Description

These delightful heart-shaped shortbread cookies are buttery, tender, and lightly sweetened. The rich flavor of the cookies pairs beautifully with a strawberry jam filling, making them a perfect treat for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or any occasion that calls for a little extra love. They’re simple to make yet irresistibly charming.

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Cookies:

1 cup (230g) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Filling:

1/2 cup (160g) strawberry jam or preserves
Powdered sugar, for dusting

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Instructions

Prepare the Dough:
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined. Gradually mix in the flour and salt until a soft dough forms. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Roll and Cut:
Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch (6mm) thickness. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Use a smaller heart cutter to cut out the centers of half of the cookies, creating a “window” for the jam. Re-roll the scraps and continue cutting until all dough is used.
Bake the Cookies:
Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Assemble the Cookies:
Spread a thin layer of strawberry jam on the full heart cookies. Dust the “window” cookies with powdered sugar, then place them on top of the jam-covered cookies to create a sandwich.
Serve and Enjoy:
Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Notes

You can substitute strawberry jam with any other fruit jam of your choice.
Chilling the dough helps maintain the cookie shapes during baking.
These cookies also make great gifts; package them in decorative tins or bags for a sweet gesture.