Shortbread Faces with Chocolate and Jam
- Difficulty: Easy
- Prep time: 25 min
- Cook time: 15 min
- Serving: 4
- Cost: Average
- Note + 30 minutes of resting time for the shortcrust pastry
PRESENTATION
Little rounds of shortbread cookies with a soft, crumbly bite—these treats really shine on any family dessert table. Sweet, buttery layers combine with a mild almond flavor, giving each cookie a nice balance that’s never too strong or too simple. Swirls of raspberry jam peek out for color, while chocolate-dipped edges create that extra-special look (kids usually love that). Classic as Christmas cookies, these cookies feel right at home during holiday parties, busy family afternoons, or after-dinner dessert spreads. Festive plates—big or small—look just a little brighter with these delicious cookies in the lineup. When you spot pretty, decorated tops (sometimes a sprinkle, sometimes a chopped almond here and there), it’s easy to see why homemade cookie ideas like this are favorites at family gatherings. Home bakers feel good serving something with a great result and a pleasing appearance, especially since the fun combo of chocolate, raspberry, and almond works for picky eaters and grown-ups alike.
Busy families searching for festive cookie recipes often go for easy shortbread recipe choices, and this shows why. The texture—soft with just enough crisp—is everything you want for snacking, gifting, or sharing at school or parties. Swap in colorful sprinkles for a birthday, or leave them simple for afternoon coffee…these cookies fit right in wherever needed. For folks who care about looks (especially around the holidays), that golden cookie base and a pop of jam stand out on any dessert tray without fussing over fancy decorating. They’re absolutely reliable (works every time), give the table a cheery, sweet smell, and (let’s be honest) the combined chocolate and jam is always a hit—no debate there. Pack a few in lunchboxes, serve with tea, pop them on gift plates, or add fresh berries for extra flair…families always appreciate treats that are both good looking and great tasting. In a nutshell, these shortbread cookies deliver comfort, versatility, and classic, crowd-pleasing flavor families look for when putting together a cozy or festive spread.
You might also like:
INGREDIENTS
- Ingredients for the Shortbread (10.5 oz for 4 faces)
- Butter 85 - cold
- Type 00 flour 1.4 cups (170 g)
- Vanilla bean 1 - the seeds of 1/2 pod
- Egg yolks 1
- Powdered sugar 65
- Fine salt to taste
- For the Filling
- Nutella 3 ½ tbsp (50 g)
- Apricot jam 3 ½ tbsp (50 g)
How to prepare Shortbread Faces with Chocolate and Jam
To prepare the shortbread faces with chocolate and jam, start with the shortbread: in a mixer, pour the flour, cold butter in chunks, a pinch of salt, and powdered sugar 1, then blend everything for a few seconds until you get a sandy mixture 2. Pour it onto a work surface, forming the classic fountain shape. Split the vanilla pod and scrape the seeds with a small knife 3.
Add the vanilla seeds to the center of the fountain 4, also add the egg yolk 5, and knead briefly 6.
Form a dough ball and wrap it with plastic wrap 7, then place it in the refrigerator to firm for at least 30 minutes. After the necessary time, roll out the shortbread dough into a 1/5-inch thick sheet 8. Using a circular pastry cutter about 4 inches in diameter, cut out 8 shapes 9.
Place the discs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper 10, then with a crescent moon-shaped pastry cutter, make smiling mouths on half of them 11 (alternatively, you can use the tip of a knife and cut the smile by hand), then create the eyes with a 3/4-inch diameter pastry cutter 12. The leftover dough will be used to make the nose of the faces.
Brush the faces with a little water between the two eye holes and place the "nose" (13-14); you can bake the faces in a preheated static oven at 356°F for about 15-20 minutes (if using a fan oven, 320°F for 10-15 minutes).
Once cooked, take them out of the oven and let them cool completely on a rack 16. At this point, fill 2 whole discs with Nutella 17 and place the shortbread faces 18.
You can fill the other two remaining discs with jam 19 and close them with the faces 20. Serve the shortbread faces with chocolate and jam to your children for a cheerful snack 21!