Step into the festive season with a delightful classic: Linzer cookies recipe. These elegant, jam-filled sandwich cookies are a highlight on any holiday dessert platter. You’ll love their tender, buttery texture and beautiful appearance. This simple linzer cookies recipe offers an enjoyable baking experience, even for beginners, promising a sweet reward that tastes like pure holiday magic. Get ready to bake a batch of these traditional treats!
Why You’ll Love This Linzer Cookies Recipe
This linzer cookies recipe offers many reasons to become your new favorite holiday tradition.
- Effortlessly Elegant: Despite their stunning appearance, these cookies are surprisingly easy to make.
- Melt-in-Your-Mouth Texture: Each bite delivers a rich, buttery cookie that simply melts on your tongue.
- Beautiful Visual Appeal: The signature cutout top revealing the vibrant jam makes them a feast for the eyes.
- Customizable Jam Filling: While raspberry is classic, you can easily switch up the jam to suit your taste.
- Nut-Free Option Available: We provide a simple substitution to make this delicious recipe accessible for everyone.
- Perfect for Holiday Baking: These charming cookies are ideal for gifting, sharing, or enjoying with a warm drink.
Ultimate Linzer Cookies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cream the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and optional cinnamon until light and fluffy (about 1 minute).
- Add vanilla extract and mix until just combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour, almond flour, cornstarch, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix on low speed until dough comes together (do not overmix).
- Divide dough into two discs, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut full circles for bases and circles with decorative cutouts for tops.
- Place cookies 2 inches apart on sheets. Bake for 9–10 minutes until lightly golden at the edges.
- Cool completely on wire racks before assembling.
- Dust cutout cookies with powdered sugar. Spread jam on solid cookies and sandwich together.
Notes
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here are the simple ingredients for your delicious linzer cookies recipe:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar, firmly packed
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ⅔ cup almond flour (see note to make these nut free)
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup raspberry jam
- Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Notes & Substitutions
Unsalted butter, softened is key for proper creaming and a tender cookie. Ensure it’s at room temperature for the best results. Granulated sugar provides crispness, while light brown sugar adds a subtle chewiness and depth of flavor. Cornstarch is our secret ingredient for exceptionally tender Linzer cookies, preventing a crumbly texture.
Originating from Linz, Austria, as a miniature version of the Linzer Torte, these cookies carry a rich history.
Almond flour contributes a delicate, nutty flavor and a finer crumb, also helping to create moist and tender textures in baked goods. For a nut-free linzer cookies recipe, simply omit the almond flour and increase the all-purpose flour by ⅓ cup, and the cornstarch by 1 extra tablespoon. A touch of ground cinnamon is optional but enhances the warmth and festive aroma. For the filling, recommend a good quality raspberry jam for its vibrant color and balanced sweetness, but feel free to explore other flavors.
Essential Equipment
Gathering your tools before you start makes the baking process smooth and enjoyable. You will need:
- A stand or hand mixer for creaming butter and sugars effortlessly.
- Several mixing bowls for wet and dry ingredients.
- A rolling pin to achieve evenly thin dough.
- Round cookie cutters (approximately 2.5-inch) for the cookie bases.
- Small decorative cookie cutters (like a heart or star) for the classic window.
- Parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Two baking sheets for baking your cookies in batches.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Linzer Cookies
Follow these clear steps to create a perfect batch of these festive Linzer cookies recipe. Precision in each step ensures a delightful result.
- Cream Butter, Sugars, and Cinnamon: In a large bowl, combine the softened butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and optional ground cinnamon. Use an electric mixer to beat these ingredients together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This should take about 30-60 seconds, ensuring everything is well combined and aerated.
- Add Vanilla Extract: Stir in the vanilla extract into the creamed butter mixture. Mix briefly until just incorporated.
- Whisk Dry Ingredients Separately: In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, almond flour, cornstarch, and salt. This ensures all dry ingredients are evenly distributed before adding them to the wet mixture.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the butter mixture. Mix on low speed with your electric mixer until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix, as this can lead to tough cookies. Stop mixing as soon as no dry streaks of flour remain.
- Form Dough into Discs: Divide the cookie dough into two equal portions. Gently form each portion into a flat disc and wrap each disc tightly in plastic wrap.
- Chill Dough: Place the wrapped dough discs in the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes. This chilling step is crucial for preventing spread and making the dough easier to roll out.
- Preheat Oven: While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper in preparation for baking.
- Roll Dough to ⅛-inch Thickness: Once chilled, take one dough disc from the refrigerator. Lightly flour your work surface and your rolling pin. Roll the dough into a thin sheet, approximately ⅛-inch thick.
- Cut Out Full Circles: Use a 2.5-inch round cookie cutter to cut out full circles from the rolled dough. Carefully transfer these solid cookies to one of your parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
- Cut Centers from Half the Circles: Take the second dough disc (or re-roll scraps from the first). Roll it out and cut more 2.5-inch circles. From half of these circles, use a smaller decorative cookie cutter (like a heart or star) to cut out the center. Place these cutout cookies on the second prepared baking sheet. Re-roll any dough scraps to make more cookies.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the solid cookies and the cutout cookies on separate trays. Bake in the preheated oven for 9-10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn a light golden brown. Keep a close eye on them to prevent over-baking.
- Cool Completely: Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. They are delicate when warm.
- Dust Cutout Cookies with Sugar: Once entirely cool, lightly dust the tops of the cookies with the decorative cutouts with powdered sugar. This creates the signature snowy look.
- Spread Jam on Solid Cookies: Take the solid, undusted cookies. Spoon a heaping teaspoon of your chosen raspberry jam onto the flat bottom of each cookie.
- Sandwich Cookies Together: Gently place a powdered sugar-dusted cutout cookie on top of a jam-covered solid cookie, pressing lightly to form a sandwich. Your beautiful Linzer cookies recipe is now complete!
Pro Tips for Perfect Linzer Cookies
Mastering this Linzer cookies recipe is simple with a few expert tips.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Dry or Crumbly Dough: This often happens from too much flour. Measure your flour by weight if possible, or use the “spoon and level” method. If dough is too dry, add ½ teaspoon of milk at a time until it comes together.
- Sticky Dough: If your dough is too sticky to roll, it might be too warm. Chill it for an additional 15-30 minutes. You can also lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin to prevent sticking.
- Cookies Spreading: Ensure your butter is cold enough (but still softened) and don’t overmix the dough. Overworking the gluten can cause cookies to spread. Chilling the dough thoroughly is also key.
Expert Baking Advice
- Uniform Thickness: Roll your dough to an even ⅛-inch thickness. This ensures all cookies bake at the same rate and have a consistent texture.
- Dust Before Assembly: Always dust the tops of the cutout cookies with powdered sugar before you spread the jam and sandwich them. This prevents sugar from getting on the jam.
- Re-roll Dough Scraps Efficiently: Gather dough scraps gently and press them together without overworking. Chill briefly if they become too warm before re-rolling to maintain tenderness.
- Use Good Quality Jam: A delicious Linzer cookies recipe deserves a flavorful jam. Choose a high-quality jam that you genuinely enjoy for the best taste.
Serving Suggestions, Storage, and Variations
This Linzer cookies recipe offers versatility in serving and storing, and you can easily experiment with flavors.
Serving Ideas
These beautiful Linzer cookies are perfect for many occasions. Serve them as an elegant treat with a warm cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate during the colder months. Arrange them artfully on holiday dessert platters to impress your guests. They also make thoughtful, homemade gifts when packaged in decorative tins or boxes for friends, family, and neighbors.
Storage Instructions
Store your assembled Linzer cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 5 days. Placing a piece of parchment paper between layers can prevent sticking. For extended freshness, you can refrigerate them for up to a week. To freeze, bake the cookies without filling them, then store the cooled, un-filled cookies in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 2 months. You can also freeze the raw dough, wrapped tightly, for up to 3 months.
Flavor Variations
Get creative with your Linzer cookies recipe! Instead of raspberry, try different jam flavors like tangy apricot, rich black currant, or sweet strawberry. For a chocolate lover’s twist, fill them with a smooth chocolate ganache or even Nutella. You can also add a delightful citrus note to the cookie dough by incorporating a teaspoon of finely grated lemon or orange zest when you add the vanilla extract.
Linzer Cookies Nutrition Information
Here’s an estimated nutritional breakdown for one serving of this Linzer cookies recipe. Please remember these values are approximate and can vary based on specific ingredients and brands used.
| Nutrient | Amount Per Serving (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 160 kcal |
| Total Fat | 9g |
| Saturated Fat | 5g |
| Cholesterol | 25mg |
| Sodium | 60mg |
| Total Carbs | 18g |
| Sugars | 9g |
| Protein | 2g |
Please note: Nutritional information is an estimate based on ingredients and serving size. It is not a substitute for professional dietary advice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I make these Linzer cookies nut-free?
Yes, absolutely! To make this linzer cookies recipe nut-free, simply omit the almond flour. Instead, increase the all-purpose flour by ⅓ cup and add an extra tablespoon of cornstarch to the dry ingredients.
What are the best jam flavors for Linzer cookies?
Classic choices include raspberry, apricot, and black currant jams, but feel free to experiment. Look for high-quality jams that aren’t too watery.
Can Linzer cookie dough be made ahead?
Yes, you can certainly prepare the dough in advance. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days before rolling and baking.
Can I freeze Linzer cookies?
You can freeze the baked, un-filled cookies for up to 2 months. Once thawed, then fill them with jam and dust with powdered sugar.
Why is my Linzer cookie dough too dry or too sticky?
Too dry dough often results from too much flour or insufficient butter creaming; try adding a tiny bit of milk. Sticky dough usually means it’s too warm, so chilling it longer in the fridge can help.
Conclusion
This delightful linzer cookies recipe brings timeless charm and delicious flavor to your kitchen. With their tender, buttery texture and sweet jam filling, these cookies are a true showstopper for any occasion, especially the holidays. We encourage you to try this simple recipe and experience the joy of homemade baking. Share your beautiful creations with friends and family, and let us know your favorite jam fillings in the comments below!
