Spitzbuben

These were the main cookies Mama made at home.  She didn't use a recipe.  All I remember is that she used flour, butter, egg, sugar, and, probably, some vanilla.  She made her own currant jelly and always used that as the filling.  After looking at numerous recipes that just don't match what she used, I've put together what I think is closest.  This could be made with other jellies and could be sprinkled with confectioner's sugar, but I wanted the taste of home.

                                                       Spitzbuben

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1-1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 tsp. salt
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup currant jelly or other jelly or jam

In mixer bowl, beat butter and sugar until light.  Beat in egg, vanilla and salt.  Gradually add flour.

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill about an hour in the refrigerator.  Roll out 1/2 at a time to about 1/8 inch thick.

Use about a 2-1/2 inch cookie cutter to cut the dough into rounds.  Use a very small cutter and cut the center out of half of the cookies. (I have a doughnut cutter that has a removable center that I use.) The scraps can be rerolled and cut out.  Place the cookies on ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 375 deg. for 6 to 8 minutes until they just begin to brown lightly at the edges.  Let them cool a couple minutes on the sheets and remove to racks.  Use about 1/2 tsp. warmed jelly or jam on each solid round and place a cookie with the hole on top to make little cookie sandwiches.  Let the cookies cool until the jelly sets.

How about that new apron the cookies are sitting on??  I picked that up at IKEA this weekend.