Back to Childhood.
My favorite cookies as a child were my mother’s Jam-Filled Cookies. Sadly, when she died, I could not find the recipe in her files.
I tried recipes from friends and baking bloggers, searched endlessly online (no, I did not want thumbprint cookies), and checked in every standard cookbook my mother had when I was a kid (Fannie Farmer, Betty Crocker, Better Homes & Gardens). Nothing matched the cookies of my memory.
In the end, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Using my standard butter cookie recipe, I went to work. Not only did the recipe come out perfectly, it took me right back to my childhood. I hope you enjoy these simple but delicious cookies.
~ David
Jam-Filled Cookies
To print this recipe, please click the small printer icon below.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour (12 ounces)
- about 3/4 cup fruit jam of choice, I prefer strawberry
- a little water or milk to seal the cookies
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar. Add egg yolks and vanilla extract and mix. Beat in flour. If very soft, refrigerate dough for an hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment. Roll half the dough to 1/8-inch thick, cut out 24 2-inch circles, and place 12 on each prepared baking sheet. Using the second half of the dough, and the scraps from the first half, roll out and cut 24 more circles to be the tops. Spoon 3/4 teaspoon jam (a well-rounded 1/2 teaspoon) onto each of the 24 cookies on the baking sheets. For the tops, dab your finger into the water or milk and “paint” around the edge of each of the circles of dough and place them, painted side down, on top of each of the jam-topped cookies on the baking sheets. Gently seal the edges with your fingers. (Do not crimp with a fork — the dough is too tender and will tear.)
- Bake the the cookies for 14-16 minutes (see note) in the upper and lower thirds of the oven, switching racks halfway through
- Makes 24.
- Notes:
- • 14 minutes will produce a very light golden bottom and a soft cookie, while 16 minutes will make them a bit more golden-brown and firmer.
- • any remaining dough can be used to make more sandwich cookies or simply cut and baked for 10-11 minutes for nice little butter cookies (perfect with cocoa, tea, or coffee).
© 2026 Copyright Cocoa & Lavender
Carolyne
September 27, 2025 at 5:08 amPerfect with a cuppa 💕
Cocoa & Lavender
September 27, 2025 at 8:21 amExactly! Thanks.
Susan
September 27, 2025 at 5:47 amI’ve never made jam-filled cookies… but I see a batch coming out of our oven in the future!
Cocoa & Lavender
September 27, 2025 at 8:22 amThey are little circles of comfort!
angiesrecipes
September 27, 2025 at 5:52 amI have never had jam filled cookies..these might simple, but definitely very delicious, esp. if you use some homemade jam.
Cocoa & Lavender
September 27, 2025 at 8:22 amHomemade jam really does make them irresistible!
Mad Dog
September 27, 2025 at 6:28 amMy mother made jam tarts, but I doubt they were anywhere near as good as your jam filled cookies!
Cocoa & Lavender
September 27, 2025 at 8:22 amI’d be willing to bet that your mother’s jam tarts were pretty wonderful!
Barb
September 27, 2025 at 7:11 amFood that has childhood memories attached is always a treat! Your mother probably didn’t need a written recipe because the ingredient list is so simple to memorize.
Cocoa & Lavender
September 27, 2025 at 8:23 amYou are probably right, Barb — she probably knew them by heart. It wouldn’t surprise me.
Barb
September 27, 2025 at 5:37 pmOr maybe she, like her son, was a recipe creator! I’ve never seen a cookie like this one, and if you couldn’t find a recipe she may have created the cookies!
Cocoa & Lavender
September 29, 2025 at 9:30 amYou are very kind, Barb! Thank you.
Colette
September 27, 2025 at 7:52 amIt’s drizzling and cool here, finally. Going to relax and bake these cookies. Thanks for sharing w us, David love.
Cocoa & Lavender
September 27, 2025 at 8:24 amI’m glad you like the sound of them Colette — and I hope you, Shawn and Daisy love them!
Gerlinde
September 27, 2025 at 10:18 amI would love to have one of these cookies with my afternoon tea.
David Scott Allen
September 27, 2025 at 10:23 ami wish I could bring you some, Gerlinde — I have a few left!
Eha Carr
September 27, 2025 at 3:52 pmGood Sunday morning from a warm and sunny spring day to come in my part of Down Under. These look lovely and not hard to make if one loves baking . . .
Cocoa & Lavender
September 29, 2025 at 9:27 amIt always amuses me that people see themselves as either bakers or as cooks. I like to think of myself in both parts of the kitchen! And I do like baking these cookies.
FEL!X
September 27, 2025 at 6:16 pmSuch comfort cookies with a wistful memory are always welcome!
Cocoa & Lavender
September 29, 2025 at 9:27 amFoods from my memory are sometimes the greatest.
sherry
September 27, 2025 at 10:53 pmI like the simplicity of these David. My mum used to make an apple turnover/pie thingy – i have never been able to get it just right like hers. Ah the memories …
cheers
sherry
Cocoa & Lavender
September 29, 2025 at 9:27 amIsn’t it funny how our food memories go back so far, Sherry? It’s probably why we’re both cooks!
Ronit
September 28, 2025 at 6:34 amDavid it’s so great you’ve managed to recreate your mother’s cookies. Love the delicate buttery dough, and the pillowy shape of the cookies . I’ve recently made a nice batch of strawberry jam, so this recipe came in perfect timing! 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
September 29, 2025 at 9:28 amNext time I make these, I will use homemade strawberry jam. I didn’t have any in the refrigerator, but they worked well with commercial strawberry jam.
Mimi Rippee
September 28, 2025 at 7:31 amSimple???!!! I think not. But they sure are pretty!
Cocoa & Lavender
September 29, 2025 at 9:28 amThat made me laugh, Mimi! Some of your (and my) dishes are so complicated that these look like a walk in the park!
Jeff the Chef
September 30, 2025 at 4:36 amWhat a beautiful, old-fashioned cookie! These types of cookies are always my favorites! More about flavor and texture than flat-out sugar. I’m sure your mom would be pleased!
David Scott Allen
October 1, 2025 at 9:03 amThanks, Jeff. Old-fashioned is the perfect term for them! I’ll be testing them out of my younger brother this month and I hope they hit the memory button for him, too!
Marcelle
October 1, 2025 at 12:42 pmDavid, we have been in a bit of a cookie baking obsession era here at the house lately. I will be trying these, maybe with plum jam. 🙂 So happy you could recreate your mom’s jam-filled cookies. They look so good, and will be perfect with some Earl Grey.
Cocoa & Lavender
October 4, 2025 at 8:03 amThese would be amazing with plum jam, Marcelle. Let me know what you think!
Valentina
October 1, 2025 at 3:51 pmSo impressive you were able to recreate something your mom made without a recipe. So happy they turned out so well and brought you back to being a kid.
Cocoa & Lavender
October 4, 2025 at 8:02 amI can’t tell you how many different recipes I’ve tried that have failed, and all I needed to do is look right in front of me at my own butter cookie recipe! D’oh!
Frank | Memorie di Angelina
October 3, 2025 at 8:56 amSounds lovely, David. As you know I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but I bet I’d really enjoy these. So nice to hear you were able to recreate these little remembrances of your childhood!
Cocoa & Lavender
October 4, 2025 at 8:02 amThey are a nice simple cookie, Frank. And they definitely harken back to my childhood.
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
October 4, 2025 at 8:54 amNostalgic recipes at their best! These cookies look so inviting – rich, buttery, and with lovely crispy edges.
Cocoa & Lavender
October 4, 2025 at 9:59 amIt makes me wonder if nostalgia is why we like all the recipes that we do. Does it just remind us of food we had when we were younger?
Inger
October 7, 2025 at 10:26 amI love stories of lost and found childhood recipes! These look so tasty!
Cocoa & Lavender
October 9, 2025 at 6:13 amDo you have any special childhood cookies that you remember?
Raymund
October 8, 2025 at 2:58 pmNice and simple, I would love nibbling on these while watching Netflix 😉
Cocoa & Lavender
October 9, 2025 at 6:13 amWhat a wonderful way to enhance in Netflix movie, Raymund!
2pots2cook
October 25, 2025 at 4:15 am“Our” jam filled cookies were quite different. I remember my grandmother making them. Since I still have some homemade apricot jam, this is the perfect occasion to make a batch since we’ll start writing our baking lists for holidays soon….
Cocoa & Lavender
October 25, 2025 at 6:07 amI love that there are so many different traditions for jam filled cookies!
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:35 amDavid, I love a nice thin (1/8 inch) not too sweet sugar cookie. These are lovely! Just the right amount of jam. Perfect with a cup of tea.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 4, 2025 at 11:05 amMy tea drinking friends agree with you. They loved these with tea. Thanks, Jean.
Christina
November 15, 2025 at 11:51 amThis makes me so happy for you, David! Nothing better than nailing an old recipe you loved, especially from your mother! <3
Cocoa & Lavender
November 16, 2025 at 6:24 amSince posting, I have made them for my brother. He was so happy! Thanks for your comment.