Jam Filled Sugar Cookies (Lithuanian Cookies With Jam)
Today's recipe will take you on a sweet trip down memory lane! These nostalgic Lithuanian Jam-Filled Sugar Cookies, known as Trapios Juostelės or Smėlines Juostos, are buttery shortbread treats filled with luscious jam and topped with crunchy nuts and are a beloved dessert for kids and adults alike in Lithuania. Simple to make with everyday ingredients, they’re perfect for any time of year but especially cosy in the fall.
Ingredients
- 225 g (1¾ cups) all-purpose flour plus extra for dusting
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 75 g (⅜ cup) white granulated sugar or caster sugar
- 125 g (4.4 oz) unsalted butter softened
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg large
- 150 g (¾ cups) jam apricot, apple, raspberry etc.
Topping:
- 1 small egg for eggwash
- 50 g ( a large handful) nuts finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190 C (370 F). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Using an electric handheld mixer, beat the butter, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
- Add an egg and beat again until fully combined.
- Sift the flour and baking powder into the butter mixture and mix to combine into pastry dough.
- Divide the pastry into two even pieces, flatten them slightly, and wrap each individually in plastic wrap. P;ace the dough in the fridge for 2 hours.
- Take the chilled dough out of the fridge. Onto a lightly floured kitchen surface, roll each piece of pastry into large rectangles, that are about 3-4mm (⅛ inch) thick.
- Spread the jam on the surface of one of the rolled out dough sheets. Cover then jam with the other pastry sheet. Trim the edges so that you have an even rectangle.
- Cut the pastry sandwich into bars (apprioximately 10x4cm (4x1.5 in)).
- Place the jam filled sugar cookies onto the prepared baking sheet leaving some space in between. Brush the beaten egg on top of each and scatter the nuts on the surface.
- Bake the cookies in the centre of the oven for 15-18 minutes depending on the size of your cookies.
- Make sure to cool the jam filled sugar cookies to room temeparture before enjoying (the jam inside them will be boiling hot).