From the bottom of my heart
I rarely post recipes.
Sure I have professed my love for brownies, cream cheese and all things chocolate here, but it is atypical for me to entrust anyone with my recipes.
I’m usually not a recipe share-er, at least not until I have met you and determined you are worthy.
I kid. But I seriously love baking, and I covet the recipes that actually turn out well after much trial and error in my kitchen.
So after following recipes over at Rachel’s Mouthwatering Mondays for months, I could not resist joining in and sharing at least one recipe with you here.
Particularly my all time favorite shortbread cookie recipe that was a huge hit over the holidays. They are perfect for Valentine’s Day coming up as well.
Okay, before I go on with the instructions, allow me to say this up front. It may sound complicated, but it is really simple. I promise it is an incredibly versatile cookie dough, so you can pretty much add anything you like to it. Rather than making these 2-layered linzer-like heart cookies, you can always stick to a 1-layer cookie with cranberries and almonds, or half-dipped in chocolate. The possibilities are endless!
Here is another version I made using the same dough. I just rolled the dough into 1″ balls, placed a thumbprint in the center, and filled with almond slices.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, room temperature (2 sticks)
- 2/3 cup white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
- confectioners sugar (powdered sugar) for dusting
Directions
- In a separate bowl, mix together the flour and salt. Set aside.
- In another bowl, using an stand or hand mixer, cream 1 cup of butter until smooth (about 1 minute). Add 2/3 cups of sugar and beat until smooth (about 2 minutes). Beat in the 1/2 teaspoon almond extract.
- Gently stir in the flour mixture just until incorporated! Do not over mix. The dough may seem crumbly, but it will work. Just ball into into large piece of plastic wrap, flatten it into a rough disk shape, and place it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch thick. Again, it may be crumbly, but stick with it.
- Cut out the dough using a *heart shaped cookie cutter (or whatever shape you like or have handy). Place the cookies about 1 inch apart on a baking sheet (use parchment paper if you have it). Use a smaller cookie cutter to cut out the center of half of the cookies (these will be the top cookie halves with the peek through window showing the jam).
- Place the baking sheet with unbaked cookies into the refrigerator for a 15-minute chill to firm up the dough. This will help them maintain their shape in the oven.
- Bake in a 350F degree oven on the center rack for 10-15 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly browned along the edges.
- Cool on a wire rack.
Assembling the cookies:
Place the cookies with the center cut-outs on a wire rack and dust the tops with confectioners sugar.
Once the full cookies have cooled, spread about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of raspberry jam on the bottom of the cookies.
Gently place the cut-out cookies on top of the full cookies with raspberry jam, sandwiching them together (the bottoms of both cookies should face each other). Be careful not to smudge the confectioners sugar.
*I actually do not have linzer cookie cutters, so I bought these fondant cutters at Michael’s with their weekly coupon instead. A set of three hearts was less than $2. I used the largest and smallest of the set.
I brought these cookies to a Christmas party over the holidays and they barely lasted a few minutes!
Enjoy.
as you know I’m slutty with my recipe sharing! i love it! i’m also mildly obsessed w/shortbread cookies but have never made them. maybe this recipe will do it.
Jameil´s last blog ..Crazy Movie Lady 49
January 4th, 2010 at 2:10 am
Thank you!! My husband will be very upset with you for adding another recipe to my immense stockpile that he cannot partake of…but YUM…I can’twait to try them!!
January 4th, 2010 at 2:12 am
I LOVE THESE COOKIES!! I lack the domestic patience lately to bake from scratch. But I do love these cookies!
Grandy´s last blog ..*2010* A Note to Self
January 4th, 2010 at 2:15 am
Mouthwatering indeed! I really NEED to try these, they look delicious! I printed the recipe, thanks for sharing!
Jientje´s last blog ..Macro Monday, Another Mail Delivery …
January 4th, 2010 at 7:57 am
YUM!!
Sandy, what a way to launch yourself into the Mouthwatering Monday fun! Those cookies are GORGEOUS.
I just might have to attempt those for the Kinder Valentine’s Party this year! NUMMY
YAY!!!
(hugs)
rachel-asouthernfairytale´s last blog ..Twice Baked Potatoes
January 4th, 2010 at 9:22 am
How cute!
Sarah @ Ordinary Days´s last blog ..Much Like Canned Veggies, I Cook Best Under Pressure
January 4th, 2010 at 9:23 am
I’d eat your cookies anytime.
Wait.
Did that sound right?
Oh well, you know what I mean.
lceel´s last blog ..Monday Meanders 1-4
January 4th, 2010 at 10:02 am
These sounds great, and I love that you did them as hearts. I am totally intimidated by cookies. Mine never turn out right.
Happy MM
January 4th, 2010 at 10:15 am
I have a love for shortbread cookies that borders on the obsessive. For real. I can not get enough of them. I’ve always been scared to attempt to make them myself, though. I just got a new stand mixer for Christmas. Maybe I should break it in with this recipe.
Cara´s last blog ..What Am I Reading? – 2010
January 4th, 2010 at 10:44 am
If I wasn’t watching what I eat, I’d definitely make these.
January 4th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
I didn’t know you were a baker. And they look so professional! I’m always too hasty to make cookies neat. They taste just as good messy. And shortbread cookies are so good I don’t know if I’d add anything. Would love to try this recipe!
Dot´s last blog ..Comment on Snowstorm! by Patricia
January 4th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Holy cow! Those look delicious. I need to start baking right now….
Karin aka perpstu´s last blog ..In the Beginning
January 4th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
I am historically a TERRIBLE cookie maker. My sugar cookies taste like bisquits with frosting unless I use a mix. Are you saying even someone as baking-challenged as I am could pull those off? Because I have to admit they look VERY tasty…
Cecily R´s last blog ..Photo Story Friday and New Year’s Resolutions
January 4th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
I need them. Like nowish.
autumn´s last blog ..Bring it on 2010.
January 4th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Those do look really good. I may have to try this for Valentine’s day
Cookie´s last blog ..One More Day
January 4th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
*drool*
I’m copying down the first recipe right now, my wife is a sucker for raspberry
M@´s last blog ..Back to work? Aww MAN!
January 4th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Your instructions are so friendly that I think I might just be brave enough to try to make these. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Great pictures!
Rebecca´s last blog ..Black-eyed peas and red beans
January 4th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
YUM! I love the double heart cut-out idea – gorgeous! I’m going to have to try these…
Rachel @ Grasping for Objectivity´s last blog ..The Bowling Ali
January 4th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Yum! I’m allways up for a good cookie recipe! Thanks for sharing.
Emily´s last blog ..PSF and love letters
January 4th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Those cookies look de-lish!! Thanks for sharing!
Lauren´s last blog ..Who says blondes have more fun?
January 4th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
What a great project with my boys (who LOVE to make cookies with me)! Thanks for sharing!
Jane´s last blog ..The Word ‘Parent’ Is Also A Verb
January 4th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Ahhhhhhhhhh, my grandma used to make those heart cookies!!!! Thanks for the memory! She even had that cookie cutter!
sheila´s last blog ..New Eyeglasses and Hot Chocolate = World Peace.
January 4th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Ooh–so cute!
Asianmommy´s last blog ..Chinese Zodiac Cards
January 4th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
Those are beautiful – thanks for the recipe!
Muthering Heights´s last blog ..He said WHAT?!?
January 5th, 2010 at 12:41 am
i am printing this. drooling. : )
savvy gal´s last blog ..Taking Care of Skin during Winter, Cold Plasma Giveaway & Perricone Code
January 5th, 2010 at 12:54 am
They look quite yummy. Plus, easy to make now that’s a bonus.
Joyce-Anne´s last blog ..That Damn Tree
January 5th, 2010 at 1:06 am
Shortbread and almonds, whats not to love???
Brenda´s last blog ..Turkey Chili/TMTTre
January 5th, 2010 at 2:16 am
Those look delectable!
Alicia´s last blog ..THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM FOR DESSERT
January 5th, 2010 at 2:29 am
Oh ! YUMMY !
January 5th, 2010 at 6:23 am
good morning, sandy:
glad that you have the mood and energy to cook something sweet, delicious, and lovely…
you are doing an awesome job.
I enjoyed the food in my imaginations.
happy 2010.
jingle´s last blog ..Spring Is Coming Next!
January 5th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Looks yummy!
Undercover Princess´s last blog ..Duh…
January 5th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
YUM! I think I’m going to have to make these for Valentines Day.
Jenna´s last blog ..A Year Without Resolutions
January 5th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Ok don’t show those cookies to my daughter. Especially that teeny tiny heart cookie cutter. It is so cute!
Angela at mommy bytes´s last blog ..Choo Choo – Happy New Year!
January 5th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Now I’m hungry. For cookies.
My mouth thanks you but my ass, not so much. lol
Dejoni´s last blog ..Things I’m not gonna do this year…
January 5th, 2010 at 10:47 pm
These look crazy, crazy good.
Maggie’s Mind´s last blog ..Many Kinds of Hell – Winter Travel – Days Three and Four – Beppu (Part One)
January 11th, 2010 at 7:42 am