Linzer Cookies

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Linzer cookies are the perfect festive season treat. The soft shortbread cookies that sandwich sweet, fresh jam are simply perfect. Not only are they easy to make but can be fun to customise with different shapes and flavours of jam. 

Traditionally, Linzer cookies are from Austria but nowadays, you are able to find them everywhere. Everyone has their own spin on them whether its using plain flour or a nut flour (almond or hazelnut are the most popular), made into all different shapes or sizes or are filled with numerous delicious jams or fillings (think raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, apricot, Nutella or even a lemon curd). Here in our house, we like to use basic shortbread cookie recipe with a raspberry filling. They are certainly one of our favourites at Christmas.

Linzer Cookie Ingredients:

• Butter: You will just need unsalted butter that is softened. We have also used margarine and even though it may be a bit more oily, they still taste great.
• Vanilla Bean Paste: Spending the extra 2 minuted to use fresh vanilla paste that you have removed from a vanilla pod makes these cookies even more indulgent. If this is not an option, you can easily use 1 tsp vanilla extract.
• Icing sugar: Instead of granulated white sugar, we find that icing sugar tastes that slight bit better. But feel free to experiment with any other sweeteners that you prefer.
• Flour: We have used both plain wheat flour and spelt flour for this recipe and they both worked perfectly.
• Jam: The most important part here is that the jam is seedless. Otherwise, use which jam or filling your heart desires.

Once finished creating these delicious treats, place in an air tight container and enjoy with your loved ones for up to 3 days (if they last that long!). You may even like to create a large batch and store the dough in the freezer for when you would like to make some fresh cookies.

If you enjoyed these classic, pretty, buttery, jam-filled delicacies please let me know how you liked them! Leave a comment below and share a photo on instagram with the hashtag #nofusseating. I absolutely love seeing all of your creations.

Linzer Cookies

Recipe by jena@jenas.kitchen

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: Baking, Dessert, Recipes

Servings

Adjust servings

+

–

24

Prep time

45

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Calories

185

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

Ingredients

• 250 g 250 Butter softened

• 1 cup 1 Icing Sugar

• 2 tsp 2 Vanilla Bean Paste

• 2 3/4 cups 2 3/4 Plain Flour

• 1/2 cup 1/2 Jam seedless- raspberry or strawberry is typical

• Extra Icing Sugar for dusting

Directions

• Preheat oven to 160 degrees celsius. Prepare 2 baking trays with baking paper.
• Place butter, icing sugar and vanilla bean paste into a large bowl. Using an electric mixer or whisk, beat until light and fluffy.
• Stir flour into butter mixture until a soft dough forms. Place dough onto a slightly floured surface and gently knead until smooth.
• Form dough into a large ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Place into refrigerator for 30 minutes or until firm.
• Once ready, remove a large chunk of dough from the ball and roll out to a 4mm thick disk. Use a round biscuit cutter to cut out 12 biscuits. Place onto a baking tray.
• Repeat with remaining dough. Use a small star, heart or round cutter to remove the centre of the biscuit. Place on tray. Repeat until all of the dough is used.
• Place into the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until firm to touch and cooked through. The biscuits may be slightly soft when removed from the oven. This is ok, they will harden as they cool. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• Place the whole biscuits on a flat surface. Spoon 1 tsp jam onto each biscuit and spread the jam to the edge of the biscuit.
• Dust icing sugar over the remaining biscuits with the center cut out. Place onto the whole biscuits.
• Serve and enjoy.

Notes

• Any type of jam will do for this recipe- raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, apricot or even a lemon curd works great. Just try to have no seeds if possible.
• You may find that the dough may get too warm while you are rolling it out. Just place it back into the fridge for 10 minutes to let it cool down a slight bit.
• The cookies are best 1-3 days after being prepared. You can easily make the dough a few days before and place in the freezer until ready to bake.

Nutrition Facts

• Serving Size: 1
• Calories: 185kcal
• Fat: 9g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g
• Cholesterol: 22mg
• Sodium: 70mg
• Carbohydrates: 25g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 13g
• Protein: 2g