1 cup butter, softened
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup strawberry jam
Confectioners' sugar
1. In a large bowl, cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Divide dough into fourths. Cover and refrigerate until easy to handle, about 2 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 375degrees, On a lightly floured surface, roll out each piece of dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with floured 2-in. round cookie cutters. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon jam in the center and spread to within 1/4 in. of edge.
3. Shape into a bell by folding edges of dough to meet over filling. Bake until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar.
To ring in a joyous occasion like a bridal shower or wedding, I'm often asked to make these festive cookies. You can use different flavors of jam to suit your tastes.
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min.
YIELD: about 3 dozen.
Nutrition Facts
1 cookie: 87 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 58mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.