Heart Jam Cookies (Shortbread Thumbprint)

These Heart Jam Cookies are shortbread thumbprints that are perfect for Valentine’s Day or tea time. Easy to make and elegant, they’ll melt in your mouth!

We don’t take Valentine’s Day too seriously around here, but I do like it for one reason: it gives you an reason to cook or bake or eat something special in what is otherwise a pretty cold and dreary month.

I’m all about any excuse for a little celebration, so bring on the Valentine’s Day snacks and easy Valentine desserts. And please make me salmon piccata for dinner first.

Now that my daughter is old enough to understand this kind of silly holiday a little better, I also wanted to do a baking activity for just me and her, and I’m sorry to report that she doesn’t appreciate the wonders of chocolate creme brulee just yet.

So, we made these rich and buttery shortbread cookies that we thumbprinted with heart shapes and then filled with jam. These heart jam cookies are perfect for Valentine’s Day, and they also reminded us of tea time in London!

Ingredients you’ll need for heart jam cookies:

• unsalted butter – high quality unsalted butter is the base of any great shortbread cookie. Make sure it’s at room temperature before you begin making heart jam cookies.
• sugar – the other key part of the short bread.
• egg yolks – we’re using the yolks only to make our cookies extra rich. Put the whites to use in an egg white omelet, perhaps?
• vanilla extract – this is the main flavor component of the shortbread, so make sure you’re using a high quality vanilla.
• flour – regular all-purpose flour is what we want for these heart cookies!
• cornstarch – this might sound like an unusual ingredient for baking (it’s more commonly used to thicken the sauce in dishes like orange ginger chicken), but it gives these strawberry jam cookies a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• salt – I believe that all baked goods need a pinch of salt to make them taste the best they can.
• jam or preserves – you can use strawberry or raspberry, and either jam or preserves are great.

One special piece of equipment you’ll need for shortbread thumbprint cookies:

You’ll need something to use to press the heart shapes in the cookie dough balls. You might already have something like this around the house.

I happened to have these espresso spoons in my drawer, and the size and shape of the end of the spoon handle worked perfectly for these heart jam cookies.

You can use anything you have around that is a similar size and shape, or simply use your thumb (if it’s small enough!) to make the hearts for these heart cookies.

There are two “chill times” for these heart cookies – don’t skip them!

You’ll first need to chill the dough right after you mix it up. Then, after you form and fill the heart cookies, you’ll briefly freeze them again (10 minutes) before baking them.

Don’t skip these chill times or your shortbread thumbprint cookies will spread and not turn out well.

Use light pressure when making heart thumbprint cookies.

Be careful when printing the heart into the cookie dough balls. Be sure to flatten the balls slightly before stamping the heart on, which will help. Use light pressure when stamping in the heart so you don’t crack your shortbread thumbprint cookies.

If you do have cracks (honestly, a few here and there are unavoidable) you can just mold them back together with the warmth of your fingers. No big deal.

Feel free to use a different type of jam for jam heart cookies, but don’t overfill!

I like raspberry or strawberry jam or preserves if I’m making these for Valentine’s Day, but any type of jam or preserve works for these heart cookies.

Apricot preserves (the star of my apricot glazed salmon) and blueberry jam are other delicious choices for shortbread thumbprint cookies.

Whatever you use, don’t overfill the heart cavities or the jam will leak out as the cookies bake and they won’t have a pretty presentation. I would say that you can fit about 1/2 teaspoon jam AT MOST into each cookie. Sometimes it’s better to do a little less, even.

How long do strawberry jam cookies keep?

These heart jam cookies can last in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 1 week.

Can strawberry thumbprint cookies be frozen?

Yes, just like my egg muffins recipe and brownie pie, you can freeze these shortbread thumbprint cookies for up to 3 months. Wrap the heart cookies well and keep them in an airtight container. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

My coconut creme brulee is another freezer-friendly dessert perfect for V-day.