Vampire Cookies

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup red jam (raspberry or strawberry)

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 325°F.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light.

3. 3

   Beat in egg and extracts.

4. 4

   Add flour and salt to the bowl and mix them into the butter-sugar mixture at low speed until dough is just combined.

5. 5

   Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

6. 6

   Divide dough in half and keep the portion you are not using in the refrigerator.

7. 7

   Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface until it is about 1/8-inch thick.

8. 8

   Use a cookie cutter to cut out 2-inch rounds.

9. 9

   Place rounds on a baking sheet, put a teaspoon of jam on each of them and cover with another round of dough. Press edges down lightly, pinching the edges onto the cookie sheet.

10. 10

    Use a toothpick and poke two small holes (like a vampire bite) in the top of each cookie.

11. 11

    Bake for 10-12 minutes, until cookies are set.

12. 12

    Cool for about 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

13. 13

    Dip a toothpick in some extra red jam and re-insert in the “bite” holes you made before baking to emphasize them, if not already red. Draw a blood trickle down from one of the bites with the jam, if desired.

14. 14

    Cookies are best the day they are made.