Terrassen - a German Jam-filled Cookie

My mother-in-law introduced me to Terrassen- a German jam-filled cookie - long before I married her son. And as wonderful as my husband is, this cookie might have been a swaying factor in my decision to marry him! I jest, of course, but of all the myriads of cookies she makes each holiday season, this is the one that I'm most fond of. She learned to make it in their family bakery in Badwindsheim, Germany, many years ago. Tante Tilde and Onkel Fritz owned it and my husband remembers visiting, being given a sack of candy from the beautiful displays and playing basketball in the large mixer.

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Can Terrassen be made gluten-free?

Through various health issues in our family, many of us eat gluten free and I thought I would never enjoy Terrassen again. We went through phases of "grain-free" as well and my efforts to replicate these with almond flour and other flours just didn't pan out. I was really sad and irritated! While I continue to limit grains, I no longer completely eliminate them so I tried this recipe with King Arthur's 1:1 Gluten Free Blend … and met with success!! Bob's Red Mill 1:1 also works well.

Additionally, I also limit refined sugar so my baking has taken an expected turn over the last few years. However, once in a while, the real deal is called for. Organic cane sugar rather than white refined is my choice and I enjoy the result.

To be sure, this cookie owes much, if not all, of its lusciousness to the amount of butter required. There's lots! But it produces a beautiful, soft, delicious dough that is better than shortbread or sugar cookies.

My mother-in-law's instructions left me with questions!

When my mother-in-law finally taught me how to make the cookies (about 10 years after I married her son!), she had no written recipe. After I got the ingredients out, her first instruction was, "Dump some flour on the counter, then mix a skimpy bit of sugar and baking powder." I looked at her with wide eyes and said, "How MUCH flour?! What does skimpy mean?!" She proceeded to "dump" and I proceeded to "scoop" it up into a measuring cup so I would know how much it was. She was very tolerant. And that is how we have a measured recipe.

My Terrassen method

Instead of "dumping" ingredients on the counter, I use the food processor. I
put the flour, sugar, and baking powder in the bowl of a food processor, pulse it a bit, then add the egg and pulse it again until it is all incorporated. Then I cut the cold butter into cubes, put it on top of the flour mixture, then run the processor until it forms a dough.

It will come together reluctantly, but stay persistent. If you can squeeze it together and it sticks, that's what you want. It will still look "scraggy" {look at me using words like my mother-in-law!}. But as you work with it, knead it a bit, roll it out, etc … the sugar will incorporate and it will smooth out and be soft and beautiful.

I usually work with a small amount of dough at a time and I roll it on my cutting board because I have granite tile and I tire of cleaning the grout! So I cut it in half or quarters and tuck a damp towel over the part I'm not working with.

Rolling the Terrassen dough

My mother-in-law tells me I roll the dough too thick. She doesn't approve. However, I like them softer rather than crispy and after she purses her lips and rolls her eyes to beat any teenager, she eats them. "Whatever. Whatever you want to do!"

As I roll, I cut as many top cookies as I do base cookies for each baking sheet so that at the end of the dough, I have an equal number of both. You don't have to space them out that much on the baking sheet because they don't spread out very much.

I always line the cooling racks with paper towels because of sprinkling the tops with powdered sugar. Remember that tile granite that I have and don't like to clean? I use a small strainer to sprinkle it liberally.

My mother-in-law has traditionally used seedless currant jelly for filling the Terrassen, but it can be difficult to find. You can make it yourself, of course, but again, currants THEMSELVES can be difficult to find. SO … I give you permission to do what I do and use seedless raspberry jelly. Melt it down again, either in the microwave or in a small pan on the stove. Spoon it carefully onto the base cookies, then carefully place the sugared tops on.

My mother-in-law and I usually make these at Christmas using a circle cutter. I've expanded the tradition to Valentine's and heart shapes ... because we deserve to have this deliciousness more than one time a year! These cookies will keep quite a long time even though they have so much butter! Just store them in a cool spot. A tin in a winter garage, a cool pantry, basement, or refrigerator all work just fine.

I often make these cookies as gifts for my neighbors for Christmas and/or Valentine's and I usually get texts with their appreciation. Sometimes I even get a treat from them in return!

Other sweets you might enjoy:

• Sugar and Spice Pecans
• Gluten-free Cranberry Orange Muffins
• Old Fashioned Carrot Cookies

Recipe