Linzer Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cunsalted butter
softened
- ½ cgranulated sugar
- 3 tbsplight brown sugar
firmly packed
- ¼ tspground cinnamon
optional
- 1 ½ tspvanilla extract
- 2 call purpose flour
- ⅝ calmond flour)
(see note to make these nut free
- 1 tbspcornstarch
- ½ tspsalt
- ⅓ craspberry jam
- powdered sugar for dusting
optional
Directions
- 1
Combine butter, sugars, and cinnamon and use an electric mixer to beat until light and fluffy (at least 30-60 seconds). Stir in vanilla.
- 2
In a separate bowl, whisk together all purpose flour, almond flour, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually stir into butter mixture until combined (don’t over-mix, but make sure dough is completely combined).
- 3
Form dough into 2 discs and wrap each in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. While dough is chilling, preheat oven 350F (175C).
- 4
Once dough has chilled, work with one disc at a time and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Roll into a ⅛” thick sheet. Cut into 2 ½” circles (I like to use cookie cutters with scalloped edges) and transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, spacing cookies at least 2” apart. Use a small heart or star shaped cookie cutter (or, if you don’t have one, just use the larger circular end of a piping tip) to cut designs in the center of half of the cookies.
- 5
Bake the cookies with cutouts on a separate tray from the ones without cutouts to ensure even baking. (I usually take the heart cutouts and just re-roll them with the rest of the cookie scraps to make more cookies)
- 6
Bake in 350F (175C) preheated oven for 9-10 minutes or cookies are just beginning to turn light golden brown on the edges. Allow to cool completely before filling.
- 7
Once cooled, dust the tops of all of your cookies that have the windows/cutouts. Spoon a heaping teaspoon of jam on the bottom of your remaining cookies and sandwich with one of your top cookies.
Linzer Cookies
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About this Recipe
Looking to elevate your holiday cookie tray with something truly special? Linzer cookies are those stunning, delicate treats that look incredibly complex but are surprisingly simple to master.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe demystifies the classic Linzer cookie, showing you how to achieve bakery-quality results at home with minimal fuss. What makes it truly stand out is the inclusion of an option to make these beautiful cookies completely nut-free, ensuring everyone can enjoy their festive charm without worry. You'll find the process much simpler than you might think, leading to gorgeous results every time.
What to Expect
Prepare for a delightful sensory experience as you bite into these festive cookies. You'll enjoy a tender, buttery shortbread-like cookie, delicately spiced with optional ground cinnamon, beautifully sandwiching a bright, tangy burst of raspberry jam. The dusting of powdered sugar adds a final touch of elegance and a subtle sweetness. This recipe yields approximately 25 stunning cookies, each a perfect individual treat at about 159 calories, making them an irresistible addition to any celebration.
Customization & Variations
While traditional Linzer cookies often feature almond flour for a distinctive flavor and texture, this recipe provides a clear path to making them completely nut-free if desired, ensuring dietary needs are met without sacrificing taste. You can also easily swap the classic raspberry jam for your favorite fruit jam—apricot or strawberry work wonderfully. If you prefer a pure vanilla flavor, feel free to omit the optional ground cinnamon.
Serving & Context
These elegant cookies are absolutely guaranteed to be the most beautiful stars of your holiday cookie tray, perfect for gifting, sharing at festive gatherings, or simply enjoying with a warm cup of tea.