Traditional recipes can be passed down from generation to generation, or it can simply be the food we grew up with. Homemade Newfoundland Jam Jams are both! They are eaten year round in Newfoundland, but to me, they always taste better at Christmastime. There is nothing that can beat this homestyle molasses and jam sandwich cookie - no exception!
In a mixing bowl, use a hand-held mixer to cream together the brown sugar and the butter until light and fluffy.
Add the egg and beat into the butter mixture.
Next, beat in the molasses.
Add the flour, salt, and baking powder. Beat into the butter and molasses mixture just until incorporated.
Wrap dough well in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
On a lightly floured surface, roll the cookie dough to 1/4 inch thick. Use a round cookie cutter, about 2 inches in diameter, to cut out the cookies.
Cut another circle right in the middle of every second cookie. I like to use one of the tips from my cake decorating tools for this.
Transfer 6 whole cookies and 6 cookies with a hole in the middle to a baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes.
Remove from oven immediately flip the whole cookies over with a spatula. You want the flat side facing up.
Spoon about two teaspoons of jam onto each whole cookie and spread it out, but not to the edge.
Place one cookie with the hole in the middle onto the top of each cookie that has been smeared with jam. Press down gently to seal.
Place the cookies back into the oven for 3 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool.
Once cooled, I dusted half of the cookies with confectioner's sugar. This is completely optional. It just creates some contrast and adds to the look and feel of Christmas.