Jumbles

These traditional Jumbles are soft, chewy, and deeply flavored with warm spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. Unlike crisp cookies, these have a tender, cake-like texture that melts in your mouth. The richness of brown sugar and butter is perfectly balanced by a tangy grape jelly center, creating a delightful contrast in every bite. Ideal for holiday gatherings, afternoon tea, or as a nostalgic treat to share with family, these cookies evoke a sense of home-style comfort. They are easy to make from scratch using pantry staples and freeze beautifully for later enjoyment.

Cooking Method: Baking

Cuisine: Global

Courses: Desserts

Difficulty: Advanced

Servings: 12

Calories: 605.8

Dietary: Vegetarian

Description

These traditional Jumbles are soft, chewy, and deeply flavored with warm spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. Unlike crisp cookies, these have a tender, cake-like texture that melts in your mouth. The richness of brown sugar and butter is perfectly balanced by a tangy grape jelly center, creating a delightful contrast in every bite. Ideal for holiday gatherings, afternoon tea, or as a nostalgic treat to share with family, these cookies evoke a sense of home-style comfort. They are easy to make from scratch using pantry staples and freeze beautifully for later enjoyment.

Ingredients

1 cup Brown sugar
1/2 cup Butter or butter substitute
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 egg Large egg, well beaten
1/2 cup Sour milk (or buttermilk)
1 teaspoon Baking powder
1/4 teaspoon Baking soda
1/3 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 cup All-purpose flour
1/2 cup Grape jelly
as needed Additional flour for rolling

Directions

1
Preheat oven to 375F (190C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
3
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
4
In a separate small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
5
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the sour milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
6
Beat thoroughly until smooth, then stir in additional sifted flour as needed to form a soft, pliable dough.
7
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up.
8
Remove dough from fridge and turn onto a lightly floured surface.
9
Roll the dough out to a thickness of 1/2 inch.
10
Use a round cutter (about 2-3 inches in diameter) to cut out cookies, re-rolling scraps as needed.
11
Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
12
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden but centers remain soft.
13
Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
14
Spread grape jelly on the flat side of half of the cooled cookies.
15
Top with the remaining cookies, jelly-side down, to form sandwiches.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 12

Amount Per Serving
Calories 605.8kcal

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 33.0g51%
Saturated Fat 20.5g103%
Cholesterol 86.0mg29%
Sodium 310.5mg13%
Total Carbohydrate 80.3g27%
Dietary Fiber 0.9g4%
Sugars 78.7g
Protein 0.7g2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

For best texture, do not overbake the cookies; they should remain soft and chewy.

If sour milk is unavailable, mix 1/2 cup regular milk with 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar and let stand for 5 minutes.

Jelly can be substituted with apricot, raspberry, or strawberry preserves for a different flavor profile.

Store finished jumbles in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze for longer storage.

Ensure the dough is chilled before rolling to prevent sticking and maintain shape during baking.

Keywords: jumbles, cookies, gingerbread, jelly, spiced, soft, chewy, brown sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, holiday, traditional, tea time, sweet, baking

Read it online: https://www.chefs-mate.com/recipe/jumbles/