Apricot Sugar Cookie Pies, for a Little Taste of Something Sweet in Summer

Fresh out of the oven, nothing smells more buttery and sweet than soft-baked sugar cookies. But apricot sugar cookie pies filled with wonderfully sweet and tangy apricot preserves…? Now that sounds like the perfect summer season sweet treat to offer up!

I simply adore the uncomplicated, sweet, buttery, and soft nature of a delicious little sugar cookie.

Nothing beats the warm, vanilla-infused delectable aroma as it gently wafts out of the oven when the cookies bake, making its way through the kitchen and into every room until the whole house is perfumed with sweet, sugary goodness.

Who can resist?

The tender, delicate and pale-golden sugar cookie is a wonderful partner to a cold glass of milk. (I happen to love unsweetened vanilla almond milk!)

In my mind, sugar cookie dough is sorta the “foundational” cookie dough; a dough in its purest form, before all sorts of other scrumptious bells and whistles are added in.

And speaking of bells and whistles, I love being inspired by the colors and flavors of other seasonal sweet things; and when added to a simple sugar cookie, they make it a little more dressed up and unique, and ready for the season.

Fragrant apricots are one of my favorite fruits of the warm months, and I love being able to make my own quick and easy apricot jam once the fruit is very ripe, juicy and sweet; but until then, I don’t mind at all substituting a good quality and not-too-sweet apricot preserve when I’m looking for that slightly tangy and gloriously fruity accent perfect for a cookie.

Or in this case, shall I say a “cookie pie”?

These Apricot Cookie Pies are that wonderful little dessert that’s a cross between a cookie and a pie, and ideal for the vibrant summer season, when perhaps you’re looking for something a bit more delicate to have with your afternoon tea, or perhaps a picnic.

They remind me of sunlight and bright days, of breezes that carry the sweet scents of ripened fruit that tickle the taste buds.

They also remind me of all the pleasure that homemade desserts, prepared fresh with lots of love and care, can bring to both little kids and big alike.

So if a little taste of tangy and fragrant apricot jam layered between two soft and sweet sugar cookies entices your senses, then an Apricot Sugar Cookie Pie is the perfect portable dessert for you to nibble on and share that’ll give you that delicate and delicious flavor of summer!

Taste what’s good and pass it on.

Ingrid

Apricot Sugar Cookie Pies Filled with Apricot Preserves
by Ingrid Beer

Print Recipe

Yield: Makes about 14 cookie pies, or 28 individual cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temp
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• Zest of 1 medium lemon
• 1 egg, room temp
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup good-quality apricot preserves
• ¼ cup organic turbinado sugar (such as “Sugar in the Raw”, the bigger crystals)

Preparation:

-In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder to combine, and set these dry ingredients aside for a moment.

-To the bowl of a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter by itself for about 30 seconds to 1 minute; then, add in the sugar and the lemon zest, and continue creaming for another 2 minutes or so, or until the butter/sugar is fluffy.

-Add in the egg and continue to mix until that is incorporated, then add in the vanilla and mix that in.

-With the mixer off (or on very low), add in the dry ingredients and slowly mix those into until well-blended, but take care not to over-mix as to not create tough cookies; chill the dough for about 30 minutes to 1 hour.

-Preheat the oven to 350°, and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper or silicon baking mats (my preferred method).

-To make the cookies pies, scoop out 1 ounce-size portions of the dough and roll into balls, placing the balls onto the prepared baking sheets; then, take the dough balls and flatten them out between your palms making them into a fairly thin “disk” shape, and lay them back down on baking sheet.

-Spoon about 1 teaspoon’s worth of the apricot preserves into the center of the disk, then cover that with another disk of dough, pressing the edges together like you would a mini pie; using a fork, crimp the edges, and with a paring knife, create 4 little slits on top to resemble a pie; sprinkle with the turbinado sugar, and bake the cookie pies for about 13 minutes, until lightly golden along the edges and baked through.

-Allow to cool slightly, and serve slightly warm, or even room temp.