The apple and jam heart cookies are fragrant and genuine treats, perfect for breakfast or a snack. A classic pastry soft and delicate, encloses a delicious filling of apples and apricot jam, for a result that smells like home and simplicity.
These apple cookies have a soft and slightly moist center, with the balanced sweetness of the jam that perfectly matches the cooked fruit. They are real stuffed apple cookies, ideal to enjoy in any season and made with few ingredients.
With just one small apple, you can make about 16 cookies, finished with fork prongs for a perfect closure and a neat appearance.
If you love fruit desserts, I recommend trying the ricotta and lemon tart and the grandma’s apple cake: two timeless recipes that everyone always loves.
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- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 30 Minutes
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 16 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Electric oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Energy 171.48 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 23.24 (g) of which sugars 9.83 (g)
- Proteins 2.96 (g)
- Fat 7.92 (g) of which saturated 4.88 (g)of which unsaturated 2.93 (g)
- Fibers 0.66 (g)
- Sodium 32.10 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 35 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for the Apple and Jam Heart Cookies
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 9 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 lemon zest (grated)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 apple (about 4 oz net weight)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- to taste lemon juice (1/2 lemon)
- to taste powdered sugar (for dusting)
Useful Tools
- Bowl
- Baking sheet
- Rolling pin
- Cookie cutter 2.5 inches diameter
- Pan non-stick
How to Make Apple and Jam Heart Cookies
1. The preparation of the pastry is very simple: it must be done quickly to prevent the butter from becoming too warm, otherwise the dough would become sticky and hard to work with.
2. Place the flour in a fountain shape on the work surface and add the cold butter in pieces, sugar, whole egg, egg yolk, grated lemon zest, and a pinch of salt in the center.
3. Use a fork to start mixing the ingredients, then knead quickly with your hands until you obtain a homogeneous dough.
4. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest in the fridge for at least two hours: a crucial step to make the pastry more compact, elastic, and perfect for use in all our dessert recipes.
5. In the meantime, prepare the filling: peel the apple, cut it into small pieces, and place it in a pan with the brown sugar, lemon juice, and a pinch of cinnamon. Cook for 5-6 minutes until it becomes soft and fragrant. Let it cool completely.
6. Take the pastry and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8 inch thickness. Use a 2.5-inch cookie cutter to cut out many discs, half will be the base and half the cover.
7. Place a teaspoon of jam in the center of each disc, then add some of the cooked apples on top. Cover with a second disc, press the edges well, and trim with the prongs of a fork to seal and shape the cookies.
8. Arrange the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated static oven at 356 °F for 20–25 minutes, until they are lightly golden.
9. Let them cool completely and sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.
Storage and Useful Tips
The apple and jam heart cookies can be stored for 3–4 days at room temperature, kept in a tin box or under a glass dome. You can also freeze them raw: just bake them directly, slightly extending the cooking time when you want to bake them.
For a gluten-free version, you can use a ready mix for gluten-free pastry. If you want to add a fresher note to the filling, add a bit of grated lemon zest or a pinch of powdered ginger. You can replace the apricot jam with your favorite one: peach, fig, or red berries are also great options.
The apple and jam heart cookies can be stored for 3–4 days at room temperature, kept in a tin box or under a glass dome. You can also freeze them raw: just bake them directly, slightly extending the cooking time when you want to bake them.
For a gluten-free version, you can use a ready mix for gluten-free pastry. If you want to add a fresher note to the filling, add a bit of grated lemon zest or a pinch of powdered ginger. You can replace the apricot jam with your favorite one: peach, fig, or red berries are also great options.
