Ingredients:
For the Biscuit Dough:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)
For the Filling:
- Your favorite fruit jam or preserves
Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the Biscuit Dough:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.
3. Add Cold Butter:
- Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Mix in Egg:
- Add the egg and the pure vanilla extract (if using) to the mixture. Stir until the dough comes together. You may need to use your hands to knead the dough gently for a few seconds.
5. Roll Out the Dough:
- On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
6. Cut Biscuit Rounds:
- Use a biscuit cutter to cut out rounds. You can also use a round glass if you don’t have a biscuit cutter. Press straight down without twisting to get clean edges.
7. Create the Filling Wells:
- Use a smaller round cutter or the back of a piping tip to create a small well in the center of half of the biscuit rounds. These will be the tops of your jam biscuits.
8. Assemble the Biscuits:
- Place the rounds without wells (the bottoms) on the prepared baking sheet. Spoon a small amount of fruit jam or preserves into the well of each top biscuit.
9. Top with Cutouts:
- Carefully place the biscuit rounds with wells (the tops) on top of the jam-filled bottoms, sealing the edges together.
10. Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 10-15 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked through.
11. Cool:
- Allow the jam biscuits to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
12. Enjoy your homemade jam biscuits! They are perfect for breakfast, snacks, or as a sweet treat with a cup of tea or coffee.