Thursday, June 21, 2007

Jam Cookies

syltkakor3

These are traditional Swedish syltkakor - jam cookies - but I'm pretty sure they're similar to Thumbprint cookies. These are normally a bit bigger than the ones I made - I got 80 from the recipe that was supposed to be just 30. I actually intended to make them even smaller - I love mini! - but they turned out to swell just a little too much during baking. Anyway, they're absolutely delicious. It's a shortbread base with a little tiny bit of jam in them, and as there's so little jam, make sure you use a nice, flavorful kind. I used homemade raspberry-strawberry jam - delicous!

This is a good recipe to make with kids, too. They'll enjoy poking their tiny fingers into the cookies, and if you put them jam (make sure it's seedless then) in a squeeze bottle, kids can easily help fill the cookies too. The only downside is that they really do need an hour in the fridge to firm up, but patient kids and adults will be rewarded with wonderfully tasty cookies. And they keep very well in the freezer!

Jam Cookies
makes 80 tiny cookies

4,5 dl (1,8 cups) flour
200 g butter, fridge cold
100 ml sugar
jam (you need a few spoonfuls)

Mix all the ingredients - except for the jam - in a food processor. Process in pulses until crumbly and just starting to come together. Roll into thin logs (about the width of your thumb) and cut into 6-7 mm thick slices. Place the slices cut side down on a cutting board that will fit into your fridge, and use your finger to poke a little hole in each cookie. (Not going all the way through of course.) Put the cookies in the fridge for an hour to firm up.

Take out and fill each cookie with a tiny little bit of jam. Don't overfill them or it'll be a big mess in your oven. Bake at 175°C for 6-8 minutes. They should be lightly golden on the bottom, but not get much color on top. Leave them to cool on the cookie sheet, or they'll be too soft to move.

Recipe in Swedish:
Syltkakor

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those mini cookies look lovely! (And delicious!) You've inspired me to make some next week. :)

Olle said...

Good list of books there!
Buschon is stunning, Moro is pretty as well (might go to Moro for dinner tonight, one of my favourite places in London), Silver Spoon is nice, but not spectacular. Chez Panisse Cooking, i want that to, i got the Chez Panisse Menu Cookbook. Have You got any of Richard Olneys cookbooks? Simple French Food and the French Menu Cookbook? Beautiful! He made the whole Good Cook series for Time Life as well..which i do need
Oh, yes...i'm addicted to cookbooks...=)

Lena said...

Oh, those cookies are a classic and taste soo good. My mom always made them when I was little, but she used arctic raspeberry jam, so yummy.

Anonymous said...

I'm going to make these to give to a friend for christmas so i just need a tin large enough to hold 80 cookies! lol..