Low-Sugar Jam Drops - Mind Body Char

Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 14 minutes
Total time: ~40 minutes
Servings: 26 cookies

Description

A nostalgic 90’s classic, with a lower-in-sugar glow up. These jam drops are my healthier twist on the ones we all remember from growing up. They’re buttery and soft shortbread-like with just enough caramel flavour from raw sugar and filled with my homemade jam – while also halving the sugar as most traditional recipes! 🍓

Ingredients

225g unsalted butter, room temperature
½ cup (100g) raw sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg, room temperature
2½ cups (300g) plain flour
¼ tsp salt
~⅓ cup homemade strawberry jam (or your fave)

Method

Preheat to 160°C. Line baking trays with baking paper.
Using a handheld electric beater or stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat butter and raw sugar until smooth, a couple minutes on low-medium speed.
Add egg, vanilla and salt. Mix briefly until combined. Add flour and beat until completely mixed. Dough will be soft but hold together when pressed.
Measure 1 tbsp dough. Roll into a ball, place on your tray and indent with your thumb. Repeat one cookie at a time to avoid cracking. Leave a 2-3cm gap between each cookie to allow for spreading.
Fill each indent with 1/2 tsp of jam, level with the cookie surface to prevent overflow.
Bake both trays for 13-16 minutes, until surfaces are pale golden, you may need to rotate the trays around halfway to allow for even heat distribution.
Cool on trays—they’ll crisp up as they cool. Optionally, add a tiny spoon of fresh jam to the centres after baking if they look a bit sunken.
Enjoy once cooled! Store in an airtight container for 5-7 days; best within 2-3 days as jam may soften cookies slightly.