Empire Cookies
We are one day away from December and this past weekend has thrown me completely into Christmas mode. To be honest, it really doesn’t take much, but two days of Black Friday shopping and a few Christmas carols, and I am ready to dive head first into the shopping, gift wrapping, and holiday baking. My grandma has made empire cookies around the holidays for as long as I can remember, and they have always been one of my favorites. My loving them is a bit surprising since I usually prefer rich desserts, but I can never get enough of the buttery shortbread-type cookies with jam sandwiched between them and topped with a simple icing. I can’t believe they haven’t been on the site prior to this, so I’m thrilled to share them with you. Let the holiday baking begin!
I love coloring the icing to reflect the festive season, so these are topped with red icing. I didn’t have green food coloring or I would have used that as well. You could always use the regular white icing plain, or top the white icing with red and/or green sprinkles.
You can use your favorite type of jam in these cookies and while I typically use raspberry jam, I was able to try a set of Crofter’s Superfruit Spreads recently and used the South America spread, which is Maqui berries and passionfruit blended with red grapes and morello cherries. This stuff is seriously good. So good. These spreads are 100% organic and include four unique fruit combinations from different regions of the world and are sweetened with fair-trade sugar. The variations include:
♦ Asia – Raspberries and yumberries blended with morello cherries and red grapes.
♦ Europe – Pomegranates and black currants blended with red grapes and morello cherries.
♦ North America – Wild cranberries and blueberries blended with red grapes and morello cherries.
♦ South America – Maqui berries and passionfruit blended with red grapes and morello cherries.
These spreads are perfect for any recipe that calls for your favorite jam, and will liven up your breakfast toast or PB&J sandwich.
I love these spreads and love that the company was founded by an immigrant family, so I'm thrilled to give away sets of Crofter’s Superfruit Spreads to TWO lucky readers, who will be selected at random. Each set includes the four spreads pictured and described above. The giveaway guidelines:
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Deadline: Wednesday, December 3, 2009 11:59pm EST
Required: Your email address. You must fill out the email address portion of the comment form (it will not be published) or I will not be able to contact you should you win.
Restrictions: Due to shipping restrictions, this giveaway is only for those with U.S. and Canada mailing addresses. My apologies to international readers!
How to Enter: It's simple! Leave a comment on this post and answer the following question: What is your favorite recipe using jam?
For an Extra Entry: Tweet about this giveaway, post about it on your blog, or post about it on Facebook. Then come back and leave a link to your Tweet, blog post, or Facebook post for a possible 3 extra entries.
Good Luck!
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
The giveaway is now closed and the two winners have been selected by Random.org.
Congratulations to commenter #61, Jennifer! Her favorite recipe using jam:
“my favorite recipe with jam has to be caramelized onions. you cook some little pearl onions in a couple teaspoons of Currant jam/jelly, among other things…unfortunately I'm blanking on what else goes in there, oops! but anyway, they're SO GOOD. I love having them as part of a holiday meal.”
And congratulations to commenter #218, Annie! Her favorite recipe using jam:
“I love Italian plum crostata. The recipe uses my parents' backyard plums . Because there is an overbundance, and we are unable to eat them all at once, my Mom makes plum jam which she uses in the recipe.“
Empire Cookies
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature, (4 ounces)
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup (113.33 g) of your favorite jam
For the Icing:
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon milk
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mat; set aside.
- 2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour and baking powder; set aside.
- 3. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. On low speed, beat in the flour mixture just until combined.
- 4. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a little less than ¼-inch thick. Using a 1¾-inch round or fluted cookie cutter, cut out rounds. Place about one inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes, just until the edges start to color. Watch closely, as they can get too dark rather quickly! Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- 5. Spread bottom side of half of the cookies with about ¼ teaspoon of jam. Top with remaining cookies.
- 6. To make icing, whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk, adjusting the milk and powdered sugar to reach the desired consistency. Spread over the tops of the cookies. Let stand until icing is completely dry. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
Thumbprint cookies!
Rugelach! Oh, how I love rugelach!
chocolate raspberry cake
Very nice giveaway! I made some sesame cookies a few months ago that had some jam in the middle, they were yum!
Mmm… I’m so excited for Christmas cookies. My favorite jam recipe is stuffed french toast filled with ricotta and rhubarb jam.
As boring as it is, my favourite recipe is a good peanut butter and jam sandwich. Yum!
I like to make cake but put jam inbetween the layers instead of frosting, it’s a wonderful surprise :)
I love pb&j’s, but I also like to use jam to make salad vinaigrettes.
these cookies look so good! for some reason, it reminds me of wooden toy soldiers. must be that red icing! I can’t wait to try these. I usually make jam thumbprint cookies… but this is a nice variation. buttery cookie with jam… and icing to “theme” it to the holidays! amazing!
Blackberry jam or cranberry compote – yum!
I love to keep it simple…make some homemade bread and spread jam on it…..the best!
Enjoy!
It’s not much of a recipe but jam with nut butter on toast or in my oatmeal is my favorite!
I love homemade pop-tarts, with strawberry jam especially :)
I know it’s not original, thumbprint cookies. The empire cookies look really good, so I might have to try them.
It has already been said, but thumbprint cookies it is !
woops i forgot to tell you i love making mandelbredt thanks minsthins at optonline dot net
thanks so much this looks wonderful
Thumbprint cookies!
Good ole’ PB &J sammie!
Grilled peanut butter and jelly!
It’s technically not jam but there is a great appetizer recipe that calls for apple butter. ::drool::
You take crostini and top it with apple butter and a slice of brie. Melt the brie and top with a sliver of smoked ham. The salty and the sweet and the brie . . . yum! It’s to DIE for!
not entering the contest, but thanks for the recipe – have never heard of empire cookies before now….
I like making linzer cookies with red current jam. Delish!
Wow, those look great! I love using jam for Linzer bars and with balsamic vinegar on chicken.
absolutely love Pineapple preserves on salmon….
glazing chicken in orange marmalade before throwing on the grill in the summer, and smearing between layers of scone dough before baking in the winter. jam = love.
cheers,
*heather*
I like to make a Raspberry Chocolate Nut Bar using raspberry jam, shortbread bottom, meringue-like topping (because it has egg whites in it) with chocolate & nut layers. You only need a very small bar because it’s too rich. What a fun & useful giveaway! Thanks :)
Oh my gosh, the spreads and the cookies look yummy!! I use a roasted onion and garlic jam along with goat cheese to make the most wonderful grilled pizza.
These jams look delicious as do the cookies. I love to mix jams into yogurt and make my own fruit flavored yogurt. I also love any type of cookie that uses jam. Mmmmmmmm!
my favorite recipe with jam has to be caramelized onions. you cook some little pearl onions in a couple teaspoons of Currant jam/jelly, among other things…unfortunately I’m blanking on what else goes in there, oops! but anyway, they’re SO GOOD. I love having them as part of a holiday meal.