Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup strawberry jam
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350º F.  Set butter and cream cheese out to soften.
2. In a medium bowl combine flour, sugar and baking powder.
3. In a large bowl combine butter, cream cheese and vanilla; beat until light and fluffy.
4. Add dry ingredients to cream cheese mixture and blend well. Form dough into a ball, wrap and chill for 2 hours. 
5. Roll dough to 1/4” thickness on lightly floured surface.
6. Cut with 1-1/2-inch fluted or round cutter.
7. Place 2” apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press center of each cookie slightly with your thumb and fill center with 1/4 teaspoon jam.
8. Bake for 10–12 minutes.
9. Remove from cookie sheet and place on a wire rack to cool.
10. Sift powdered sugar over top of cookie, if desired.

Helpful hints

• Use any flavor of jam. Try orange marmalade or peach jam for Halloween cookies or strawberry or raspberry for Christmas or Valentine’s Day cookies.
• An alternative way to make these cookies: Roll chilled dough thin 1/8″. Cut cookies with a 2″ fluted cookie cutter. Cut a small hole in the middle of half the cookies. Sandwich the cookies together and fill the hole with jam before baking. Makes 24 cookies, serving size is 1 cookie instead of 3 smaller cookies.
• After sifting with powdered sugar,moisten your finger with water and dab the jelly portion tomake it glossy again.
• Store extra cookies in a covered container or freeze for later.