Ingredients:

For the dough:

• 250 g soft butter
• 100 g sugar
• 1 packet of vanilla sugar
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 egg
• 375 g flour

For the filling:

• 150 g fruity jam (e.g. raspberry or apricot)

For pollination:

• powdered sugar

Step-by-step instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the dough

1.1. In a large bowl, beat the soft butter with sugar, vanilla sugar and a pinch of salt until fluffy.

1.2. Add the egg and continue stirring until the mixture becomes creamy.

1.3. Gradually add the flour and knead into a smooth dough. Wrap the dough in cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Step 2: Form angel eyes

2.1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

2.2. Take the dough out of the fridge in portions and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about 3-5 mm.

2.3. Use a round cookie cutter or a glass to cut out circles and place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper.

2.4. Make a well in the center of each circle using a smaller cookie cutter or a spoon.

Step 3: Baking

3.1. Bake the prepared dough circles in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

3.2. Take the cookies out of the oven and let them cool briefly on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 4: Filling the angel eyes

4.1. Warm the jam slightly so that it is easier to fill into the cookie cavities.

4.2. Fill the cookie cavities with the warmed jam, being careful not to use too much so that the filling does not overflow.

Step 5: Dust with powdered sugar

5.1. Dust the cooled angel eyes generously with powdered sugar.

Tips for perfect angel eyes:

1. Butter temperature:

• Make sure that the butter for the dough is really soft to get a smooth dough.

2. Cooling the dough:

• Allow the dough to rest sufficiently in the refrigerator so that it is easier to work with and the cookies retain their shape when baked.

3. Trough shape:

• Do not press the indentations too deeply into the dough to ensure that the filling does not overflow.

4. Creative fillings:

• Experiment with different jams or marmalades to give the angel eyes an individual touch.

With this recipe for angel eyes you can bring the magical taste of Christmas to your cookie plate. The combination of buttery shortcrust pastry and fruity filling makes these delicacies an irresistible treat. Have fun baking and a merry Christmas!