Description
Delightful Sugar Plum Shortbread Cookies that are perfect for festive celebrations, featuring a unique blend of spices and a sweet jam topping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 315 g all-purpose flour
- 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
- 0.25 tsp ground cloves
- 30 g finely chopped pecans or walnuts
- 72 g granulated sugar
- 1.5 tbsp freshly grated orange zest
- 227 g salted butter, room temperature, cut into small pieces
- Jam, such as plum, raspberry, or strawberry, homemade or prepared
- Granulated sugar, for sprinkling
- Sparkling white sugar, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 163ºC. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix flour, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, finely chopped pecans or walnuts, granulated sugar, and orange zest until evenly combined.
- Using a pastry blender or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment set to low speed, incorporate the butter into the dry mixture until it resembles fine crumbs and begins to cling together.
- Turn the crumbly dough onto a work surface and knead gently until it forms a smooth ball. Flatten into a compact disk.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a thickness of 1.25 cm. Use cookie cutters to shape the dough, arranging cut pieces 5 cm apart on prepared baking sheets.
- Using a small pastry brush, spread a thin layer of jam over each cookie, leaving a border around the edges to prevent overflow.
- Bake on the centre rack for 18–22 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned and centres are set.
- Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle with granulated sugar followed by sparkling white sugar. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is at room temperature for better incorporation.
- Feel free to experiment with different types of jam for the topping.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg