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Type | Cookie |
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Place of origin | Canada |
Region or state | Newfoundland and Labrador |
Created by | Purity Factories |
Serving temperature | Room temperature |
Main ingredients | Molasses, brown sugar, jam |
Part of a series on |
Canadian cuisine |
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A Jam Jam is a Canadian sandwich cookie that originated in eastern Canada. Each cookie consists of two soft wafers made with either molasses or brown sugar, sandwiched together with jam filling. [1] While enjoyed throughout Canada, they are particularly iconic in Newfoundland and Labrador, where they have become embedded in local culture. [2]
Traditional Jam Jams are made with either molasses or brown sugar. [1] The cookies have a cakey texture and are filled with various jams, including raspberry, partridgeberry (lingonberry), bakeapple (cloudberry), or apple. The commercial version produced by Purity Factories uses an apple-based filling. [1] Regional variations exist in both recipe and appearance, with some versions featuring a decorative hole in the top cookie to showcase the jam filling. [3]
Jam Jams first appeared in Canadian community cookbooks during the 1930s, with early recipes found in both the Winnipeg Public Schools Home Economics cookbook and the Stayner Sun in Ontario. [1] The cookies gained widespread popularity in the 1950s when Purity Factories of St. John's, Newfoundland began mass-producing them at their new Blackmarsh Road facility. [4]
Jam Jams hold particular significance in Newfoundland culture, where they are a part of traditional tea time gatherings. [2] They remain one of Purity's best-selling products, alongside their Ginger Snaps, Cream Crackers, and Hard Bread. [5] Today, Jam Jams are a staple at bake sales, family gatherings, and holiday celebrations throughout eastern Canada. [1] While Purity's commercial version is now distributed across Canada and the United States, [4] many families continue to make their own versions using recipes passed down through generations. [2]