Description
Delightful Cherry Almond Linzer Cookies bring Austrian bakery charm to your dessert table with delicate sandwich cookies filled with sweet cherry preserves. Crisp almond-infused shortbread and rich jam create a perfect harmony that melts deliciously in your mouth, inviting you to savor each elegant bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg yolk
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Finishing Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup cherry jam
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the baking equipment by heating the oven to a moderate temperature of 350°F (175°C) and lining baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, blend softened butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light and creamy, using an electric mixer on medium speed.
- Incorporate egg yolk, almond extract, and vanilla extract into the butter mixture, stirring until completely integrated and smooth.
- Gradually fold in all-purpose flour, almond flour, and salt, mixing carefully until a cohesive dough forms.
- Wrap the prepared dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for half an hour to firm up and enhance flavor development.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to an even thickness, then use decorative cookie cutters to create desired shapes.
- For half of the cookie batch, carefully cut out small centers to create window-like openings.
- Arrange cookie shapes on prepared baking sheets, leaving slight spacing between each piece.
- Transfer cookies to the preheated oven and bake until edges turn delicately golden, approximately 10-12 minutes.
- Remove cookies and allow them to cool completely on wire racks.
- Spread cherry jam generously on the solid cookie bases, then gently place the cut-out cookie tops to create elegant sandwich cookies.
- Finish by dusting the assembled cookies with a light snowfall of powdered sugar just before serving.
Notes
- Softening butter at room temperature ensures smoother, easier mixing and a more consistent cookie texture.
- Chilling dough is crucial for preventing spread and maintaining intricate cookie cutter shapes during baking.
- Use high-quality cherry jam with minimal added sugar for a more intense, authentic fruit flavor that complements the almond notes.
- Gluten-free bakers can substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend to create celiac-friendly Linzer cookies.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Austrian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg