CHEESY THUMBPRINT COOKIES WITH BOURBON TOMATO JAM { SAVORY COOKIES }

A savory twist on your classic jam-filled sweet thumbprint cookie – Savory Cheese Thumbprint Cookies with Bourbon Tomato Jam are truly the PERFECT party appetizer. These Savory Cookies are insanely flavorful, easy to make and vegetarian!

But I’d recommend the jam though. I filled these up with an amazingly flavorful tomato jam that incorporates garlic and a few spices and then kicked it up with bourbon! Bourbon folks. Does it not scream PARTY APPETIZER??

Cheesy Thumbprint Cookies with Bourbon Tomato Jam { Savory Cookies }

SERVINGS: 
28 -32 COOKIES

AUTHOR: 
DINI FROM THE FLAVOR BENDER

INGREDIENTS

• SAVORY CHEESY THUMBPRINT COOKIES
• 8 oz / 225g unsalted butter softened
• 3.5 oz / 100g white cheddar cheese grated
• 3.5 oz / 100g monterey jack cheese grated
• 1 deseeded jalapeno finely chopped
• 1 large rosemary sprig leaves only, finely chopped
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 0.9 oz / 25g white sugar
• 1 small egg
• 6.7 oz / 190g AP flour
• 5.3 oz / 150g semolina

BOURBON AND TOMATO JAM

• 1 lb cherry tomatoes halved
• 5.3 oz / 150g sugar
• 5 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• Up to 1 tbsp chilli flakes/crushed red pepper optional - but recommended
• 1 large clove of garlic minced about 1 tsp minced garlic
• 2 oz diced white/yellow sweet onion
• A pinch of cumin
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 3 tbsp bourbon

INSTRUCTIONS


SAVORY CHEESY THUMBPRINT COOKIES

1. Chop the grated cheese roughly and mix it with the rosemary and jalapeno. Alternatively, you can grate the cheese using your food processor, and add the deseeded jalapeno and rosemary leaves, and process finely. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, place the softened the butter, sugar and salt and cream it together using a whisk/spatula or wooden spoon. Add the cheese-herb mix and mix it through using a spatula or wooden spoon.
3. Add the egg and mix it in until well incorporated in the dough.
4. In a separate bowl, mix the flour and semolina together. Add this in two batches to the butter-cheese mix and mix it to form a dough. You may need to use your hands (well-floured) to bring the dough together. Cover and chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes until the oven has preheated.
5. Preheat oven to 350°F / 180°C. Line two cookie trays with parchment paper.
6. Make 1 ½ inch round dough balls and place them on the cookie tray with about 2 inches of space between each (I placed 14 cookies on each tray).
7. Create a deep well/imprint in each dough ball using a moistened thumb/finger.
8. Fill each well generously with bourbon tomato jam (recipe below).
9. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Switch the position of the two trays in your oven half way through baking (please see note). The cookies should be golden on the bottom and light-golden on top.
10. Remove from the oven and let them cool slightly. Serve.
11. If you're storing the cookies, DO NOT STACK (the jam will stick to the bottom of the cookies).

BOURBON TOMATO JAM

1. Mix all the ingredients except for the bourbon in a saucepan. Bring the mix to a boil on medium-heat, while stirring to dissolve the sugar. Once the mix has come to a boil, increase the heat to keep it at a boil.
2. Let the mixture boil while stirring and gently crushing the tomatoes with a spoon as they soften. After about 5 minutes of cooking time, add the bourbon and mix through.
3. The mixture should keep cooking until the liquid has become syrupy and thick. The time depends on the heat of your stove, and how much liquid is present in the tomatoes. The end product will resemble preserves with tomato pieces in it.
4. These can be stored in mason jars until needed (makes enough for 1 ½ batches of these cookies).

RECIPE NOTES


NOTE - My oven isn’t great at handling two baking levels, so I had to bake these in two batches. Know how your oven works, and bake the two trays together or separately.