Description
These elegant sandwich cookies combine a buttery, citrus-scented shortbread with a vibrant raspberry jam center. Infused with warm spices like cinnamon and cloves, they offer a sophisticated flavor profile and a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture perfect for any celebration.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup caster sugar
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup raspberry jam
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt until the spices are evenly distributed.
- In a separate bowl, cream the softened butter, caster sugar, and orange zest with an electric mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add the room-temperature egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and mix until thoroughly combined and emulsified.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a spatula, mixing just until a cohesive dough forms without overworking it.
- Split the dough in two, roll each half between sheets of baking paper to a 7mm (1/4-inch) thickness, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 180C (355F) and use a 6cm round cutter to create bases, then use a smaller cutter to remove the centers from half of the circles.
- Bake the cookies for 10 minutes or until the edges are a very pale golden, rotating the tray halfway through the baking time.
- Once completely cool, dust the cutout tops with powdered sugar, spread a layer of raspberry jam on the solid bases, and press the pieces together to form sandwiches.
Notes
For the best visual results, ensure the cookies are completely cool before dusting with powdered sugar so the sugar doesn’t melt. If the dough becomes too sticky to handle while cutting your shapes, simply return it to the freezer for five minutes to firm up the butter content.
- Prep Time: 50 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Austrian