Gluten-Free Jam Shortbreads

I am certain that you will love these gluten-free Jam Shortbread Cookies.

Their elegant appearance completely belies the ease with which they are made. The buttery shortbread is melt-in-the-mouth delicious and finished delightfully with a topping of jam. They are lovely served at any time but I find them an ideal addition to my Christmas baking.

I’m particularly fond of small bites of dessert; over time you will see a number of such recipes here.

Mini desserts may be small in size but they have enormous appeal. To me, they’re an indulgent treat to enjoy without going overboard on calories. Besides, you can enjoy a greater variety if the foods are small.

If you’ve read the book “French Women Don’t Get Fat” you will have learnt that French women eat bread and pastry and drink wine. They enjoy cream and butter. They enjoy it all; it’s just that they have moderate amounts. It’s all about portion control. So, using this strategy, it is possible to have your cake and eat it too!

Not only is this buttery shortbread irresistibly delicious, but it is also easily prepared. There’s no blending of ingredients by hand; just put the icing/confectioners’ sugar, flours, almond meal, butter and almond essence into a food processor. Whiz just until the mixture starts to come together. It’s that simple.

The mixture is then rested in the refrigerator for a half hour before it’s rolled into small balls and placed into a mini muffin tin. With the tips of your fingers, flatten the mixture a little before baking. After baking, whilst still warm, a small indent is made in the top of the shortbread. When cooled, they are carefully turned out. And I do stress carefully. This is the most difficult part of the recipe as the Jam Shortbread Cookies are very fragile. When turned out, fill the cookie indent with a jam of your choice. I feel that good raspberry or plum jam is a perfect choice, but today I have also used Apricot Jam to give a contrasting colour. A dusting of icing sugar is the final flourish.

These lovely gluten-free shortbread cookies are enjoyed equally by those who have a restricted diet and those who don’t.

In fact, with some people, I frequently serve gluten-free food without declaring it. Do you notice that some people hear the words ”gluten-free” and automatically reject the food? They’ve clearly had a bad experience. I assure you that any gluten-free recipes I share with you will be able to be enjoyed by all of your family and friends.

When ready to serve, place the shortbread cookies on a pretty serving platter. There won’t be any judgement if they don’t all make it. 🙂 After all, you need to practice quality control! Please let me know in the comment section below if you try them. Enjoy!

Xx Alex

P.S. For another delicious sweet treat, try out my Pecan Puffs or Decadent Chocolate Brownies!