Apple Heart Cookies

Apple heart cookies are delicious little treats that are perfect for a wholesome snack or to accompany a cup of tea. Here is a recipe inspired by Italian tradition:

Ingredients

• 300g of flour
• 100g of sugar
• 150g of cold butter, cubed
• 1 egg
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• Apple jam (or apple compote)
• Icing sugar for decoration (optional)

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, sift the flour with the baking powder and a pinch of salt. Add the cinnamon to give a spiced aroma to the cookies.
2. Add the cold butter, cut into cubes, and begin to work with the tips of your fingers to obtain a crumbly mixture.
3. Make a well in the center and put the sugar and the egg. Knead until you get a soft and uniform ball of shortcrust pastry.
4. Wrap the dough in cling film and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
6. Roll out the shortcrust pastry on a floured surface until it reaches a thickness of about 3-4 mm.
7. With a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out the cookies. On half of the hearts, cut out another, smaller heart in the center to create a “window” effect after baking.
8. Arrange the cookies on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, keeping the full hearts separate from the “window” hearts.
9. Bake in the oven for about 10-15 minutes or until golden.
10. Let the cookies cool on a wire rack.

Assembly:

1. Spread a light amount of apple jam on each full cookie.
2. Place the cookies with the “window” heart on top, pressing lightly to make them stick.
3. If desired, dust the cookies with icing sugar for a snowy effect.

Curiosity

In Italy, heart-shaped sweets are a popular choice to celebrate Valentine’s Day or other romantic occasions. These cookies are a way to share love through a simple but affectionate gesture, and the apple jam makes them irresistible to lovers of fruity notes.

Remember that you can personalize the recipe by choosing your favorite jam or adding spices such as nutmeg or cloves for an extra touch. And if you don’t have jam available, you could also cook some apples cut into small pieces with a bit of sugar and lemon to create a homemade filling!