Sugarplum Shortbread Sandwich Cookies

Pair with Tozai Blossom of Peace

A festive treat that is sure to make anyone's holiday season a little brighter, especially with this unexpected pairing!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 1/4 cup finely ground raw almonds
• 1/3 cup can sugar
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 cup butter, cut in to small pieces
• Plum or other red fruit preserves

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 325˚. Combine all ingredients except butter in a stand mixer or heavy mixing bowl; combine thoroughly. Using paddle attachment for a stand mixer or a pastry cutter, mix in butter until fine crumbs form and the dough starts to come together. Remove from bowl and knead slightly on a floured work surface. Shape the dough into a disk and roll out to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut rounds from the dough, gathering scraps and re-rolling as needed, being sure to keep the work surface well-floured. Transfer the dough rounds to parchment-lined baking sheets. Using a smaller round cutter, cut a small window in the center of half of the dough rounds. Bake for 8-10 minutes until just barely starting to brown. Remove from oven and cool completely on baking sheets.
Using a small spoon, put about a teaspoon of plum preserves on the full cookies. Place the window cutouts on top, pressing down to adhere to create the sandwiches.