Monday, February 6, 2012

Cherry Jam Shortbread Cookies

 Every time I clean out my pantry and/or my fridge it's somewhat of an adventure.  Apparently I've started to stockpile food items.  In fact, I think I would qualify as a hoarder.  I believe it began last year when I found 29 boxes of pasta in my pantry.  Then I opened my freezer and found 6 bags of peas and 5 bags of shrimp.  This time around I found 8 different jars of mustard, 10 bags of dried beans, several bags of dried chiles, about a dozen different breakfast cereals for the kids, and approximately 7 jars of jellies, jams, and preserves.  I think I may need to join a program or something.  

In the meantime I think I'll console myself with these cute, buttery, heart-shaped shortbread cookies.  If you're like me at all, then you already have all the ingredients on hand to make these.  One jar of jelly down...six more to go!

Cherry Jam Shortbread Cookies
Adapted from Apples for Jam by Tessa Kiros
Makes about 12 to 15 bars, depending on size

7 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup superfine sugar
1-2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 few drops of vanilla extract
about 2/3 cup of your favorite jam

Preheat the oven to 325F.  Have a 8 x 8 baking pan ready - you can line it if you like, to help you lift out the shortbread when it's cooked, but it's not absolutely necessary.

Put the butter and sugar in a good-sized bowl and work them together by hand or wooden spoon until combined.  Add flour and baking powder and work them in.  Add the egg and vanilla and knead them in until it is all compact and smooth.  Cover with plastic wrap and leave in the fridge for at least half an hour until the dough is firm enough to roll out.

Divide the dough in half.  Roll out one half on a lightly floured surface so that it will fit into your pan.  It should be about 1/8 inch thick.  Fit it into your baking pan, making sure that it is fairly even thickness all over.  Spread the jam over the top, and fit as exactly as possible over the bottom one.  If it is difficult to lift, roll it loosely over your rolling pin and carry it that way.  It isn't essential that all your edges are exact; you can break off a bit from here and patchwork it in there.  It will taste the same.

Bake for about 20-25, checking regularly, or until the shortbread is golden in places.  The edges will start to turn golden brown first, followed by the top.  Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes in the pan.  Lift out of the pan, using the paper.

Cut into shapes with a cookie cutter, or just into squares or diamonds.  Or you can leave it in one piece and keep cutting chunks out of it as you go.  It will keep in a sealed container for 5 to 6 days.


Theme: February Potluck

31 comments:

  1. Those are great cookies as cherry is my favorite, this cookie are my favorite too. I can eat it from the screen, lol...

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  2. I was so close to making these today...and for the same reason. I went with something else, but I may wind up making them anyway. There's some peach jam just screaming for shortbread in the fridge ;) LOVE the cherry filling...I would gobble these up!

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  3. I'm a little envious that you have the room for 29 boxes of pasta! That aside, these are sweet and look tasty. :)

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  4. those are my favorite preserves and the cookies look perfect

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  5. Oh these are so pretty! I've had my eye on this recipe for sometime, glad to hear it was a keeper. Jam cookies are my favorite! I had to smile while reading, I think we have similar food storage techniques (see, I made it sound like a good thing :) ) We live in a small town with no grocery and after driving all the way to a grocery store, it's nice to stock up, not to mention buying in bulk at Sam's Club and amazon, which is so convienent. Stockpile on :)

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  6. You cupboard sounds like mine! Seriously, those cookies look divine! I was thinking of starting Weight Watchers tomorrow but I may have to wait a couple of days now!

    Super cute blog!

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  7. I would happily console myself with the need to use of 5 pounds of shrimp with these shortbread cookies. Such an arduous task! I think you need to make a mustard tart. I love mustard! I love cookies! Oh - I love it all, Kim.

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  8. Yummo! Those are melting in my mouth...almost. I've got to make those but unlike you I do not have any cherry preserves. But I can fix that! I'm like Kimberly, I stock up because I live 45 minutes from Walmart. We do have a small grocery store in town but they don't carry a lot of my favorite foods like Greek yogurt, organics, or things like cherry preserves either but I'll check. Those look incredibly delectable! Thanks for the recipe! Happy Valentine's Day!

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  9. Awww...these are so cute!
    Just want you to know that I don't think your problem is a problem. I think it's a smart thing to do. Oh, and I wish I had 5 lbs of shrimp in my freezer. All I have is a bag of shells (which is what I hoard...I mean collect).

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  10. well this sounds so yummy!! and your little hearts are so cute! and, i believe there is something to be said about being prepared and having a fine collection of items on hand for any situation.... ;)

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  11. Well, the good news is that you can't REALLY be a hoarder because eventually you decide to clean out shop and keep yourself in check! And bake delicious cookies. Hoarders DEFINITELY don't bake cookies.

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  12. Haha - I'm so not a hoarder, until it comes to cookbooks, ingredients, or kitchen tools. After unpacking in the last couple of weeks, I had to laugh at myself for some of the stuff I had tons of!! And yes - I'll take a few of these cookies any day!

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  13. Ah! lovely little gems. Well done with your closet clean up. I will try the recipe out.

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  14. Beautiful! Great use of your jams and jellies. I am a pantry hoarder too... let me know if you find that program!

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  15. I'm smiling for two reasons: 1, I have about four of those jars in the fridge and 2, your heart cookies are adorable!

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  16. These will come in useful next week for valentines! :) I love your hoarding tendencies, that is lots of pasta though! :) :)

    Seems like I am going to be on your blog for the next month, catching up with a years worth (feels like) of recipes and stuff!

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  17. (also note, I resisted the temptation to call them biscuits haha) :)

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  18. What a cute post! I'll tell ya what, I currently have 3 sour creams sitting in my fridge right now along with 4 blocks of cheese. I really need to start making a list and get myself more organized. I think I'll get on it right after I down a few of these shortbread cookies; they look amazing!

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  19. I need to join your support group. I buy all kinds of ingredients to make a specific recipe, and then I get ADD and switch to making something else. Then I forget why I bought a new ingredient...and the list goes on. I hoard nuts, pasta, beans and baking chips. I need to follow your lead and use them up. I make my own jam, and I love these cookies. They look like ones I'd love to make. Good for you for putting your jam to good use!

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  20. Can't tell you how great this looks...maybe it's because I've been off the white flour and sugar thing for 24 days. do ya think?? I made a batch of snickerdoodles the other day just to smell cookies in the oven...then took them to a friends house:(

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  21. What a great little cookie for valentines!!

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  22. I could probably eat the whole batch of those at one sitting.

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  23. Kim, we are so much a like. I have been thinking about starting a weekly blog scenario about the stuff in my pantry. I could probably save a month of a grocery bill, if I just ate what I had stockpiled (laugh).

    Let me tell you those Valentine's cookies rock...shortbread cookies with jam...love it.

    Cheers.
    Velva

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  24. Jellies, jams, and preserves are easy to accumulate. They all sound so good, the small jars are too cute, but when it comes time to use them, you get picky and want to want until you find that perfectly matched recipe.

    Looks like you are finding that perfect one!

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  25. Hand up - self-confessed pantry hoarder too. I love that Bonne Maman Cherry Preserves, and I can just imagine it sandwiched into these beautiful shortbread cookies. Love the little hearts too.
    xo

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  26. I think if you are hoarding yummy foods that makes it okay, especially when you eventually use them to make delicious cookies like these. They look so delicious. I wish I had one with my tea right now:)

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  27. haha!! i can totally relate! now that we're moving, i've been determined to eat up what's in our freezer and pantry. turns out i'm a bit of a food hoarder. why have 1 can of chickpeas when you can have 10!

    oh gosh, these cookies look so delicious, i could have ten for breakfast!

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  28. I have a bunch of jams and jellies too--although I tend to be more of a bean and coconut milk hoarder. ;-) These look fabulous--so buttery and good. ;-)

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  29. These cookies look soooo tempting. Harry and David makes a cookie like this and I am addicted to them. I can't wait to try these.

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  30. I bet if you just change the jams in these cookies you end up with countless different cookies. I may try this recipe, even though I am not much of a baker.

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