Description
Delicate raspberry and almond shortbread thumbprints deliver sweet comfort with buttery, crumbly texture and jewel-like raspberry centers. Delightful cookies blend nutty almond notes and tangy fruit, promising a perfect companion for afternoon tea or elegant dessert gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Shortbread Base:
- 225 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
- 113 g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
- 60 g (1/2 cup) powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
Almond Filling:
- 60 g (1/2 cup) ground almonds
- 30 ml (2 tbsp) almond extract
- 1 large egg
- 30 g (1/4 cup) granulated sugar
Raspberry Topping:
- 120 g (1 cup) fresh raspberries
- 30 ml (2 tbsp) raspberry jam
- 15 g (2 tbsp) powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
- Sift flour and salt into the butter mixture, gently combining until a soft dough forms.
- Roll the dough into small, uniform balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Create a gentle indentation in the center of each dough ball using your thumb, ensuring not to crack the edges.
- Whisk ground almonds, almond extract, egg, and granulated sugar in a separate bowl until smooth.
- Carefully spoon the almond filling into each thumb-pressed dough depression.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until the edges turn golden and the filling sets.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.
- Gently press fresh raspberries into the almond filling of each shortbread.
- Warm raspberry jam and drizzle sparingly over the raspberries.
- Dust the cooled shortbread cookies with powdered sugar just before serving.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for smooth, easy creaming to prevent dense cookies.
- Use fresh, high-quality raspberries for the most vibrant flavor and visual appeal in the final presentation.
- Create uniform dough balls by using a small cookie scoop or weighing each portion for consistent baking.
- Modify the recipe for gluten-free diets by substituting all-purpose flour with almond or gluten-free flour blend, maintaining the same delicate texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg