How to make Linzer cookies
Posted October 30, 2023 by: Admin
A party is never complete without these delicious Linzer cookies! This traditional Austrian treat is a cause for celebration.
Just like raindrops on roses or cat whiskers, Linzer cookies are one of my favorite things. And how could you not love them?
These classic cookies are buttery, perfectly crispy, and delicately spiced. What’s more, they come with warm memories of baking with family and friends. You can’t get better than that.
So, prepare a batch of these delicious Linzer cookies and get cozy.
Then, put on a movie like The Sound of Music and create some memories.
What are Linzer cookies?
Even if you’ve never heard the name Linzer before, you’ve probably seen Linzer cookies.
Heck, if you’ve ever been to the Midwest during the holidays, you’ve probably eaten them.
Or maybe you’ve been to a Christmas market in Austria or Germany?
I guarantee you’ve seen Linzer cookies there. Because these delightful little treats come from Austria.
They are a shortbread cookie filled with jam and have a fun cutout in the center.
You often see them with a heart or star-shaped cutout. But any shape will do!
They have a nutty, buttery crust, and they are delicious.
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And they have a long history.
In the 1600s, the recipe was discovered in the cookbook of an Austrian countess.
The original recipe was for a tart-shaped pie. It was made with an almond crust and filled with jam.
Then, in the town of Linz, Austria, the cookies as we know them were created.
Bakers took the pie crust and cut it into fun shapes. Half of the dough would also get a central cutout.
After baking, the whole cookies were spread with jam.
Then, a cutout cookie was placed on top. And that’s how the Linzer cookie was born.
In the 1800s, Austrian and German immigrants brought the recipe to the United States.
They are especially popular in Wisconsin, but you can find them everywhere.
Linzer cookies take a bit of time to make. But every second is worth it because they are so delicious!
And if you make them with family, you’re also creating special memories.
And that’s pretty cool too.
Ingredients
- Almond flour – The original recipe used ground almonds, so today we use almond flour.
It imparts a delicate almond flavor and makes the cookie texture incredible. It literally melts in your mouth.
- All-purpose flour – All-purpose flour provides extra structure. So the cookies aren’t too crumbly.
- Spices and extracts – This recipe uses ground cinnamon and cloves to delicately spice the dough. And vanilla extract adds a lovely deep flavor.
- Salt – Salt adds balance to every dessert. These cookies are no exception. Plus, salt enhances all the flavors.
- Egg – Eggs bind the dough, provide structure and leavening, add moisture, and enrich the dough.
- Butter – Because you can’t have a butter cookie without butter. Butter is a necessary fat that adds flavor, moisture, and structure to the dough.
- Sugars – This recipe uses two types of sugar. You use granulated (white) sugar in the dough. Besides sweetness, sugar also contributes to moisture and structure.
And you use powdered sugar for dusting the cookie.
A dusting of powdered sugar looks like fresh snowfall. And it adds an extra festive touch to these cookies.
- Jam – It’s not a Linzer cookie without jam. The original recipe used blackcurrant jam. This recipe uses raspberry jam, but you can use your favorite.
The fruity jam is a bright and fresh contrast to the buttery cookie.
How to Make Linzer Cookies
First Step – Make the dough. Some Linzer recipes use a traditional pie crust. This one doesn’t, so make the dough as instructed.
Second Step – Roll out the dough. Shape the dough into two disks and place them between sheets of parchment paper. Roll each disk until it’s 1/8 inch thick all around.
Third Step – Chill the dough. Place the rolled dough on a baking sheet or cutting board. Put it in the refrigerator for at least two hours.
Fourth Step – Cut your cookies. Use your favorite cookie cutter. Half of the dough should be a whole cookie. The other half of the dough should have a smaller shape cut out in the center.
Fifth Step – Bake. Transfer the cookies to a clean, parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for about 7 to 9 minutes until they are lightly golden. Be very careful not to let them burn.
Sixth Step – Assemble the cookies. Brush the whole cookie with jam and sprinkle the cutout cookie with powdered sugar. Sandwich the two together, with the cutout cookie on top.
Now, it’s time to eat!
Tips for the Best Linzer Cookies
- Let all your ingredients come to room temperature before starting to bake. That way, all the ingredients can mix more easily.
- This is a universal baking rule unless a recipe specifically states otherwise. For example, you need cold butter for pie crust.
- The thinner the cookie, the better. It’s recommended to roll the dough to 1/8 inch thick. Otherwise, the cookie-to-jam ratio will be unbalanced.
- If you’re making multiple batches, keep the dough cold. Roll out all the dough you have immediately, but then keep the dough you’re not working on in the refrigerator.
- Along the same lines, keep the cutout dough cold between bakes. This keeps the butter cold and prevents the cookies from spreading too much.
- Roll out your dough between sheets of parchment paper instead of using flour. It greatly simplifies the cleanup.
If you prefer the flour method, don’t use too much flour to roll out your dough. Use just enough to keep it from sticking. Too much flour will make the cookies dry.
- Fun variations – Linzer cookies can be completely customizable!
- Use fun cookie cutters! Hearts, stars, snowflakes, trees… whatever you have on hand will work great.
- Use a different filling. Apricot, blackberry, and strawberry jams are all fantastic options. Orange marmalade is also delicious!
Fruit curds are also super tasty, plus they add extra tartness. Chocolate ganache or Nutella tastes amazing too!
- Make them chocolate. You can do this by making the dough chocolate, filling them with chocolate ganache, or both!
If you want to make chocolate dough, replace 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour with 4 tablespoons of cocoa powder.
Add the cocoa powder to the wet ingredients.
- Leave out the vanilla extract and use almond extract in the dough. This makes the cookies super almond-y and delicious.
- Add tea leaves! Yes, instead of spices, add tea leaves. Earl Grey is a perfect choice. But matcha is also delightful.
How to Store Linzer Cookies
Store
Store Linzer cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
They will last for 3 days. You can store them in the refrigerator, and they will last a bit longer.
They may, however, lose some of their crispness.
Freeze
You can freeze both the dough and finished cookies.
Cookie dough – Wrap the dough discs in plastic wrap. Put the wrapped discs in a freezer bag. Don’t forget to label and date them!
You can do the same with rolled-out dough. Keep it on parchment paper, then wrap it.
The dough will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw the dough on the counter overnight.
Baked cookies – Wrap each individual cookie in plastic wrap. Then, place them all in a freezer bag with a label and date. Freeze them for up to 3 months.
Unwrap the cookies to thaw. They’ll be ready in about 1 hour.
