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5.0 from 6 votes

Linzer Cookies

Crunchy, nutty, jam-filled Linzer Cookies are such a beautiful and fun cookie from Austria. You can make them with hazelnuts or almonds and fill them with your favorite fruit preserves, lemon curd, or nutella spread!

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Additional Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 50 mins
Servings: 24 Cookies
Calories: 186 kcal
Course: Baked Goods
Cuisine: Austrian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole hazelnuts or almonds
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar divided
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup salted butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • Zest of one small lemon
  • 2/3 cup lingonberry jam or raspberry jam, black currant preserves, cherry preserves, etc.
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast the nuts on a baking sheet for 8-10 minutes until fragrant. Cool completely, then add them to a food processor with 1/4 cup of the sugar and process until finely ground.
  2. Add the flour, salt, cinnamon, and ground nut mixture together in a bowl and whisk to combine.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and remaining 1/2 cup of sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the egg yolks, vanilla, and lemon zest, then beat again to combine.
  4. Gradually add the flour/nut mixture, about 1/3 at a time, mixing just until combined.
  5. Divide the dough into 4 pieces, and press each piece into a disc. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour or up to two days.
  6. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. Roll out each disc of dough on a lightly floured surface, one at a time, until between 1/4- and 1/6-inch thick. Cut out into shapes using 3-inch cookie cutters in star, heart, or circle shapes. Transfer to the prepared baking sheets, then use a smaller cookie cutter to cut out windows in half of the cookies. Repeat with the remaining dough, re-rolling scraps until all of the dough has been used. If the dough gets too soft, set it back in the fridge to chill for a bit to help the cookies keep their shape.
  8. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the cookies are just beginning to turn a nice golden brown around the edges. I prefer these cookies crunchy since they will soften slightly when filled. Cool completely on a wire rack.
  9. Dust the top halves of each cookie with powdered sugar, then spread the bottom halves with the fruit preserves or other filling. Sandwich the top and bottom halves together. You may want to carefully spoon a little additional jam into the window on the top, although I usually skip this. You should end up with about 24 completed cookies.
  10. Store the finished cookies in an airtight container on the counter or in the fridge for 4-5 days, or freeze for longer storage (up to 2 months). If frozen, you may want to dust the tops of the cookies with powdered sugar again after thawing.

Notes

  • Recipe adapted from Joy of Baking.
  • I have also seen Linzer cookies filled with Nutella and lemon curd, which both sound delightful. But black currant preserves is traditional.
  • If you prefer not to toast and grind the nuts yourself, you could replace the nuts with 3/4 cup of almond flour. Just add the full amount of sugar to the butter when creaming and proceed with the recipe as written.

Nutrition Information

Calories 186kcal (9%) Carbohydrates 20g (7%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 11g (17%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 36mg (12%) Sodium 118mg (5%) Potassium 53mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 11g (22%) Vitamin A 258IU (5%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 13mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 24Cookies

Amount Per Serving

Calories 186

% Daily Value*

Calories 186kcal 9%
Carbohydrates 20g 7%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 11g 17%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 36mg 12%
Sodium 118mg 5%
Potassium 53mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 11g 22%
Vitamin A 258IU 5%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 13mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.