Vanilla cookies/ Jam cookies

INGREDIENTS :


Unsalted Butter(room temp) - 1/2 cup (113 gms)
White Sugar - 1/4 cup (50 gms)
Egg - 1 (separated)
Vanilla Extract - 1/2 tsp
All Purpose Flour (Maida) - 1 cup (130 gm)
Salt - 1/8 tsp
Jam (of your choice)


LET'S COOK:

1. In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). 
2. Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat until combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Add the flour mixture to the batter and beat just until combined.
4.  If the batter is too soft to roll into balls, refrigerate for about 30-60 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
6. Take small balls of the batter and place on the prepared baking sheet spacing about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. 
7. Using your thumb or end of a wooden spoon, make a indentation into the center of each cookie and fill with about 1/2 teaspoon of jam.
8. Bake for about 12 -15 minutes, or until cookies are set.Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool. 
9. If you dont have jam or dont like jam, you can make it in to any shape like i have done(heart) and  bake it.And can drizzle chocolate or maple syrup on top.

YOU CAN USE COOKIE CUTTERS FOR DIFFERENT SHAPES.ITS FUN. TRY IT OUT.

SHORTBREAD COOKIES

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup powdered (confectioners or icing)sugar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

LET'S COOK:

1. In a separate bowl whisk the flour with the salt.  Set aside.

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute). Add the sugar and beat until smooth (about 2 minutes).  Beat in the vanilla extract. Gently stir in the flour mixture just until incorporated.  Flatten the dough into a disk shape, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill the dough for at least an hour or until firm. 

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) with the rack in the middle of the oven.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

3. On a lightly floured surface roll out the doughinto a 1/4 inch (.6 cm) thick circle.  Cut into rounds or other shapes using a lightly floured cookie cutter. 

4. Place on the prepared baking sheets and place in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes. (This will firm up the dough so the cookies will maintain their shape when baked.) Bake for 8 -10 minutes, or until cookies are very lightly browned.