then give my Butter tart Thumbprint Cookies a try. I actually spent years perfecting this cookie because I love butter tarts that much!

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5 from 8 votes

📋 Raspberry Jam Cookie Recipe

These simple and delicious Raspberry Jam Cookies are classic thumbprint cookies filled with raspberry preserves and baked to perfection. This recipe uses brown sugar for a depth of flavor like no other jam cookie you've ever had. The taste will transport you right back to your childhood.

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American, Canadian

Keyword blue raspberry, cookies, jam, thumbprint cookie

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes

resting time 15 minutes

Total Time 33 minutes

Servings 36 cookies

Calories 109kcal

Author Myrlene Currie (My great aunt)

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• ¾ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 whole egg
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
• 2 cups flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup seedless raspberry jam * can substitute strawberry jam

Garnish (optional)

• powdered sugar for sprinkling

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F/218 degrees C . *Do NOT spray baking sheet
• With an electric hand mixer, cream butter and sugar until smooth.
• Add egg and beat until blended.
• Sift dry ingredients together, then add to creamed mixture.
• * I recommend you let the dough sit for 15 minutes before rolling into balls (it helps to prevent cracking)
• Form into 1 inch balls. Spacing at least 1-2 inches apart.
  
• Press indent into ball with the end of the handle of a wooden spoon (dipped in powdered sugar.) Be sure not to push too far down or the bottoms of the cookie will be too thin. You could also use the back of melon baller, spoon or your finger or thumb.
  
• Add jam to centre of cookies to the top, but don't overfill.
  
• Bake for 7-9 minutes or until lightly browned on the bottom.
• Cool for 5 minutes, then enjoy!

Garnish

• Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.
• Freezing: These freeze well. If you stack them, be sure to add parchment paper between the layers to avoid sticking.

Notes

 

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Nutrition Facts

📋 Raspberry Jam Cookie Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 109 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Cholesterol 10mg3%

Sodium 37mg2%

Potassium 31mg1%

Carbohydrates 18g6%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 11g12%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 118IU2%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 9mg1%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 31mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 118IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg

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