Description
Delightful cherry almond linzer cookies showcase Austrian baking traditions with elegant sandwich cookies featuring nutty almond shortbread and sweet cherry jam. Festive treats offer delicate crumbles and rich flavors you will savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 large egg
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Filling Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup cherry preserves
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Finishing Ingredient:
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Combine softened butter and sugar in a mixing bowl, whipping until airy and pale, creating a smooth, fluffy base for the cookie dough.
- Incorporate egg, vanilla, and almond extracts into the butter mixture, blending thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly.
- In a separate bowl, sift together all-purpose flour, almond flour, and salt, ensuring a uniform dry ingredient mixture.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into the butter mixture, mixing until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
- Form the dough into a compact disk, encase in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for minimum 1 hour to firm up and enhance flavor development.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), preparing a parchment-lined baking sheet for the cookies.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to a consistent 1/8-inch thickness, ensuring even baking.
- Use round or fluted cookie cutters to create base cookies, then carefully cut decorative window shapes in half of the cookies.
- Arrange cookie cutouts on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart to prevent merging during baking.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn delicately golden, creating a crisp, tender texture.
- Transfer cookies to a wire rack, allowing complete cooling to room temperature.
- Spread cherry preserves on whole cookies, optionally enhancing with a touch of lemon juice for brightness.
- Dust window-cut cookies with powdered sugar, then carefully layer them atop the jam-covered cookies to create elegant sandwich cookies.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain sharp cookie edges during baking.
- Use high-quality cherry preserves for a rich, authentic fruit flavor that complements the almond undertones.
- Experiment with different jam flavors like raspberry or apricot for delightful variations on the classic recipe.
- For gluten-free options, substitute all-purpose and almond flour with a gluten-free flour blend and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Austrian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 130 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg