I just can. not. stand. fruit in my cookies or cake.
I can’t.
With the exception of the granola grabbers we made in August, but those don’t count ’cause they had chocolate in them.
To me, there is just something unAmerican about fruit in cake or cookies.
I refuse to make oatmeal raisin cookies. I use butterscotch chips instead.
I refuse to put raisins in carrot cake….ewwwwww!
Fruit cake….oh…gag!
Mince meat pie…I don’t even want to go there.
When I saw that today’s TWD was Buttery Jam cookies (picked out by Heather of Randomosity and the Girl ), I was wracking my brain (which wasn’t hard considering the condition my brain is in) trying to figure out how in the world I was going to make these cookies without putting jam in them.
I really fiddled with this recipe.
Instead of ginger, I put in cinnamon.
Instead of milk, I put in some Hazelnut coffee creamer.
Let us just pause here for a moment while I say that this dough is absolutely fabulous.
I ate some.
Then I ate some more.
The boy ate some.
And he ate some more.
I had to quickly make these cookies before the dough was gone!
Truly, I could have left them just like that, but then I wouldn’t be able to call them Butter ‘Jam’ cookies could I?, so I put some strawberry jam on them.
These little bite size cookies are wonderful.
Dorie says they are great with tea.
Chocolatechic says they are great standing beside your island in your kitchen while the girl washes the dishes, or walking through your living room to watch TV, or sitting down at your computer to read your email, or after everyone has gone to bed and you are watching DVR’d Survivor.
Just sayin’.
Go check out Heather’s blog.
The recipe is there.
YUM!
.
Chocolatechic 
Sweetie, there is something very American about putting fruit in cookies and cake.
But I don’t like fruit cake either.
The dough does sound fabulous.
Oooh, yummy! Way to get creative 🙂
They look really yummy!! 🙂
I have to agree… fruit, especially jam in cookies is very British to me!
Nevertheless, yours look amazing… just like an in-home mini cookie factory!!! Bravo!
I love it when you fiddle with recipes. I would have never though of using hazelnut coffee creamer, but that sounds so yummy. Love the pics of the finished cookies. 🙂
And what? There is no chocolate in these? Amazing! I agree the dough is sooo delish. Glad you liked them….even with some fruit.
AmyRuth
Your cookies look awesome. I thought about putting the fruit on top too! Actually when I read the name of the cookie that is what my mind conjured up so I should have followed that gut instinct.
You are too funny! I am right there with ya on the no-fruit thing. Growing up, our family always made “suet pudding” which I think is like fruit cake, but more moist, served warm, not as sticky. The best thing about suet pudding is the sauce/frosting – pure delight!
yum…i think strawberry jam is the way to go 🙂
something more for me to try out.
thanks for sharing this.
Hehe – I must admit that I *love* fruit in my cookies, so these were a guaranteed winner for me. But I’m glad you were able to tweak them to your liking. Maybe a nice drizzling of chocolate over them would make them even better?
Caitlin~~I have a few left….maybe I should get out some chocolate…
That’s so funny! I thought these would be thumbprint cookies, and that’s what you ended up making. I used egg nog for my liquid. I’ll have to try the creamer if I make these again.
I am shocked…absolutely shocked that there is NO CHOCOLATE over here this week from the chocolatechic…LOL! I had anticipated opening up your site and finding the definitive way to sneak some chocolate in these this week. I noticed Caitlin came through with some ideas for you…ever the supporter of chcolate she is herself! Your writing is so much fun…I love stopping by, always a giggle. I can just see you with those cookies, one here…one there…another over there…LOL. They were THAT good! I like the little thumbprints you made as,I am sure you can guess, I LOVE FRUIT IN COOKIES…but I am sure we can be friends anyway!!
I’m so with you. These cookies are great while you stand over your oven with a tray of them in your hand, simply shoveling them into your face. At least that’s what I did. No one else?
And I, too, am astounded that you couldn’t find a way to put chocolate in these.
Oh I love the thought of hazelnut and cinnamon! Weren’t these just the best cookies? Not too sweet. I could eat a dozen of them!
I like your revamp of the recipe so much more. A great idea (and I like strawberry jam more than apricot jam anyway).
I was SURE that when you said you tinkered, I’d see chocolate. I’m shocked!! But I’m so glad that you enjoyed these cookies with jam, even without chocolate. I think your modifications sound great!
I love that you are willing to play around with the recipe to make them something you will like!:)
Those cookies look yummy! And, more important at this time of year, they’re beautiful.
I’m so bummed that I didn’t watch Survivor considering that a guy “down the road” won. Shoot!
Great job fitting the recipe to what you like. The jam centers are gorgeous!
I was sooo happy that this years Survivor was actually a good one. One where there was a lot of planning going on.
Over the top thrilled that Bob won!
I dont’ care for fruit in my stuff either…BUT in Romania one time, I had birthday cake with fruit in it that was TO DIE FOR!
Hey great cookies…I love how you added the jam ontop..very nice!
I’m glad they worked out for you!!
Nice job making the recipe work for you – I’ve never thought to use creamer in baking, but why not? Especially with all the various flavors out there.
Nice adaptation on these. The substitutions you added are ingenius! They sound wonderful!
I thought for sure you were going to put chocolate in the middle! I was very sruprised to see jam!
I think that thumprints was the way to go – mixing the jam into the cookie added nothing
Your changes were a great idea. Mine were so boring, I was feeling little guilty sending them to the office.
Wow! Interesting ideas! I bet these were great!
I was thinking of you today while I was melting 5 oz of unsweetened chocolate with a stick of butter…
Glad you loved these. I got creative with toppings for mine and they turned out okay, not a favorite, but edible!
Hey Aunt Mary~~I kind of like practical gifties too.
For Christmas I asked for a dutch oven.
so putting the jam on top rather than inside is the way to go for you? they look great–love the flavors!
These were fantastic! I used nutmeg instead of ginger and I used homemade peach jam on some and Maine blueberry jam on the rest. Oh. my. goodness. Dee-lish!
They look so cute with their little dimple full of jam. Chocolate might have been a good filling too. 🙂
I think you are on to something with your changes. the burst of jam in the middle would be great.
i love your adaptation of the recipe 🙂
The changes you made to the recipe sound astoundingly good! Nice job! I’m wanting to make them again after reading your post. :o)
Jam on top sounds good, so the jam flavor would stand out more. It never would have occurred to me to use coffee creamer–interesting idea.
Super yummy! I love the jam on top. What a clever idea.
Those do look really good. I think that I’ll head over and check out that recipe to see if I have all the ingredients to make them. I’ll need to make lots of cookies on Thursday and Friday since I’ve not done any all week.
I love all the changes you made! Jam on top is much better. I am with you on the fruit. I am not a fruit desserts person. I’d much rather have the chocolate!
With an endorsement like this, I will definitely have to try these cookies!
Your cookies are adorable as little jam buttons. Nice job!
That’s an interesting twist to the recipe, looks very yummy!
Your fiddling sounds delicious 🙂 Hazelnut + cinnamon, yum!! They look like cute little pillows 🙂
So, you’ve changed your mind about fruit in cookies then?
LOL – I love all of your recommendations for using up these cookies.