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Old-World Linzer Cookies

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A tray of jam filled Linzer cookies

Old-World Linzer Cookies – a lovely little butter cookie made with toasted almonds, a hint of cinnamon and lightly sweetened with jam. The perfect holiday treat!

I love the idea of making a cookie recipe that’s been around for hundreds of years. According to what I’ve read, Linzer Cookies were originally based on the “Linzertorte one of the oldest known tarts with a recipe discovered in an Austrian abbey around 1653.” While I haven’t been baking Linzer Cookies for that long, I have enjoyed making these delicious and festive sandwich cookies for decades!
A cookie tray with Linzer cookies dusted with powdered sugar and filled with jam

Fill Linzer cookies with your favorite jam.

Raspberry jam is a very popular filling for Linzer cookies, but we also enjoy apricot too. It’s fun to mix it up with a variety of flavors, and colors, all in the same batch. You can use seedless or seeded raspberry jam in this recipe, it’s all good. The slight hint of cinnamon in the cookie dough and the fruity, sweet jam is a wonderful combination! To change it up, try smearing on a layer of hazelnut spread like Nutella.
Powdered sugar sprinkled on Linzer cookies filled with jam

What can use another nut in place of toasted almonds?

Our favorite Linzer cookie is made with toasted, finely ground sliced almonds. You can substitute almond flour, or almond meal, for the toasted almonds if preferred. However, if using almond meal you’ll lose that toasted goodness that adds a nice depth of flavor. Feel free to substitute hazelnut flour or pecan meal for the almonds too, it’s all good!
A plate of powder sugared dusted Linzer cookies

Can you freeze Linzer cookies?

Linzer cookies freeze beautifully when sealed in an airtight container. For the best tasting cookie, freeze before filing with jam. The jam causes the cookie to soften a little so filling after they are thawed is best. Also, the powdered sugar topping is much prettier when fresh and not smashed down.
A plate of jam filled Linzer cookies

Can you use different shaped cookie cutters for Linzer cookies?

Absolutely! I’ve made square Linzer cookies, as well as star shaped cookies too. The cookie cutters can be plain circles, or fluted like the ones I’ve used here. The center cut-out is pretty as a star, moon or flower too. For the holidays a little tree cut-out would be fun as well. Just use your imagination and have fun creating your own signature look.

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A platter of jam filled Linzer cookies

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5 from 4 votes

Old World Linzer Cookies

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Yield: 36 - 42 Sandwich Cookies
Course: Cookies
Author: Tricia
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A lovely nutty butter cookie with hints of cinnamon and lightly sweetened with jam

Equipment

  • 2 ½-inch round fluted cookie cutter, and a ¾-inch round fluted cookie cutter

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cups sliced almonds, toasted * (3 ¾-ounces or 105g)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (112g)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar (102g)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (290g)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (8-ounces or 226g)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg, plus one egg yolk
  • 1 cup raspberry or apricot jam
  • powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

To toast the almonds:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread the sliced almonds on a rimmed baking sheet and bake, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Cool before processing.

To prepare the cookie dough:

  • In the bowl of a food processor, combine the almonds and granulated sugar. Process until the nuts are finely chopped and almost ground.
  • Add the powdered sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and flour. Pulse a few times to combine.
  • In a large mixing bowl beat the butter until smooth. Add the vanilla, egg and egg yolk. Blend until combined. Add the flour and almond mixture. Beat on low until the dough starts to come together and all ingredients are incorporated.
  • Divide the dough in half and form each into a disc. Seal tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour, or overnight. If chilled overnight, allow the cookie dough to soften at room temperature for 15 minutes before rolling.

To bake the cookies:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough out on a heavily floured work surface to â…™ or â…›-inch thick. Cut the dough into rounds using a floured 2 ½-inch cookie cutter. Using a floured ¾-inch cutter, cut a hole in the center of half the cookies.
  • Transfer the cookies to the parchment lined baking sheet, about 1-inch apart. Bake for 8-12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the cookies. The cookies brown quickly so watch them carefully. They are best when slightly underbaked and just set, not browned. Transfer the baked cookies to a wire rack, and cool completely before filling.
  • Gather the scraps of dough and refrigerate while rolling out the remaining disc. Repeat by rolling out the dough, cutting into rounds and baking.

To fill the cookies:

  • Spread jam on the bottom of the solid cookies. Lightly sift powdered sugar over the tops of the cookies with the cutout centers. Place the cutout cookie on top of each jam topped cookie bottom creating a sandwich. Refrigerate until ready to serve, to set the jam.
  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator, or seal and freeze.

Recipe Notes

* Substitute 1 cup almond flour or almond meal for the ground almonds. If using almond flour there is no need to use a food processor. Just whisk the dry ingredients together.
 
Freeze plain cookies. Fill with jam and dust with powdered sugar after they are thawed.
Adapted from a recipe in Holiday Cookies, by Elisabet der Nederlanden

 

 

Fluted Cookie Cutters

For these Linzer Cookies, I use my set of 6 stainless steel fluted, double sided cookie cutters with a plain edge perfect for biscuits. Click on the photo for more information or to purchase from Amazon.

Saving Room for Dessert is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program ~ I earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you, which I use to pay for web hosting and services for this blog.

 

Here are a few more recipes you might also enjoy:

A platter of raspberry almond shortbread cookies

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies

Oatmeal Jammy cookies filled with a variety of jam

Oatmeal Jammys

 

A tray of Almond Tea Cakes filled with Blueberry Jam

Almond Tea Cakes with Wild Blueberry Jam

 

Originally published November 2012, updated December 2019

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