I discovered cassis the year I lived in France. I’m not sure what turned me on to it, but it was a very common flavor there at the time. I haven’t been back in 17 years, so I don’t know how times have changed. But, in 1992, tea, jam, sodas, and candies were all commonly offered in cassis flavor.
To English speakers, we’re talking about black currants.
A few months ago I found cassis jam from Switzerland on markdown at my local grocery store. It was being discontinued and offered at a fair price. So, I must confess, I cleared the shelf.
We’ve been enjoying the jam with petit dejeuner. But, I thought that the jam would be delicious on thumbprint cookies. I thought right. I took my traditional-only-really-make-it-at-Christmas thumbprint recipe and subbed quick oats for the nuts. In this way, I made it nut-free for my girlie.
These are really tasty cookies and they freeze well. Feel free to use your favorite jam to fill them.
Recipe: Oatmeal Thumbprint Cookies with Cassis Jam
Adapted from Cookies & Biscotti
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 cup flour
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup quick oats
- cassis jam
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°. In the bowl of a food processor, combine butter and brown sugar. Pulse until blended. Add vanilla and egg yolk. Blend until smooth. Add flour, salt, and quick oats. Pulse until blended.
- Roll dough into walnut-sized balls. Arrange on a baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Press your thumb into the center of each cookie, making a depression.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Fill depressions with small spoonful of the jam. Bake for another 10 minutes or until golden. Cool the cookies on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container, separating the layers with waxed or parchment paper. Can be frozen.
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I love blackcurrant jam! I ate it a lot as a kid in England, also drank blackcurrant juice which is very popular in England. Yum, I’m glad you reminded me, I’m going to have to see if I can get some in Germany to make these 🙂
I’ve never tried black current jam, but this has certainly piqued my interest. I’ve just started my holiday baking, so I’ll add this to my list if I can find it in the store. Thanks!
I’ve never had currant jam but they look delicious! Thanks!
ooh yum! I’ve only had black currants in a deli turkey and almond salad before but I can imagine they’d be delectable in a jam!
cassis is still popular in france. 🙂 at least in 2006 and 2008! yum!
Have you tried making these with flax instead of the egg yolk? I may experiment with them today. I don’t have cassis – but I do have a jar of lingonberry jam I found on clearance that might work.
@Eileen, I haven’t tried that yet. Let me know how it turns out!
I have some extra homemade black raspberry jam in my fridge that I was looking for a recipe to use. This sounds like the perfect use for it. Thanks!