Ruby Jewel Cookies

For 36 Cookies, Ruby Jewel Cookies keeps the list centered on egg yolks, vanilla extract and all purpose flour. Set aside about 100 minutes.

• Yield 36 Cookies
• Ready in 100 minutes
• Prep 80 minutes
• Cook 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 large egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 cup cold butter (cut into small pieces)
• About 1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam or other thick jam
• Confectioner’s sugar for dusting

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Have ready two ungreased baking sheets or mini muffin pans and liners.
2. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks and vanilla together; set aside.
3. Combine the flour and sugar in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
4. Scatter the butter pieces over the top of the flour and sugar and with a pastry blender or two forks, work in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
5. Add the egg yolk mixture and carefully mix to combine until the dough starts to come together (this worked best using my hands).
6. Turn the dough out onto a sheet of plastic wrap and shape it into a flat disk. Wrap and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
7. With lightly floured hands, pinch off pieces of dough and shape the dough into ¾-inch balls. Place each ball in a mini muffin paper liner, if using. If not using a mini muffin pan, place the cookies 1 inch apart on the baking sheets.
8. Using the end of a wooden spoon handle dipped in flour, make an indentation in the center of each cookie, but do not press all the way through the dough. Using a spoon or a pastry bag fitted with a plain tip, fill each indentation with about ¼ teaspoon jam.
9. Bake the cookies until the edges are golden, 15-20 minutes. Let the cookies cool completely on the pans on wire racks. Transfer cooled cookies to wire racks and dust with confectioner’s sugar.

Cool the cookies on the sheet for a few minutes, then move them to a rack.