Sugar Plum Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Delight in these festive Sugar Plum Shortbread Cookies featuring a tender, orange-pecan spiced base topped with a thin layer of luscious jam and sparkling sugar. These cookies combine a buttery, crumbly texture with bright citrus notes and a sweet fruity finish, perfect for holiday celebrations or any special occasion.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: About 24-30 cookies depending on size 1x
- Category: Dessert, Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Orange-Pecan Spice Shortbread Cookies
- 2½ cups all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
- 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1½ tablespoons freshly grated orange zest
- 1 cup room temperature salted butter, cut into small pieces
Jam & Sparkling Sugar Topping
- Homemade or prepared jam (plum, raspberry, or strawberry)
- Granulated sugar, for sprinkling
- Sparkling white sugar (such as Wiltons), for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325ºF (163ºC) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, finely chopped pecans or walnuts, granulated sugar, and freshly grated orange zest to create a flavorful dry base for the dough.
- Cut in Butter: Using a pastry blender or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment on low speed, cut in the room temperature salted butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs that begin to cling together. The dough will still be quite crumbly at this stage.
- Knead Dough: Turn the dough out onto a work surface and knead gently until it becomes smooth and cohesive, forming a ball. Flatten this ball slightly into a compact disk to prepare for rolling.
- Roll and Cut: Lightly flour your work surface and roll the dough out to about ½-inch thickness. Use your preferred cookie cutters to cut the dough into desired shapes, then transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Apply Jam Topping: Using a small paintbrush, carefully spread a thin layer of jam on each cookie, avoiding the edges. This step requires patience to ensure an even, delicate coating without excess jam.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, depending on their size, until they are lightly browned around the edges and the centers are set, indicating they are done.
- Add Sugars and Cool: Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, lightly sprinkle each one first with granulated sugar and then with sparkling white sugar for a festive, crystalline finish. Allow the cookies to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Ensure butter is at room temperature to more easily incorporate into the flour and achieve the right dough consistency.
- If the dough becomes too tough during kneading, chill it briefly to make rolling easier.
- Choose your favorite jam flavors like plum, raspberry, or strawberry to personalize the topping.
- Use sparkling sugar for an elegant, decorative finish that adds a delightful crunch.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness.
Keywords: Sugar Plum Shortbread Cookies, Orange Pecan Cookies, Jam Topped Cookies, Holiday Cookies, Festive Shortbread
