Simple Dessert: Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

by Jen Tilley on October 18th, 2018 | 1 Comment »

Now that we're transitioning into the fall season, it might be hard to find your favorite fruits in the product section of your grocery store. Since fruits are seasonal, you might start to notice that it's becoming more and more difficult to stock up on brightly colored fruits. When I can't find my favorite fruits, or if I do find them and they are looking a bit on the overripe side, I tend to turn to substitutes. Take for example jam.

Who doesn't love a piece of toast slathered with butter and jam? What about ice cream with melted jam poured over the top? So, when Smucker's reached out to me and asked me to sample their new line of natural fruit spreads, I jumped all over the chance. Why? Because jam is so versatile and packed with so much flavor. The possibilities of jam pairings are endless.

5 Ways to use Jam

If you stock up on jam (like me) and are looking for ways to go through your stash, here are five unique ways to use jam.

1.) Pair Jam With Meats

Jam is a great way to add flavor to your favorite meat dish. You can use jam as a glaze, add jam to your favorite barbeque sauce, or mix jam into your marinade. By pairing jam with meat, you can really bring out the flavors of the meat, add a sweetness to the dish, and increase the juiciness of the meat.

2.) Pour Jam Over Ice Cream

That's right. It's that simple. All that you need to do is drop a couple of scoops of ice cream into a bowl, heat the jam either in a pot or in your microwave, and then drizzle the warm jam over the ice cream. With just a simple steps, you'll have a flavorful, fruity treat that will have you craving seconds.

3.) Swirl Jam Into Yogurt

If you have a tub of plain yogurt in your refrigerator, why not add a bit of jam to add to the flavor? All that you need to do is take 1-2 tablespoons of jam and swirl it into your yogurt. Feel free to add some granola and you'll have a delicious yogurt parfait.

4.) Add Jam to a Beverage

If you're in the mood for a refreshing drink, buy a bottle of sparkling lemonade and add a bit of jam to the drink. Mix the drink together and you'll have a sparkling, fruity drink that is bound to quench your thirst.

5.) Bake Jam-Filled Treats

One of my favorite ways to work with jam is by baking jam-filled treats. When it comes to baking and jam, the possibilities are endless. You can top a cheesecake with jam, fill a pastry with jam, add jam to a frosting mixture, or make cookies like the Jam-Flled Thumbprint Cookies that are featured at the end of this post. Jam has the ability to add the perfect amount of sweetness to a baked treat.

Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

Who doesn't love a recipe that only requires a few ingredients, is easy to prepare, is kid-friendly, and bakes within minutes? These thumbprint cookies are all of that ... and more. Thanks to Smucker's Natural Fruit Spreads, these tiny cookies are packed with so much fruity flavor. I bet you won't be able to eat just one!

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 ounces assorted jam

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix together the butter and sugar on high for 2-3 minutes until creamy. Add the egg yolks and vanilla. Continue to mix until combined.
Pour the flour and salt into the egg mixture and mix to combine the ingredients.
Form the dough into 1/2-inch size balls and make sure they are 1-2 inches apart from one another. Press down on the tops of the balls with your thumbprint.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven.
Adjust the indentations if need be (they might not be present after removing them from the oven). Fill the indentations with a 1/2 teaspoon of room temperature jam.
Bake for an additional 2-3 minutes or until the cookies are lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.

What's your favorite flavor of jam?

*Recipe adapted from Love and Olive Oil

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Smucker's. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jen Tilley has an insatiable appetite for all things related to baking and cooking. She is the author, photographer and recipe developer on How To: Simplify, a blog that shares tips, tricks and recipes to simplify life in the kitchen. She enjoys sharing recipes that require very few ingredients and only a small amount of prep and cook time, all of which make time spent in the kitchen simple and enjoyable.