Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies Recipe: When we traveled through Serbia, we fell in love with the sweet flavors and cozy traditions of their desserts. One treat that stood out to us is the Serbian Vanilice jam sandwich cookie, a delightful bite-sized snack that combines soft vanilla cookies with a luscious jam filling. These cookies are not only a popular holiday treat but also a wonderful addition to any gathering.
In our journey to replicate this beloved recipe, we discovered that making Vanilice is both fun and rewarding.
With simple ingredients like flour, sugar, and vanilla, these cookies are easy to prepare. We can create a delicious dessert that brings a taste of Serbia into our kitchen, ideal for sharing with friends and family.
Join us as we explore the step-by-step process of making these delightful cookies. We’ll share tips and tricks that we learned along the way, ensuring that your Vanilice turn out perfectly every time!\
Why You’ll Love This Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies Recipe
When we think about special treats, Serbian Vanilice stand out. These cookies are not just delicious; they bring a taste of tradition into our homes.
The soft texture of the cookies paired with the sweet jam filling creates a delightful experience. Each bite melts in our mouths, making them hard to resist.
Making these cookies can be a fun activity. We can gather our friends or family and bake together. The process of rolling the dough and cutting out the shapes can bring everyone closer.
Key Features
- Simple Ingredients: We use basic ingredients that we often have at home.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a holiday or a casual gathering, these cookies fit right in.
- Customization: We can choose our favorite jam flavor, like apricot or raspberry.
These cookies look beautiful too. Dusted with powdered sugar, they have a charming appearance that makes them perfect for sharing.
We can prepare them ahead of time, allowing them to develop their flavors. This makes them a great option for planning parties or gatherings.
We love how these cookies bring a touch of Serbian culture to our table. It’s a simple way to experience something new and share it with others.
What Makes This Recipe Special
When we think about Serbian Vanilice, there are a few things that make this recipe stand out.
First, the soft jam filling adds a sweet and tangy flavor. It perfectly complements the vanilla cookies.
The cookies themselves are light and airy. Made with simple ingredients, they create a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
We also love that these cookies are rolled in powdered sugar. This gives them a lovely finish and makes them even more delightful to eat.
Another special aspect is their tradition. Vanilice cookies are often made for holidays, family gatherings, and special occasions. They connect us to Serbian culture and history.
These cookies are also quite versatile. We can use different types of jam, like apricot or raspberry, to change the flavor. This lets us personalize each batch to our taste.
Lastly, making Vanilice is a fun activity. We can gather friends or family to help out. It’s a rewarding experience to see everyone enjoy the cookies we made together.
With each bite, we share more than just a treat; we share memories and joy.
Cooking Equipment Needed
To make Serbian Vanilice cookies, we will need some basic kitchen tools. Here’s what we should gather:
- Mixing Bowls: We need a large bowl for mixing the dough and a smaller one for coating the finished cookies.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: Accurate measurements are key to our cookie success, so let’s have these handy.
- Rolling Pin: This will help us roll out the dough to the right thickness.
- Cookie Cutters: A round cutter about 1 3/4 inches in diameter is perfect for shaping our cookies.
- Baking Trays: We will need two trays, lined with baking paper, to hold our cookie halves.
- Spatula: This tool helps us move the cookies without breaking them.
- Pastry Knife: Great for mixing shortening and sugar evenly.
- Sieve or Sifter: For dusting powdered sugar over the finished cookies.
With these tools ready, we will be set to enjoy making delicious Vanilice cookies together!
Cooking Instructions
Let’s get started on making our delicious Vanilice cookies!
- Prepare the Dough
In a large bowl, we combine 1 cup of shortening and 1/2 cup of sugar. We mix this with a pastry knife until it looks crumbly. Next, we add 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, then mix until smooth. - Add the Flour
Gradually, we work in 2 cups of flour. We knead until the dough is stiff, similar to pie dough. It’s important to ensure it’s not too sticky. - Roll and Cut
We dust our work surface with flour and roll out the dough to about 1/8 inch thick. Using a 1 3/4-inch cookie cutter, we cut out rounds. - Bake
We preheat our oven to 180°C (350°F). Place the cookie rounds on a lined baking tray. Bake them for about 10-12 minutes or until they are lightly golden. - Cool and Fill
After baking, we let the cookies cool completely. Then, we spread a layer of jam on one cookie and sandwich it with another. Dust the top with powdered sugar for a sweet finish.
Enjoy our tasty Vanilice cookies!
Cooking Tips
Making Serbian Vanilice can be fun and rewarding! Here are some tips to help us along the way.
1. Dough Consistency:
We want the dough to be stiff, similar to pie dough. If it’s too sticky, add a little more flour.
2. Rolling Out the Dough:
When rolling, keep the surface well-floured. This prevents the dough from sticking. Aim for a thickness of about 1/8 inch for the best results.
3. Cookie Cutting:
Using a 1 3/4-inch cookie cutter helps us get even shapes. If we don’t have one, the rim of a glass works too!
4. Jam Filling:
We can use apricot jam, but feel free to try other jams if we like. Just spread 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon on each cookie for a tasty layer.
5. Sugar Coating:
After assembling the cookies, dip them in powdered sugar. This adds sweetness and a nice look.
6. Baking Temperature:
Preheat the oven to 180°C (about 350°F). This ensures our cookies bake evenly.
7. Cooling:
Let the cookies cool completely before serving. This allows the jam to set better.
Ingredients For the Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies Recipe Recipe
Butter, softened unsalted
Granulated Sugar
Lemon Juice
Egg
Egg Yolks
Vanilla Sugar
Salt
Vanilla Extract
Walnuts, ground
Flour
Cooking Instructions For the Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies Recipe Recipe
Cream the sugar and butter together in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand mixer until creamy. To make sure all of the butter is mixed in, scrape along the sides and bottom of the basin.
Add the whole egg and egg yolks to the butter and sugar, whisking until combined, and then mix in the lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and vanilla sugar. For one to two minutes, mix with the stand mixture until all the ingredients are combined.
At this stage, turn off the mixer and use a spatula instead. Turn the mixture into a thick batter by adding the walnuts and stirring. After all of the walnuts have been mixed in, add the flour and use your hands to form the dough into a uniformly soft ball.
The dough should be chilled for at least two hours, or until it is fully cold, after being placed in a plastic bag or on a piece of plastic wrap.
Once the dough is fully cold, remove it from the refrigerator and prepare the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). Put parchment paper on a baking pan and set it aside.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick. Cut out small circular pieces with a cookie cutter, shot glass, or small cup. I get roughly 40 biscuits in a shot glass, which is the size I prefer for rakija.
FAQ For the Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies Recipe
Question: What ingredients are needed for the Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies recipe?
A: The Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies recipe requires flour, butter, powdered sugar, egg yolks, vanilla extract, walnuts, and jam for filling. The dough is rolled, cut into small circles, baked until lightly golden, and sandwiched with jam before dusting with powdered sugar.
Question: How do you make the dough for the Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies recipe?
A: To make the dough for the Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies recipe, mix softened butter with powdered sugar until creamy. Add egg yolks, vanilla extract, and ground walnuts before gradually incorporating flour to form a smooth dough. Chill before rolling and cutting into small rounds.
Question: What type of jam is best for the Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies recipe?
A: The Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies recipe traditionally uses apricot or rose hip jam for filling. The jam should be slightly warmed for easy spreading and provide a balance of sweetness and tartness to complement the buttery cookies.
Question: How long should Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies be baked?
A: The Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies recipe requires baking the cookies at 350°F (175°C) for about 10–12 minutes. The cookies should remain pale with only a slight golden tint on the edges for a soft and delicate texture.
Question: How should Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies be stored?
A: The Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies recipe suggests storing the cookies in an airtight container for up to a week. Allowing them to sit for a day enhances their texture as they absorb moisture from the jam, making them even more tender.
Serbian Vanilice Jam Sandwich Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 sticks Butter softened unsalted
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 cup Lemon Juice
- 1 Egg
- 2 Egg Yolks
- 1 tbsp Vanilla Sugar
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 1/2 cups Walnuts ground
- 4 1/2 cups Flour
Instructions
- Cream the sugar and butter together in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand mixer until creamy. To make sure all of the butter is mixed in, scrape along the sides and bottom of the basin.
- Add the whole egg and egg yolks to the butter and sugar, whisking until combined, and then mix in the lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and vanilla sugar. For one to two minutes, mix with the stand mixture until all the ingredients are combined.
- At this stage, turn off the mixer and use a spatula instead. Turn the mixture into a thick batter by adding the walnuts and stirring. After all of the walnuts have been mixed in, add the flour and use your hands to form the dough into a uniformly soft ball.
- The dough should be chilled for at least two hours, or until it is fully cold, after being placed in a plastic bag or on a piece of plastic wrap.
- Once the dough is fully cold, remove it from the refrigerator and prepare the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). Put parchment paper on a baking pan and set it aside.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick. Cut out small circular pieces with a cookie cutter, shot glass, or small cup. I get roughly 40 biscuits in a shot glass, which is the size I prefer for rakija.
Nutrition
