Jam-filled Linzer Cookies: A Delightfully Sweet and Nutty Treat
These Linzer cookies are a classic Austrian pastry renowned for their nutty, buttery dough and luscious jam filling. Typically enjoyed during the holiday season, they make a charming addition to any cookie platter. The combination of ground nuts, warm spices, and a fruit-filled center renders these cookies as delightful in flavor as they are in appearance.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (125g) ground almonds or hazelnuts
- 1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup (160g) raspberry or apricot jam (or your favorite)
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Dough:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the ground nuts, flour, cinnamon, ground cloves (if using), and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. This should take about 3 minutes.
- Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract, beating until combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
- Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until firm.
2. Shape and Bake the Cookies:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to a thickness of about 1/8 inch (3mm).
- Use a round or fluted cookie cutter (about 2 inches in diameter) to cut out cookies. Place them on the prepared baking sheets.
- With a smaller cutter (such as a heart or star), cut out the centers of half of the cookies.
- Gather the scraps, re-roll, and repeat the process with the second disk of dough.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let them cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
3. Assemble the Linzer Cookies:
- Spread about ½ teaspoon of jam on the flat side of each solid cookie.
- Dust the tops of the cookies with cut-out centers with powdered sugar.
- Place the powdered sugar-dusted cookies on top of the jam-covered ones to create sandwich cookies, with the jam peeking through the cut-out shapes.
These delectable jam-filled Linzer Cookies are now ready to be enjoyed with a cup of tea or given as a beautiful homemade gift.