Description
Linzer cookies bring a touch of Austrian charm to your holiday baking, with their delicate almond-based dough and beautiful jam-filled centers that sparkle like little jewels. Dusted with powdered sugar, these classic treats will delight your family and friends with their sweet, nutty flavor and festive look.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup ground almonds
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
Filling and Garnish:
- ½ cup raspberry jam
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Blend 1 cup softened butter, ⅔ cup granulated sugar, and ½ cup powdered sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed for 3-4 minutes until the mixture looks airy and pale.
- Add 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon almond extract. Mix on low speed until ingredients are just incorporated.
- Combine 2 cups flour, ½ cup ground almonds, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon in a separate bowl.
- Slowly incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture, mixing on low speed until dough forms. Stop mixing as soon as ingredients are combined.
- Separate dough into two equal disks. Wrap each in plastic and refrigerate for 60 minutes.
- Heat oven to 350F with rack in center position. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out first dough disk on floured surface to ⅛-inch thickness. Keep surface and rolling pin generously dusted with flour.
- Cut full cookie shapes from dough. For half the cookies, use a smaller cutter to create center windows.
- Transfer cookies carefully onto prepared baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart.
- Bake cookies for 11-12 minutes until edges turn golden. Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 3 minutes.
- Transfer cookies to wire rack and let them cool completely.
- Warm ½ cup raspberry jam in microwave for 15 seconds to reach spreadable consistency.
- Spread 1 teaspoon jam on bottom cookie. Top with windowed cookie, pressing gently.
- Dust assembled cookies with powdered sugar using a fine mesh sieve for elegant presentation.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and ensure clean-cut cookie shapes during baking.
- Use room temperature butter for smoother creaming and better incorporation of ingredients into the dough.
- Ground almonds add rich flavor and tender texture, but can be substituted with additional flour for nut-free versions.
- When rolling out dough, work quickly and keep surfaces lightly floured to prevent sticking and maintain a delicate cookie texture.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Austrian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 211 kcal
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 72 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1.3 g
- Protein: 3.1 g
- Cholesterol: 27 mg