Jammie Dodgers Cookies
Jammie Dodgers cookies (biscuits for my U.K. family) are iconic, round, British shortbread biscuits/cookies with a heart-shaped cut-out in the center, sandwiched with raspberry jam. They are similar to the Austrian Linzer, except they are not finished with a sprinkling of powdered/confectioners sugar as Linzers are.”
These iconic biscuits consist of two cookies sandwiched together with a sweet. A bit of a cross between a sugar cookie and shortbread. With a fruity jam filling peeking through a heart-shaped hole in the top cookie. The hole can be round, but hear-shaped is traditional.
Jammie Dodgers Cookies were originally made popular in the Beano comics by the character ‘Roger the Dodger’ and more recently in the Dr. Who series. Jammie Dodgers are also a favorite of Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe.
Are they called Jammie Dodger or Jammy Dodger?
Burton’s Biscuits is the originator and current producer of the Jammie Dodger this is how they spell it.
They have not changed since I was a child and really were my favorite growing up in England.
Even today, they are still one of the most popular sweet treat for kids and adults alike. The fun part for me as a kid was, the jam oozes through the heart shaped cutout in the top cookie and, like many children do, I always licked the jam out of the hole first.
A cute Valentine’s Day Cookie
Speaking of the heart, these cookies serve double duty. As well as being a little part of history, they also naturally become popular around Valentine’s Day.
When I make them at home, after cutting out the heart shape from the center of the cookie, I bake the little hearts too and eat them as a chefs treat while still warm (see pic below).
A National favorite for over 50 years, the Jammie Dodger got its name from another childhood favorite of mine, the Beano comic books. Inspired by the character Roger the Dodger (because he liked to dodge his chores and homework, his real name is Roger Dawson).
In a sealed container at room temperature for 2-3 days.
So back to the biscuits. To achieve a likeness to the original, I used a fluted 2 1/2-inch (6 cm) cookie cutter and a heart mini fondant cut-out tool.
Although this final step may seem trivial, adding just the right amount of jam/jelly is important as it finishes these Jammies nicely. I like to spread the jam thinner at the edges and thicker in the center. Doing it this way ensures that once you add the cookie with the heart cut-out, the jam rises up perfectly through the hole! Don’t add too much, or it will get messy.
This recipe yields 24 sandwich cookies.
If you’ve made these Jammie Dodgers Cookies or any other recipe, please leave a comment below. I love to hear from my readers!
More cookie recipes:
Jammie Dodgers Cookies
A British shortbread cookie sandwiched with raspberry jam.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces/1 cup (227 grams) butter unsalted, softened to room temperature
- ⅔ cup (130 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups (356 grams) all-purpose flour * more accurate when measure in grams
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (64 grams) raspberry jam
Instructions
- Add the butter and sugar to a stand mixer or mixing bowl. Beat until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla. Add the eggs and mix until well combined.
- To a separate bowl, mix the flour, and salt together. Add ⅓ of the flour to the butter and mix. Repeat with another ⅓. Continue like this until all flour is incorporated, until it resembles large buttery crumbles.
- Using your hands (coat in flour so dough doesn’t stick), press the dough together until it becomes a ball. Cut the dough in half.
- Place a piece of plastic wrap onto your surface and place half of the dough onto he plastic and flatten (this while help when it comes time to roll it out) and wrap. Repeat with the other half and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. You can also refrigerate overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350°F/176°C.
- Place a large piece of baking paper/parchment paper onto your work surface. Dust lightly and spread with your hand. Place the dough on top of the floured paper. Dust the other piece with flour and place flour-side down on dough. Roll out the dough to ¼-inch (6 mm) thick. It will be hard to roll at first, wait a few minutes until it is easier to roll. The dough will become softer and stickier and harder to handle the more it comes to room temperature so roll out as quickly as you can. Once rolled out, refrigerate for a few minutes. This will make the dough easier to cut and handle.
- Use a 2 ½-inch/6 cm fluted cookie cutter, dip in flour, then cut out the cookies. Use a thin spatula to remove and place on a parchment covered baking sheet evenly apart. Use a small heart-shaped cutter and cut a heart in the center of half of the cookies. The dough will soften and become sticky as it comes to room temperature, so try and work quickly. You can also refrigerate as needed. Depending on the size of your baking pan, you may need to work in batches. Refrigerate when not using the dough.
- Bake 12-15 minutes until they start to turn golden brown on the edges but the tops are still pale. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the pan for 2 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, take a cookie without a heart and spread ¼ teaspoon of jam with more in the center than the edges this way it will rise up through the heart. Top with a heart cut-out cookie.
Nutrition Information
Yield
18Serving Size
1 cookieAmount Per Serving Calories 68Total Fat 1gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 21mgSodium 38mgCarbohydrates 13gFiber 0gSugar 1gProtein 2g
This nutrition calculation is provided by Nutronix that is only a guideline and not intended for any particular diet.
39 Comments on “Jammie Dodgers Cookies”
I love these cookies! So buttery like shortbread. Just like the recipe says, the dough needs special handling, but once you get the hang of it, they’re fantastic. Make sure you use a really good jam (or preserves) I used fresh raspberry preserves from Trader Joe’s.
Fantastic! I’m so happy you liked them. I’ll give the Trader Joe’s preserves a try
I will be using store-bought raspberry jam. Should i strain the seeds?
Your choice. I prefer without.
My daughter requested these (mind you I’m not a baker by any means) and they turned out really well. Dad scored points that day
Awww, I’m so glad.
Hi! I saw these on the Great British Baking show. They put buttercream in the middle under the jam. Is that a regional thing? I’ve never seen linzers or dodgers with buttercream before that episode.
Love your blog! Happy Anniversary!
I have not seen buttercream used in Jammie Dodgers, maybe it was just something for the show. Thank you for visiting.
Cookies were hard as a rock! So disappointed. Definitely did not overlook them, they look pretty and are still light in color but just absolute bricks.
You may have overworked the dough and this caused too much gluten in the flour that can make the dough tough.
My first time trying and these and they turned out great, buttery and good. Family is requesting again.
It’s ok that it is not crumbly, you are looking for the dough to come together in a buttery dough ball. If you do refrigerate, the butter will harden so you’ll need to let it soften a little before rolling.
How long can these be stored in the fridge after making?
They are a shortbread cookie and they can typically last in a well sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days. I would say up to 10 days refrigerated.
I have just followed the instructions to make these. But it says 2 large eggs in the ingredients but no mention of them on the method. I have left them out. Hoping they turn out ok! X
Oh no, yes, they need to be mixed in with the butter and sugar. I don’t know why that step is not showing for you.
Hi,
Thank you for your reply. I can’t see where it says eggs. I didn’t see the video either. I’m on my phone rather than the laptop so it may be missing some bits out for me!
I was just telling my daughter the other day about these cookies from when I was growing up in NW England and I Googled and found your recipe. I made them for her this weekend and she loved them, as did I. Thank you for sharing this lovely recipe.
What a nice story, thank you for sharing and choosing my recipe.
How many cookies can be made with those measurement?
The recipe yields 18 cookies.
These look amazing! I love cookies with jams and some kind of filling. Thanks for linking up!
These cookies look almost to cute to eat..almost! 🙂 Love the heart middle, it’s just perfect! All month long I am featuring different holiday cookie creations for my cookie countdown to Christmas!
Those cookies are truly a work of art!!
No wonder I missed this, I was in Scotland! Love that these look so similar to Jammie Dodgers…my daughter loves them too. Happy anniversary, a bit late!
Congrats!!! What a year it has been for your! You have done some amazing work and has some of the greatest recipes I have seen. This Jammie Dodger Cookies look so easy to make and very delicious.
Happy Anniversary! The cookies look amazing!!
Happy blogiversary! These are so cute – your version looks amazing!
These are my favorite cookies and they look delicious! I usually make them for Christmas 🙂 Happy Blogiversary 🙂
Happy one year Blogiversary. Love jam filled cookies like these.
First, Congratulations! Secondly, your cookies are prettier than the original and I’m willing to bet they taste better, too. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and for this recipe. I’m pinning it now!
These biscuits bring back so many fond memories 🙂
Happy Blog Birthday!! So nice to have discovered you on the Weekend Re-Treat… Lovely Jammie Dodgers…
Happy blogiversary, Janette!! Your biscuits look EXACTLY like the ones we have in NZ! I LOVE these. These were always my childhood favorite too. Looking forward to making these 🙂
So cute! My mom used to make cookies like this when I was a kid too. Thanks for the recipe! I can’t wait to try it. Pinned for later.
Congratulations and Happy 1st Birthday. Your cookies look fantastic! All the best Janette!
Happy 1 year, Culinary Ginger! 🙂 I love these cookies… they sound so delicious, and the name is the best name of any recipe, ever. Jammie Dodgers???? Rock my world. These are gorgeous AND catchy!
Wow, beautiful cookies! I wish a happy 1st Anniversary and many more to come. Have a good day! 🙂
These are one of my favourite cookies, Janette, and I love your recipe! Wishing you a very happy 1st Anniversary. October marks my 12th year so I’m feeling very old 🙂