Sparkly Apricot Rosemary Jewels – buttery shortbread topped with a bright punch of flavor – apricot jam with a festive sparkle and a hint of rosemary – holiday perfect!
A high school friend recently wrote about Finding Focus at 100mph, referring to his motorcycle.
I kinda sorta relate to that, as I love to drive fast and have lately thought of racing (cars!) classes. While driving fast laps around a racetrack, I believe I could easily find that flow, that peace, that calm.
Back in high school and college, this was skiing for me – being out alone on the mountain (well, I wasn’t alone, was I – it simply felt this way) with that silence that can only come from the layered padding of snow.
Now I find that peace while running – it takes a little bit to find my breathing pattern and get into my groove, but once I do, there’s nothing like it. I can process, I can think, I can just be.
I also turn to cooking, specifically baking, when I’m stressed, worried, need to focus or simply zone out.
Dad and I have had some long exhausting hospital days lately – some of it has been good news and some news is still up in the air. I am tired, I am distracted, I am hopeful, I am scattered.
Good thing it is the holiday season, I have been baking a lot these past few days.
Yep, up baking midnight.
Making sparkly stuff. Tasty sparkly stuff.
Sparkly Apricot Rosemary Jewels
makes 14-17 cookies
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup dairy free butter
2 tablespoons vegan granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or paste
1 sprig (1 teaspoon) fresh rosemary, stemmed and finely chopped
1 cup gluten free all purpose flour, plus up to 1/3 cup for kneading
2-3 tablespoons dairy free milk
1/3 cup apricot preserves
colored sanding sugar (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 300 °F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
In a mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar, vanilla and rosemary.
Stir in flour, adding milk one tablespoon at a time until dough forms.
Knead into a ball, cool in refrigerator 20 minutes.
Using hands, roll dough into one inch rounds. Place on prepared (parchment) baking sheet, make a thumbprint.
Bake at 300 °F for 25 – 28 minutes.
Remove from oven, cool completely.
Spoon apricot preserves into thumbprint, sprinkle with sparkly colored sugars.
I will have more of an update on Dad soon.
When do you find your focus? What is your 100mph calm?
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about Kristina:
Kristina is spabettie! She founded spabettie in 2010 to share vegan recipes. As the sole recipe developer and photographer, Kristina turned her culinary training into the best way to spend her days – sharing just how flavorful and vibrant vegan food is! She loves dachshunds, Portland, Hawaii, drummers – well, one drummer – and travel.
printable Sparkly Apricot Rosemary Jewels recipe:
Sparkly Apricot Rosemary Jewels
Sparkly Apricot Rosemary Jewels - buttery shortbread topped with a bright punch of flavor - apricot jam with a festive sparkle and a hint of rosemary - holiday perfect!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dairy free butter
- 2 tablespoons vegan granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or paste
- 1 sprig (1 teaspoon) fresh rosemary, stemmed and finely chopped
- 1 cup gluten free all purpose flour, plus up to 1/3 cup for kneading
- 2-3 tablespoons dairy free milk
- 1/3 cup apricot preserves
- colored sanding sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 °F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- In a mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar, vanilla and rosemary.
- Stir in flour, adding milk one tablespoon at a time until dough forms.
- Knead into a ball, cool in refrigerator 20 minutes.
- Using hands, roll dough into one inch rounds. Place on prepared (parchment) baking sheet, make a thumbprint.
- Bake at 300 °F for 25 - 28 minutes.
- Remove from oven, cool completely.
- Spoon apricot preserves into thumbprint, sprinkle with sparkly colored sugars.
Notes
vegan, gluten free
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
9Serving Size:
2 cookiesAmount Per Serving: Calories: 182
spabettie / Kristina Sloggett is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I’m thinking about you guys! I totally find my happy place in the kitchen which is why I think I’m a little all over the place these days. I just don’t have the energy or the time. I will get there hopefully this weekend. I really need my baking therapy!
These look perfect! I’m hoping to decorate cookies with the boys this weekend!
Kristina Sloggett says
one of my goals in the new year is to really organize my time better… I am hoping I have more of my time as my own this year. have fun making cookies this weekend! XO
Kim - Liv Life says
I adore apricot!!! And I’m wishing I had these cookies. Luckily, this is something I can remedy. I too turn to the kitchen when I need to relax, baking makes me happy.
I’m out of touch with what is going on, but my prayers are with you and your family… I’ve been surrounded by too many medical issues this season. Praying yours turn out well.
XO
Kim
Kristina Sloggett says
yes, Kim, get on these quick! I love apricot too, and with rosemary and the buttery cookie, oh YUM.
and thank you – I don’t talk about it too much, Dad has been battling cancer this year. we are hoping for a clean bill of health soon. I appreciate your prayers, so very much.
XO Kristina
[email protected] says
You had me at sparkly.
My zen place is usually the gym or curled up with a great book by the fireplace. I also like to drive fast, but usually only do it when I’m the only one in the car…I wouldn’t want to scare my passengers.
I hope all goes well for you and your Dad. I’ll be sending positive vibes.
Kristina Sloggett says
I just tend to drive fast always, I think – I take my Dad to all of his medical appointments, and the other day he actually asked me to slow down… oops. 😉 and thank you so much, Meghan – I appreciate your vibes so very much!! XO
Cathy @ Noble Pig says
I’m seeing this with some awesome Republic of Jam! I wonder if they make apricot-rosemary? I’m going to see them tonight…I will find out:).
Kristina Sloggett says
ah, yum! tell them spabettie says hello! 😉
Heather @ Better With Veggies says
For me, it’s sitting alone, with a little background music, reading my bible and praying it out. It’s the thing I know I’ve neglected when I start to feel anxious and can’t get out of that funk. Praying for things to get better for you!
Kristina Sloggett says
thank you so much, Heather! that means a great deal.
I understand this all too well – you know you’ve been neglecting the self care and prayer when you start to feel discombobulated. A great reminder to make it a daily habit.
Andrea Mynard says
Another lovely recipe I’d love to make with my daughter. The name alone is enough to entice us, without the fab pics!
Kristina Sloggett says
thank you Andrea! I like things that sparkle 😉
Allie says
I hope all of that “up in the air” becomes good news, too! I wish I could find peace in baking, but I’m so bad at it, I just get frustrated and stressed, haha. But sitting down with hot tea and a good book? That gets me in the zone.
And you should totally sign up for a racing class–and then post about it!
Kristina Sloggett says
oh, Allie me too! and I hope it is soon, the waiting is wearing on us. My dad is such a trooper, though. Sitting next to him right now, he is still making jokes 😉
if I do decide to race, I WILL be talking about it!!
Allie says
Waiting is always the worst! I mean, you don’t want bad news, but at least once there’s an answer, you know how to move forward, what action to take, rather than sit and wait! And your dad sounds absolutely inspiring in how positive he’s stayed!
Kristina Sloggett says
our follow up appointment is tomorrow – I don’t want to put too much pressure on it, but I think we will finally be hearing something… fingers crossed.
jobo says
Thinking of you and your dad. Sending you guys strength and prayers. And these look oh so good. cannot believe you were baking after midnight!
Kristina Sloggett says
thank you so SO much… we definitely feel those prayers. yeah… it was a day that I didn’t have to be up at 4am… thankfully… 😉