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Linzer cookies are always good. These easy Linzer cookies are crumbly, like shortbread. They are tasty jam-filled almond-flavored shortbread cookies. These raspberry Linzer cookies are buttery and melt in the mouth. And the best part? The juicy jam in the middle! They might look seriously impressive but don’t worry – you should find the recipe straightforward. This Linzer cookie recipe is easy to make and fun to customize with different shapes and flavors of jam.

A group of jam-filled star-shaped Linzer cookies.

Raspberry Linzer cookies are crumbly, sweet and have a yummy jam filling. They’re ideal for any occasion and one is never enough when it comes to these sweet treats!

Also try Oreo choc chip cookies, church window cookies or gingerbread Linzer cookies. And these apple butter thumbprint cookies are sure to impress!

A group of holiday cookies, including a star shaped cookie.

Why You’ll Love It

Delicious: Nobody ever gets tired of a jam-filled Linzer cookies recipe – the sweet raspberry flavor and crumbly cookies are far too good. You’ll definitely want a second, or even a third!
Easy to make: Although these are fancy-looking cookies, they’re delightfully simple to make.
Versatile: Linzer tart cookie recipes are typically made around Christmas but they’re also ideal for any special occasion, such as Valentine’s Day or a birthday. Change it up with a heart-shaped cutout and a red jam filling, that means they’re also perfect for Valentine’s Day or anytime you want to make a super-cute cookie.

A group of jam-filled linzer cookies on a wooden board.

Raspberry Linzer Cookies Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below

All-purpose flour: The main cookie ingredient.
Brown sugar and powdered sugar: For sweetness.
Cinnamon: Adds an earthy flavor.
Vanilla and almond extracts: Adds tasty flavors.
Slivered almonds: For a nutty flavor and for crunch.
Raspberry jam: Any brand will work.
Baking powder: To achieve the perfect texture.

A group of holiday cookies.

How to Make Linzer Cookies with Jam Filling

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Prepare the dry ingredients: Grind the almonds with the brown sugar. In another bowl mix the flour, cinnamon and baking powder.
Cream the butter and sugar: Beat the butter with the powdered sugar, then add the egg, vanilla extract and almond extract.
Add the almond mixture: Mix in the ground almond mixture and then the flour mixture.
Let the dough chill: Wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least a couple of hours.
Shape the cookies: Roll out the dough then use a cookie cutter to cut out the rounds, and a smaller star shaped one to cut out the star shapes in half of the cookie rounds.
Bake them: Arrange the cookies on parchment paper lined baking sheets and bake until the edges are golden.
The finishing touches: Let the cookies cool completely, then spread raspberry jam over the whole rounds and then top with the cutout rounds. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

A group of holiday cookies with a star shaped center.

Substitutions and Variations

Gluten-free: Use gluten-free flour (or half gluten-free flour and half almond flour) in place of the wheat flour.
Raspberry jam: Although the original recipe used blackcurrant jam, and Austrian bakers of bygone times used blackcurrant or redcurrant jam, there are more possible fillings. Modern bakers might use raspberry or strawberry jam. Lingonberry preserves, lemon curd or you could even Nutella if you’re feeling creative. Any filling you can think of can peek out through the ‘Linzer eye’ to give the eater a tempting glimpse of the filling!
Cookie shape: This cookie recipe can be made in any shape. Traditionally they were made round, but today the sky is the limit. This set of cookie cutters (here) is especially for making Linzer cookies and you get a choice of 8 different shapes for the cutout.

A person holding a star-topped cookie.

Serving Suggestions

As a snack: A Linzer cookie makes a great snack with an iced gingerbread latte or a hot chocolate.
For Christmas: They’re also ideal for your Christmas cookie box or tray, or you can make them as Christmas gifts.
With other cookies: Other sandwich cookies to pair include gingerbread sandwich cookies, chocolate chip buttercream cookies and baci di dama Italian cookies.

A tray of small raspberry pies with powdered sugar, resembling jam-filled cookies, on a wooden board.

How to Store Linzer Cookies

Store: As the jam slowly seeps into the cookies, these are best enjoyed the same day you make the Linzer cookie recipe. However, if you have some left over, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also refrigerate the dough for up to 5 days before cutting and baking the cookies.
Freeze: Freeze the raw dough for up to 8 weeks if you want to, but don’t freeze the baked cookies as they will thaw out soggy.

A person holding a holiday linzer cookie.

Top Tips

Rolling out the dough: The dough is quite forgiving and you can roll it out more than once. You might want to do this if you’re new to working with fiddly cookie cutters.
Count the cookies: Make sure you end up with the same number of hearts with cut-outs as hearts without.
Best enjoyed fresh: As the filling makes the cookies soft over time, they’re best served fresh.

A hand holds a Linzer cookie filled with red jam; more plain cookies are arranged on a round wooden board.
How firmly do I need to press the top cookies on to the filling and bottom cookie?

After baking, you need to add the filling, add the tops and finally sprinkle powdered sugar over the cookies. Refrain from pressing down too hard when sticking the top to the filling. You are working with baked cookies at this stage, not dough. So, press them on gently, else your cookies might break! Since you are baking these Linzer cookies though, you might ‘accidentally’ break one – cook’s privilege and all that! Eating your ‘mistakes’ can be fun!

What nuts work best and how do I grind them?

Almonds work, as do hazelnuts, so you can pick one or mix and match. If you’re using hazelnuts, rub off the skin between baking and grinding. Alternatively you can buy almond flour or hazelnut flour. If you are grinding your own nuts however, resist the urge to over-grind. This is really important! Grind them too much and you will have nut paste. Go beyond that and guess what – you have nut butter! Which is very nice of course – just not what we need for these Valentine’s Day cookies.

What kind of cookie cutter is best?

A heart-shaped cookie cutter gives a cute result. You will also need a little one to cut out the heart shape in the center. The center cut-out can be any size you like. It will probably depend on what size of heart-shaped cookie cutter you have! If you have a tiny cutter, you could even made three cut-outs instead of one. The choice is yours, so feel free to experiment.

A person holding a Linzer cookie.
5 from 51 votes

Linzer Cookies

Linzer cookies are a classic holiday cookie recipe consisting of buttery almond cookies sandwiched around a tart raspberry filling.
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • In a food processor, grind almonds with the brown sugar until finely ground. Set aside.
  • In a bowl, mix together the flour, cinnamon, and the baking powder. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer using the paddle attachment, combine the butter and powdered sugar until creamy. Mix in the egg until combine. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and combine. 
  • Next add in the ground almond mixture and mix to combine. Slowly add in the flour mixture and mix to combine.
  • Place the dough onto plastic wrap, flatten into a round disk, wrap and chill for 2 hours or more.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare baking sheets with parchment. Set aside.
  • Dust your work surface with flour. Cut the dough disk in half and roll out each disk.
  • Cut dough into a larger shape using a cookie cutter (circle here). Then using a smaller star cookie cutter, cut smaller stars into the centre of half of the hearts. 
  • Place heart shapes onto the prepared baking sheets spacing cookies 1 inch apart. 
  • Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cool on the baking sheets for several minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
  • Spread raspberry jam over large cookie shapes. Dust cookies with star cut-out centers with powdered sugar. Place these cookies on top of the jam covered cookies to create a "sandwich".

Notes

Rolling out the dough: The dough is quite forgiving and you can roll it out more than once. You might want to do this if you’re new to working with fiddly cookie cutters.
Count the cookies: Make sure you end up with the same number of hearts with cut-outs as hearts without.
Best enjoyed fresh: As the filling makes the cookies soft over time, they’re best served fresh.

Nutrition

Calories: 116kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 50mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 26IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

This recipe for Linzer cookies is easy to follow and the cookies themselves are delicious. The crumbly cookies with their sweet raspberry jam filling are ideal for any occasion. They’re traditionally a Christmas treat but are far too delicious to only make once a year! The almond flour you make by grinding the slivered almonds gives these a delicate nutty flavor and light texture.

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Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.

 

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5 from 51 votes (50 ratings without comment)

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