Tuesday, December 16, 2008

TWD - Buttery Jam Cookies


The TWD recipe for this week was Buttery Jam Cookies chosen by Heather of Randomosity and the Girl. These cookies are a basic cookie dough with jam stirred through the dough. I wasn’t sure what to expect from these cookies as I couldn’t imagine what they would look like – other cookies I have made with jam, the jam is either used to hold two cookies together, used as a swirl or as a blob on top (like thumbprint cookies).

I was actually disappointed with these cookies. I didn’t have apricot jam which is the jam that Dorie suggests, so I used plum jam. The jam is mixed in after the butter and sugar have been beaten and the egg added, but before the flour is stirred in. I actually think I would prefer the jam added at the end so that it becomes more of a swirl through the dough. The dough also had half a teaspoon of ground ginger added. I did debate whether to use cinnamon instead, but went for the ginger as plum and ginger go well together. If I was making these again (and to be honest I don’t think I will) I would add a whole teaspoon of ginger – I found that I could hardly taste it.



These cookies tend to be more on the soft side. I think Americans prefer their cookies that way – I noted lots of people last week saying that their perfect sugar cookie would is a bit soft – I much prefer crisp biscuits. I sent these cookies on site for the builders, I am sure that they will appreciate them!

See if the other TWDERs liked them better than I did here.

19 comments:

Snooky doodle said...

these look nice although I too think they would be better like thumbprint cookies :)

Engineer Baker said...

A swirl of jam would definitely have been tasty. It seems like these were butter cake-cookies lightly flavored with ginger and jam rather than being flavored assertively. But they were tasty, even if they weren't my absolute favorite cookie.

Judy said...

Your cookies look totally different than mine! But, I agree, they weren't my favorites and I won't make them again.

kimberly salem said...

they do look yummy, even if you didn't love them... but great idea for the swirl of jam, that would be delicious!

The Food Librarian said...

I think Americans do like our cookies on the softer side...perhaps because we aren't used to having biscuits with tea. Mine were a bit bland and they aren't very photogenic - but yours look very nice and dainty! :)

Cakelaw said...

Hi Tammy, yours are certainly prettier than my lumpy little numbers. Plum jam sounds nice. I found that these tasted better the next day - I got that tip from a lady who made her TWD for December out of order.

Jayne said...

Plum jam sounds nice - I used peach, which seems to go well with ginger as well. And it's funny, yes, I'm American, but I don't really like soft cookies. So these cookies, while they tasted fine, weren't all that thrilling to me. I prefer biscotti and other hard and crunchy cookies.

Di said...

I agree, I think swirling in the jam would be better. I want to make these again and give that a try. I was also thinking about leaving out the milk and increasing the jam to get a less cakey texture. Now I just have to find time to make them again...

What's for Supper? said...

I do prefer soft, chewy cookies. Too bad you didn't enjoy them!

Megan said...

Aww - too bad you didn't enjoy these. But I do agree that the jam should be swirled in the end so the flavor is more pronounced.

threesidesofcrazy said...

I love your idea of adding the jam at the end! They weren't what I expected either.

chocolatechic said...

I am so sorry that you didn't like them.

We thought they were great.

Banjo said...

Agreed! I felt the same way about mine... :)

Unknown said...

Yours are very pretty - sorry they were underwhelming for you, as they were for me!

Amy of Sing For Your Supper said...

Hi Tammy!! I just wanted to say thank you for the Christmas card you sent me! I was so excited to get it in the mail today! :-)
It's too bad you didn't enjoy these cookies...better luck with the butterscotch pudding, maybe? Anyway, thanks so much and merry Christmas!

-Amy
www.singforyoursupperblog.com

steph- whisk/spoon said...

i reall yliked these..maybe you are right about americans and soft cookies. :) plum jam sounds good, too!

Pamela said...

Even though jam cookies are not my idea of a great cookie, I agree with you that these would have been really great with a swirl of more jam. I haven't made thumb print cookies in a LONG time, but they would be better, too.

Flourchild said...

Great pictures even if you didn't care for them. I thought they tasted good with frosting on top!

Jules Someone said...

Yeah, I didn't love these either. They needed more... something. Ah well.