Sugar Plum Shortbread Cookies
These Sugar Plum Shortbread Cookies blend tender, buttery shortbread with sweet sugar plum jam — a perfect holiday cookie for festive cookie trays or cozy tea times.
Equipment
- Mixer (hand or stand)
- Mixing Bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking Sheets
- Parchment Paper
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
Shortbread Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract
- 2 cups + 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour sifted & spooned
Jam Filling & Glaze
- 1 cup sugar plum jam or your favorite fruit jam
- 1 cup powdered sugar for optional glaze
- 2 Tbsp cream or milk for glaze
- 1 tsp vanilla extract for glaze
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat softened butter with granulated sugar, vanilla, and almond extract until light and fluffy.
- Add flour gradually and mix on low speed until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix — the dough should be tender.
- Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (chilling improves texture). :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll chilled dough into 1-inch balls and place on prepared baking sheets about 2″ apart. Press your thumb into the center of each ball to make an indentation. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Fill each indentation with about ½-teaspoon of sugar plum jam.
- Bake for 12–14 minutes until edges are very lightly golden. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- Optional glaze: whisk powdered sugar, cream or milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cookies and let set before serving.
Notes
These buttery shortbread cookies are traditional holiday favorites, filled with sweet plum jam and optionally topped with a light vanilla glaze. Chilling the dough before baking helps maintain shape and improve texture. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}