Monday, December 31, 2007

Strawberry Shortbread Cookie Bark


Alright I'm finally starting the Christmas cookie posts! Yes unfortunately they're a bit late but delicious cookies are always wanted right?

These cookies were made specifically for my boyfriend. I, for some reason, have been anti-jam in or on things (except peanut butter & jam sandwiches) for quite a while. Jam on cookies or in baked goods was an especially atrocious act. Thumbprint cookies were the epitome of baked goods I did not want to eat or make. Last year I made thumbprint cookies with my friend but we didn't put any jam. But I thought they'd be something my boyfriend would really enjoy so I told him I'd make them for him this Christmas. (This story ends with me accepting jam in and on baked goods and enjoying the jam on this cookie.)


I used the same recipe that I used the first time from a Martha Stewart cookie magazine, omitting the nuts. But for some reason, this time the dough was really crumbly. There was no way I'd be able to roll it into a ball and not have it fall apart when I made a thumbprint in it. I have no idea what went wrong since they were so easy to make the last time. I thought I might have measured the flour with the wrong measuring cup but I don't think I did. Anyway, I decided to make it easy on myself and just press the dough into a pan and bake it, then spread it with strawberry jam and make a mess of white chocolate on top of that. The white chocolate didn't drizzle as I'd wanted it to (I added a bit of butter) but ah well.


It actually turned out quite tasty! And I was happy that I was able do something creative about my mistake. My mom was really addicted to it and told me I wasn't allowed to give any of it away. I was really happy with how the cookie turned out. Kind of shortbread-y. And I even liked the jam on it. I initially tried to cut the giant cookie into pieces but realized that wasn't going to work. My boyfriend then came up with the name cookie bark for it, so we broke it into pieces and that was that.


I really want to try making jam thumbprint cookies again, hopefully successfuly! I've also seen a pistachio thumbprint recipe that has white chocolate ganache instead of jam that I want to make (The Good Cookie) and chocolate strawberry thumbprints. Try making these thumbprint cookies, either the original way or as a bar (much easier but not as cute)!

Thumbprint Cookies
adpated from Martha Stewart Holiday Cookies 2005

Note: This dough has to be refrigerated for 2 hours.

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1 large egg, separated, each part lightly beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup toasted skinned hazelnuts, ground*
strawberry (or whatever kind you like) jam, for filling

Preheat the oven to 325F. Put butter and 1/2 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment: mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg yolk and vanilla, and mix well. Reduce speed to low. Add flour and salt, and mix until just combined. Refrigerate dough for 2 hours.

Stir together toasted hazelnuts and remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar in a small bowl. Roll dough into 1 inch balls: dip balls in egg white, then in hazelnut-sugar mixture. Space 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Press down center of each ball with your thumb. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven: press down centers again with the end fo a wooden spoon. Return to oven. bake cookies until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes mroe. Let cool slightly on sheets on wire racks. Fill each center with jam. Cookeis can be stored in a single layer in airtight containers at room temperature up to 2 days.

*You could easily use any nut you like here I think. Grind the hazelnuts with the 2 tablespoons of sugar to avoid the hazelnut turning into a paste/hazelnut butter. Or just finely chop the nuts.

To make cookie bark: Omit the hazelnuts and 2 tablespoons sugar. Press the dough into a parchment paper lined 9x13 dish. Bake for about 15-18 minutes or until firm enough. (Sorry I can't remember exactly how long I baked it for and I think I did it for too long.) Once cool, spread a thin layer of jam over the entire cookie. If you want, drizzle chocolate on top as well, then break into pieces.

16 comments:

Gretchen Noelle said...

Well, I am glad we will be trying some similar recipes in 2008...it will be fun to hear how one another does. I just finished a batch of *your* simple sugar cookie recipe made into stars and sprinkled blue for New Years! They taste very good...not too sweet. Have a great New Years! Until 2008...

Tracy said...

Good idea to turn that into a bark! It looks quite tasty!

I'm with you -- I have a whole bunch of Christmas cookies I haven't blogged about.

Deborah said...

I love how you've made it into cookie bark!! Good thing I don't have a New Year's resolution to eat better this year!!

Anonymous said...

Hey, awesome save on the thumbprint cookies! I love the idea of a cookie bark... They look delicious!

Amy said...

They look great! Very festive (and yummy!) I never have much luck with thumbprints. My jam always falls through the cookie onto the bench below!

Bri said...

I just "stumbled upon" this post and I'm glad I did. I love jam in/on cookies and I think you did a great job salvaging what could have been a disaster. Way to save them, AND get a create a whole new treat too!

Anonymous said...

How creative of you to save your recipe and turn it into something brand new! And congratulations on being willing to revisit something you were sure you didn't like. Happy New Year!

Jaime said...

these look SO good! i can't believe you don't like jams and jellies in your desserts... i will eat ANYTHING that has fruit preserves in it! :) these remind me of my favorite pop tarts - the strawberry ones!

Katie Zeller said...

That's just mean!
Two fantastic cookies in a row right after I put myself on apples and yogurt for 6 months!
What's a girl to do?
Hope the bf appreciated those strawberry cookies - and how could you not like them? Oh, wait, you did...good girl!

Cakespy said...

You're driving me crazy! I want it to be Christmas again. NOW.

SteamyKitchen said...

ha! We both have bark on the brain!!!

xoxo, j

Carla said...

I hate it when a recipe goes wrong, but at least you were able to save it!! Looks yummy :)

eatme_delicious said...

gretchen: Glad you liked the sugar cookies. :)

tracy: Thanks. :)

deborah: Haha yes! I do but it will still include lots of yummy things like this.

bittersweet: Thanks!

vegetation: Thanks! The jam falls through the cookie? That's odd. Wonder why that happens.

bri: Thanks!

ann-marie: Thanks!

mrspresley: Ohh I love those pop tarts! Well I'm coming round to jams/jellies now so I have a whole new area of desserts/baked goods to explore!

katiez: Haha. Sorry. ;)

cakespy: Haha yea me too!

steamykitchen: Indeed!

carla: Thanks. :)

Jenna said...

For a foolproof thumbprint dough recipe, try Ina Garten's. I've made it every Christmas for the last 5 or so, and it never fails.

eatme_delicious said...

jenna: Thanks! I will check out that recipe.

Sarah said...

This was such a good idea! I found this while hunting for kid friendly recipes & it was delicious. We made it pizza-style in a round cake pan & of course the best part was putting sprinkles all over the top. :) The dough was a cinch to make (and somehow I got away with 1/2 applesauce & 1/2 whole wheat flour) which was a huge plus!

So glad you made this "mistake"! :)