Mended Hearts Sandwich Cookies

Note: This recipe yields 24 cookies, which is 12 sandwiches. These cookies develop better flavor if they are made the day before serving.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.

In a saucepan over medium heat, add butter. Let butter melt, foam and then brown, about 15 minutes. When specks form on the bottom and turn a caramel brown color, pull the pan off of the heat and add the sugar. Stir around a bit, add the vanilla and continue to stir around, allowing it to cool a bit in a large mixing bowl.

Break the egg into a large coffee cup. Add a little of the butter/sugar mix to the cup and whisk a little, then add all to the large bowl and whisk until incorporated. Stir in the flour mixture and allow the batter to cool.

Pat dough into 2 discs, roll each between 2 sheets of waxed paper to ¼-inch thick. Slide the dough (still in wax paper) onto a baking sheet and freeze to firm, 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325ºF.

Once firm, remove wax paper and place on a flat surface. Using a 3-inch cookie cutter, begin punching out heart shapes. Re-roll the scraps once and repeat with remaining dough. You may need to stick the wax paper back in the fridge for a few minutes before cutting the next batch.

Set cookies on 2 parchment-lined baking sheets and bake until barely beginning to color, 12-13 minutes. Cool on a rack.

Warm the jam in the microwave for about 30 seconds, until it becomes spreadable. Using a pastry brush, glaze the flat side of all cookies and begin to assemble them into sandwiches.

Place the hearts in an airtight container and resist eating them until the next day.