I love winter! Yes I do! And these wonderful cookies make January and February oh, so special.
Make up a batch and you will feel lighthearted and gay! I promise!
Share them with friends and neighbors, because after the hustle and bustle of the holidays,
it's so lovely to sit down and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and these sweet cookie delights!
Yummm!
Italian Valentine’s Day Cookies-Makes 16 to 18 three-inch cookies
(I love to use Snowflake cutters so I can share all winter long! Deborah)
Recipe by Amy McCauley
https://amymccauley.net/wp/
1 stick butter, cool room temperature
1 cup sugar
3 egg yolks,
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon zest
½ teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups flour
¾ cup good quality strawberry jam (I like Stonewall Kitchen Jams)
1 cup powdered sugar
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees
Let your butter sit out at room temperature for 45 minute to an hour. This cool room temperature butter is the trick that gives these cookies a flakiness without having to chill your dough.
Then using a stand or hand mixer cream or mix together the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy about 3 minutes.
Then on a lower speed mix in your egg yolks, vanilla and salt. Gradually mix in your flour until your dough comes together.
Flour your counter or a silicon baking mat and then roll your cookie dough to a ¼ of an inch thickness. Then cut as many three-inch hearts out as you can. Since these are sandwich cookies you will want to make sure that you have an even number so each cookie has a top and bottom. Then use a smaller heart shaped cookie cutter to create the window on the top cookies.
Since these cookies are delicate, I like to bake them on parchment paper lined cookie sheets so that nothing sticks to the pan.
Then bake your cookies for about 10 minutes until the edges just barely turn golden.
When they are cool enough to handle take a spoon full of jam and spread it evenly on the bottom part of the cookie. Then before you place the top on your cookie dust it with some powdered sugar. Keep assembling your cookies till you get them all filled and dusted with powdered sugar.
These cookies can keep at room temperature for a while, but If you have cookies left then I do recommend placing them in the fridge.
Since these traditionally circular cookies are called “bullseye” cookies I thought I would name my Italian heart shaped cookies “eye love you” cookies. Because these pretty little cookies are definitely a feast for the eyes and something delicious to share with the ones you love.
1 Comments
Robin Booth
Thank you for sharing this delightful recipe. Will try this winter and enjoy memories of Norton's USA. Many thanks for 14 years of your one of a kind store and amazing products.. Enjoy some free time with family, new creative projects and cookie baking! Please keep us posted.