Description
A classic Linzer cookie recipe featuring a delicate almond and all-purpose flour-based dough, filled with your favorite jam and dusted with powdered sugar. These charming sandwich cookies are perfect for holiday treats or any special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups (260g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (128g) almond flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (224g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2/3 cup (138g) sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp lemon zest
For Assembly
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
- Jam, any flavor, for filling
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, almond flour, and salt. Set aside to be added later.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a mixer on medium speed to cream the unsalted butter and sugar together for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is light in color and fluffy.
- Add Flavorings and Egg: Mix in the vanilla extract, almond extract, egg, and lemon zest until fully incorporated.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the dough tender.
- Chill Dough: Shape the dough into a disk about 1 inch thick, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Set oven temperature to 350°F (180°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Roll Out Dough: Roll the chilled dough between two sheets of parchment paper to 1/4 inch thickness to prevent sticking and drying out.
- Cut Cookies: Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes, ensuring half are solid and half have cutout designs. Chill the rolled dough in the freezer for 5 minutes to firm it up before cutting to ease handling and prevent sticking.
- Bake Cookies: Place cookies on baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are just starting to turn golden. Adjust time based on cookie size and thickness.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 3-5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Assemble Linzer Cookies: Dust cookies with cutouts generously with powdered sugar. Spread jam on the solid cookies and sandwich with the powdered cutout cookies on top.
Notes
- Be careful not to overmix the dough to keep the cookies tender and flaky.
- Chilling the dough is essential for easier handling and better texture.
- Using parchment paper to roll out dough reduces mess and helps prevent cookies from drying out.
- Freezing the rolled dough before cutting prevents the dough from becoming too soft to handle.
- Choose a jam that is not too runny for easier sandwiching and to avoid soggy cookies.
- Store assembled cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Austrian
Keywords: Linzer cookies, almond cookies, jam filled cookies, sandwich cookies, holiday cookies, almond flour cookies
