sometimes my family does this thing at holiday parties where we unwrap a block of cream cheese, pour jam over it, and then serve it with crackers. it is the most shameless and stress-free and yummy appetizer. really any jam works, i have some family members that are prone to jalapeño jam, which adds a spicy element to the already sweet/savory situation. i prefer a simple berry jam. 

so you know what i occasionally say? if it ain't broke, fix it anyway. so i put this fun little appetizer into cookie form, which would be fit for both an appetizer table and a dessert table. once prepared, it requires no such assembly as spreading it onto a cracker... so you have more available hands for steadying the champagne glass... and you won't get sticky fingers.

dears, that is a win win win win winnnn situation.

jam + cheese thumbprints

makes about 20 cookies

ingredients

1 c all-purpose flour

1/3 c shredded parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

4 oz cream cheese

1 stick unsalted butter

2 tb sugar

1 egg

1/2 c jam

clues

in a food processor, pulse together flour, parmesan cheese, salt, and baking powder, until the cheese has a mealy consistency. 

in a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together the cream cheese, butter, and sugar, until light and fluffy. beat in the egg, and then add the dry ingredients.

when the mixture becomes a dough, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate over night.

preheat oven to 375 and line a baking sheet with parchment.

roll dough into tablespoon sized balls (coat your hands in flour if the dough is sticky). poke finger or thumbprint divits into the balls and then fill with a bit of jam. an easy way to do this is by piping it out through a ziploc bag.

bake for 10-15 minutes, until the bottoms are slightly browned.

enjoy in your snazziest cocktail dress!

-yeh!

this post was sponsored by betty crocker as part of her red hot holiday trends party. click here for some other holiday ideas from my awesome fellow betty bloggers!