Description
Delightful Linzer cookies bring Austrian holiday charm to sweet gatherings, blending delicate almond-flavored shortbread with raspberry preserves. Elegant sandwich cookies offer a perfect balance of nutty crunch and fruity brightness that will charm dessert enthusiasts everywhere.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 1/2 cups (300 g) all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup (85 g) almond flour
- 1 large egg
Sugars:
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (60 g) powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar (for dusting)
Flavor Enhancers and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup jam (any kind)
Instructions
- Create a velvety butter mixture by whipping softened butter with granulated and powdered sugars until impossibly smooth and creamy.
- Incorporate egg, vanilla, and almond extracts, blending thoroughly until the mixture becomes uniform and glossy.
- Gradually fold in all-purpose and almond flours along with salt, gently mixing until a cohesive dough emerges without any dry remnants.
- Encase the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 60 minutes to enhance flavor development and ease of handling.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C), preparing baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats for optimal cookie release.
- Dust a clean surface with flour and roll the chilled dough to approximately ¼-inch thickness, ensuring even distribution.
- Utilize decorative cookie cutters to shape the dough, creating delicate base cookies and matching companion cookies with charming center cutouts.
- Delicately transfer cookie shapes onto prepared baking sheets, maintaining adequate spacing between each piece.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for subtle golden edges that indicate perfect doneness, then allow complete cooling on wire racks.
- Arrange base cookies with their smooth side facing upward and apply a thin, elegant layer of vibrant jam across the surface.
- Carefully position the companion cookies with center cutouts atop the jam-covered bases, creating an elegant sandwich effect.
- Finish by generously dusting the assembled cookies with a light veil of powdered sugar, presenting a delightful visual and gustatory experience.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain crisp cookie shapes during baking.
- Use high-quality almond extract for richer, more pronounced nutty flavor that elevates the traditional Linzer taste.
- Experiment with different jam varieties like raspberry, apricot, or strawberry to create unique flavor combinations.
- For gluten-free adaptation, substitute all-purpose and almond flour with a gluten-free blend, ensuring the same delicate texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Austrian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg