Indulge in the delicate flavors of Raspberry Swirl Cookies, featuring airy cream cheese dough, sweet raspberry jam, and a dusting of powdered sugar for a festive touch. Perfect for holiday celebrations or a luxurious treat.
Every holiday season brings with it a trove of memories, but one of my favorites revolves around the creation of my Raspberry Swirl Cookies. Years ago, my grandmother and I embarked on a baking adventure, armed only with her old, dog-eared recipe book and an insatiable desire to create something beautiful and delicious. After many trials and much laughter, we perfected these cookies. The swirl of raspberry jam not only added a burst of flavor but also a splash of vibrant color that made these cookies stand out amidst a sea of holiday treats. Now, every time I bake these cookies, I’m transported back to those cherished moments with her, feeling her love and warmth in every bite.
Why You’ll Love Raspberry Swirl Cookies
The Raspberry Swirl Cookies are more than just a treat; they are a visual delight and a palatable masterpiece crafted for memorable moments. Here’s why they stand out:
- Whimsical Design: The spiral of raspberry jam creates an eye-catching pattern that makes each cookie look like a piece of art.
- Rich Texture: Combining cream cheese with butter gives these cookies a uniquely tender and flaky texture that melts in your mouth.
- Versatile Treat: Perfect for holiday gatherings, tea parties, or as a special dessert, these cookies adapt to any occasion.
- Simple Ingredients, Gourmet Outcome: Using everyday ingredients to produce an extraordinary cookie shows that gourmet doesn’t have to be complicated.
Ingredients Notes
Understanding your ingredients is key to perfect Raspberry Swirl Cookies. Here are some tips:
- Cream Cheese: Full-fat cream cheese is essential for the rich, creamy texture of the dough. It should be softened before mixing to ensure smoothness.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter to control the saltiness of the cookies, allowing the sweet-tart flavor of the raspberry jam to shine through.
- Flour: Sifting the all-purpose flour before use prevents clumps, making your dough even and easy to roll out.
- Raspberry Jam: Opt for a high-quality, seedless raspberry jam for a smooth, consistent filling without interruptions from seeds.
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How To Make Raspberry Swirl Cookies
Crafting these Raspberry Swirl Cookies is like painting a masterpiece. Here’s how to bring this delicious art to life:
- Mixing the Dough: Start by creaming together butter and cream cheese until smooth. This base will give the cookies their creamy texture. Gradually mix in sifted flour and salt until the mixture forms a cohesive ball. This step is crucial for creating a smooth, workable dough.
- Rolling and Chilling: Shape the dough into a flat disc—this makes rolling it out much easier after chilling. Wrap in plastic and chill; this helps firm up the fat, making the dough less sticky and easier to handle.
- Rolling Out the Dough: Flour your workspace generously before rolling out the dough to prevent sticking. Rolling the dough first into a smaller rectangle and then into a larger one ensures an even thickness, which is vital for the swirling process.
- Adding the Jam and Rolling the Log: Evenly spread the jam over the dough, leaving a small margin at the edge to seal the log. Carefully roll the dough into a log, starting from the jam-covered end. This rolling technique is key to creating those beautiful swirls.
- Slicing and Baking: Chill the log briefly to firm it up before slicing, ensuring cleaner cuts. Bake until the edges are just golden, ensuring that each cookie is cooked through but remains tender.
Storage Options
Raspberry Swirl Cookies can be enjoyed fresh or stored for later delight. They keep well at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a week, making them perfect for gradual savoring. For longer storage, they can be frozen for up to three months. Simply layer the cookies between sheets of parchment in a freezer-safe container. Thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours before serving.
Variations and Substitutions
Personalize your Raspberry Swirl Cookies with these creative twists:
- Jam Variations: Swap raspberry jam for strawberry, apricot, or blackberry to vary the flavor profiles.
- Zesty Additions: Add a teaspoon of lemon or orange zest to the dough for a citrusy punch.
- Nutty Crunch: Sprinkle finely chopped walnuts or almonds over the jam before rolling for added texture and flavor.
- Gluten-Free Version: Use a high-quality gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour to accommodate dietary restrictions without compromising on texture.
Raspberry Swirl Cookies
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup of unsalted butter softened
- 1 and 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour sifted
- 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
- 1/3 cup of seedless raspberry jam
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preparing the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, commence by creaming together the softened butter and cream cheese until the mixture is smooth and well-combined. Gradually incorporate the sifted flour and kosher salt into the creamed mixture, continuing to mix until the ingredients coalesce into a cohesive ball of dough.
- Shaping and Chilling the Dough: Transfer the dough onto a clean surface and gently shape it into a flattened disc. This particular shape facilitates easier rolling. Encase the disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes, allowing the dough to firm up which aids in rolling.
- Rolling Out the Dough: After chilling, liberally flour a flat surface and place the dough upon it. Dust the dough with additional flour and roll it out into a rectangle measuring approximately 10 inches by 12 inches. Subsequently, apply more flour to the dough, and utilize the rolling pin to further roll the dough into a larger rectangle, approximately 10 inches by 30 inches.
- Adding the Jam and Forming the Log: Spread the raspberry jam evenly across the surface of the dough, leaving a half-inch margin along one of the shorter edges uncoated. This margin will assist in sealing the dough when rolled. Carefully roll the dough into a log, beginning from the jam-covered end, and align the unjammed edge last to seal the log. Place the log in the refrigerator for an additional 15 minutes to solidify.
- Preheating and Slicing the Dough: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the chilled log from the refrigerator, and using a piece of sewing thread or a sharp knife, slice the log into 1/4-inch thick cookies.
- Baking: Arrange the cookies flat on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring they do not touch each other. Bake in the preheated oven for 17 to 20 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden around the edges.
- Cooling and Finishing: Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool. After the cookies have cooled completely, dust them with powdered sugar before serving.
