Bachelor Buttons

[rj_anderson]

Bachelor Buttons
Originally uploaded by rj-anderson

This is one of those cookies that doesn't look like much on the outside, but is sneakily and indescribably delicious. Really, they should be called Ninja Awesome Hidden Jam Cookies, but according to my grandmother who handed down the recipe, they're called Bachelor Buttons.

A web search yields about fifty different cookie recipes also called Bachelor Buttons, but they are ALL WRONG and DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM. These are the one and only kind of Bachelor Buttons you need. Especially if you are looking for a buttery double-layered cookie with a bit of raspberry jam in the middle that is absolutely perfect for dunking in a cup of tea.

Yes, I said dunking. In tea. Trust me on this one.

BACHELOR BUTTONS

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 well-beaten egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup good quality raspberry jam (I used Smuckers)

Heat oven to 350 F. Cream butter and brown sugar in a medium-sized bowl, add well-beaten egg and vanilla and mix thoroughly.

In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients and add slowly to wet mixture until all flour has been mixed in. You will have a fairly firm, non-sticky dough. Form into fist-sized balls.

Roll out dough thinly onto waxed paper and cut into circles with floured 1.5" cutter or small juice glass. Transfer to cookie sheet.

Use two teaspoons to drop a small amount of raspberry jam onto the center of each cookie. Cover with a second circle of dough and press gently around edges with fingertips to seal. Prick center of cookie with floured fork.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Make a pot of tea and enjoy! WARNING: HIGHLY ADDICTIVE.

Comments

[capnflynn.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I had a recipe for these that was amazing, but then I lost it, and none of its replacements have measured up. I will definitely try this one--thank you!

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

Hey, dunking in tea leads to TEA-RELATED BISCUIT INJURIES! You could be liable for legal action!

(Mmmmm... I want to make these with blackberry jam in... YUM!)

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Blackberry jam would be excellent.

In the interests of full disclosure I should mention that my grandmother's recipe also suggested dates as a possible filling, but I really can't fathom why anyone would do that, so I definitely give a thumbs-up to blackberry jam instead.

[kerravonsen]

I should mention that my grandmother's recipe also suggested dates as a possible filling, but I really can't fathom why anyone would do that
You don't like dates?!

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I do like dates! I just cannot imagine them in these particular cookies, that's all.

[ljrags.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking cherry or apricot jam? Hmmm. AND TEA. :)

Thanks for sharing RJ! :)

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Whatever jam you choose needs to have a good amount of pectin and sugar in it, is all I know -- my mother tried using one of those "mostly fruit" spreads one year and the cookies were ruined. The filling dried out and became "fruit leather".

[ljrags.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, that is the only kind of jam I keep in the house. Thanks for the tip :) I usually don't automatically try to change perfectly good recipes. We just don't like raspberry jam here.

[shellebelle93.livejournal.com]

oh heavens. Raspberry is my favorite thing ever and I shall have to try these! ;)

[patty1943.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recipe. I may try marmalade, too.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Much as I love marmelade, I find it hard to imagine it tasting good in these particular cookies. But you never know.

[faeriemaiden.livejournal.com]

"Bachelor's Buttons" is the most adorable name for cookies ever!

[rose-in-shadow.livejournal.com]

Ooo. These sound delish!