Linzer Cookies

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Linzer cookies, as they were originally known, are a tart or shortbread consisting of a creamy buttery dough enriched with almonds, lemon zest, and cinnamon.

Linzer cookies are formed with dough that has been cut into cookies, with two of them resembling a sandwich around the preserves. Furthermore, the top biscuit has a little cutout in the center that displays the underlying jam and adds to its visual enticement. While the shape most frequently seen is round, various forms, such as stars or hearts, are also popular.

With its crisp white cookie halves, brilliant red center, and sprinkling of snowy confectioners' sugar, the Linzer cookie appears like it was created by a holiday advertising magician. It tastes equally delightful as it looks. The cookies are buttery and biscuit-like, with a flavorful jam in the middle and a softly, intensely sweet sugar on top.

Linzer cookies are delicious at any time of year, but they are especially festive around the holidays. Of sure, they look the part, but it's the flavor that sells them.

Makes 24 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups almond flour

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp ground cloves

• 1/4 tsp kosher salt

• 1large egg

• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup raspberry jam (or any preferred jam)

• 2 tbsp powdered sugar, for dusting

Let's bake!

1. Prepare your ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together almond flour, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together egg and vanilla.

2. Make the dough. In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add egg mixture and beat until combined. Add dry ingredients and beat until just incorporated.

3. Roll the dough. Divide dough in half, form each half into a disk, and place each between 2 large sheets of parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, roll each piece of dough to 1/8" in thickness. Place dough sheets on a baking sheet or cutting board and transfer to refrigerator to chill for 2 hours. (Or place in the freezer for 30 minutes.)

4. Cut out the cookies. Preheat oven to 375° and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Peel away one layer of parchment paper from your dough and use a 2" round cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Use a smaller round cookie cutter to cut windows in half the cookies.

5. Bake. Place cookies on baking sheet about 1" apart. Bake 7 to 9 minutes, or until cookies are lightly golden. Let cool.

6. Fill in the cookies. In a microwave safe bowl, stir 1 teaspoon water into jam. Microwave on low for 30 seconds, then spread about 1/2 tsp of jam in the center of a cookie, then top with second cookie. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.