Welcome to the ultimate guide to creating the most delicious, melt-in-your-mouth Linzer Cookies you’ve ever tasted. These classic Austrian sandwich cookies, with their signature peekaboo jam center, are a holiday staple for a reason. They’re delicate, buttery, and dusted with a snowy layer of powdered sugar, making them as beautiful as they are delicious. This recipe streamlines the process, ensuring a perfect, tender crumb every single time, whether you’re a seasoned baker or trying them for the first time.
Forget crumbly, hard-to-work-with doughs. We’re using a blend of all-purpose and almond flour for that authentic, nutty flavor and a perfectly tender texture. This is the only Linzer Cookies recipe you’ll ever need.
A little bit of jam goes a long way in these delicate cookies.
What Are Linzer Cookies?
Linzer Cookies are a delightful holiday treat with roots in Linz, Austria. They are essentially a cookie version of the famous Linzer Torte, one of the oldest known cake recipes in the world. Traditionally, the dough is made with flour, butter, egg yolks, lemon zest, and ground nuts—usually almonds or hazelnuts. The cookies are then sandwiched together with a tart jam, like raspberry or currant, and the top cookie features a small cutout, often called a “Linzer eye,” that reveals the colorful filling.
Why You’ll Love This Linzer Cookies Recipe
Perfectly Tender Texture: The combination of all-purpose flour and almond flour creates a cookie that is unbelievably tender and crumbly, with a rich, nutty flavor.
No-Spread Dough: We have perfected the ratios and chilling technique to ensure your cookies hold their shape beautifully during baking. No more blob-like cookies!
Rich, Buttery Flavor: Using high-quality unsalted butter is key. It provides a rich flavor that is perfectly balanced by the tart jam filling.
Visually Stunning: These cookies are almost too pretty to eat! The powdered sugar and jewel-like jam center make them a showstopper on any dessert platter, especially alongside other beautiful Christmas cookie recipes.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Achieving the perfect Linzer cookie is all about the right ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:
For the Cookies:
Unsalted Butter: Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for proper creaming.
Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and contributes to the tender structure.
Egg Yolk: One large egg yolk enriches the dough and binds it together.
Vanilla Extract: Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
All-Purpose Flour: The primary structural component of our cookie.
Almond Flour: This is the secret to the authentic, tender, and slightly nutty taste of Linzer cookies.
Cinnamon & Nutmeg: A hint of warm spice adds depth and a classic holiday aroma.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
For the Filling & Topping:
Seedless Raspberry Jam: The classic choice for its tartness and vibrant color. You can also use apricot, currant, or strawberry jam.
Powdered Sugar: For dusting the top cookies to create that beautiful, snowy finish.
The perfect balance of buttery cookie and tart raspberry jam.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Make the Dough
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until just combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, almond flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. With the mixer on low, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
2. Chill the Dough
Divide the dough into two equal halves. Form each half into a flat disk and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours, or up to 3 days. This step is crucial and one of our most important tips for perfect Linzer cookies; it prevents the cookies from spreading while baking.
3. Roll and Cut the Cookies
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Lightly flour your work surface and one of the dough disks. Roll the dough out to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 2-inch round Linzer cookie cutter, cut out your shapes. For half of the cookies, use the small inner cutter to create the “Linzer eye” cutout. These will be your top cookies. Re-roll scraps as needed. Arrange the cookies about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
4. Bake to Perfection
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
5. Assemble Your Linzer Cookies
Once cooled, dust the top cookies (the ones with the cutouts) generously with powdered sugar. Spread about 1/2 teaspoon of seedless raspberry jam on the flat side of each bottom cookie. Gently place a powdered sugar-dusted top cookie over the jam-covered bottom and press lightly to sandwich them together. Your beautiful Linzer cookies are now ready to be served!
Tips for Perfect Linzer Cookies
Don’t Skip the Chill: Chilling the dough is non-negotiable. It solidifies the butter, which prevents the cookies from spreading into thin, crispy wafers in the oven.
Measure Flour Correctly: Spoon your flour into the measuring cup and level it off. Scooping directly from the bag can compact the flour, leading to a dry, crumbly dough.
Even Thickness: Roll the dough to a consistent 1/8-inch thickness to ensure all cookies bake evenly.
Jam Consistency: If your jam is too thick, warm it slightly in the microwave for a few seconds to make it more spreadable. If it’s too thin, it can make the cookies soggy.
Filling and Flavor Variations
While raspberry jam is classic, don’t be afraid to get creative! These cookies are a fantastic canvas for other fillings. For a different twist, try apricot preserves, lemon curd, Nutella, or even dulce de leche. You can also customize the dough by adding a teaspoon of lemon or orange zest for a bright, citrusy note. If you love holiday baking, be sure to check out our other easy holiday cookie recipes for more inspiration.
Storage Instructions
Store your assembled Linzer Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want to make them ahead of time, the baked, unfilled cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week or frozen for up to 3 months. Assemble them with jam just before serving to maintain their crisp, tender texture. For a different but equally delicious holiday dessert, try making a festive holiday cheesecake.
Linzer cookie dough can be crumbly if the flour was over-measured or if the butter was too cold. Ensure your butter is at room temperature for proper creaming and try spooning your flour into the measuring cup instead of scooping to prevent packing.
Yes, absolutely. Chilling the dough for at least two hours is the most critical step to prevent the cookies from spreading during baking. It solidifies the butter, which helps the cookies maintain their delicate shape.
The key to preventing spread is chilling the dough thoroughly. Also, ensure your oven is preheated to the correct temperature and avoid over-mixing the dough once the flour has been added.
A thick, tart, and seedless jam works best. Seedless raspberry jam is the traditional choice because its tartness balances the buttery cookie. Apricot and black currant preserves are also excellent options.
You can bake the cookies (unfilled) up to a week in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature. For the best texture, wait to fill them with jam until the day you plan to serve them.
Linzer Cookies Recipe
FL Recipes
Linzer Cookies Recipe (The Best Buttery & Tender Guide)
This classic Linzer Cookies recipe delivers perfectly buttery, tender, and nutty sandwich cookies every time. Filled with tart raspberry jam and dusted with powdered sugar, they are a beautiful and delicious holiday treat.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until just combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, almond flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
With the mixer on low, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
Divide the dough into two equal halves. Form each half into a flat disk and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Lightly flour your work surface and one of the dough disks. Roll the dough out to 1/8-inch thickness.
Using a 2-inch round Linzer cookie cutter, cut out your shapes. For half of the cookies, use the small inner cutter to create the cutout. Arrange the cookies about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once cooled, dust the top cookies (the ones with the cutouts) generously with powdered sugar.
Spread about 1/2 teaspoon of seedless raspberry jam on the flat side of each bottom cookie. Gently place a powdered sugar-dusted top cookie over the jam-covered bottom and press lightly to sandwich them together.
Nutrition
Calories: 155kcalProtein: 2gFat: 9gFiber: 1g
Notes
Don't Skip the Chill: Chilling the dough is non-negotiable. It solidifies the butter, which prevents the cookies from spreading in the oven. Jam Consistency: If your jam is too thick, warm it slightly in the microwave for a few seconds to make it more spreadable. Make Ahead: Unfilled cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week or frozen for up to 3 months. Assemble just before serving for best results.
Keyword Christmas Cookies,Linzer Cookies,Sandwich Cookies
We hope you loved this foolproof guide to making the best Linzer Cookies! If you make this recipe, please let us know how they turned out in the comments below. We love hearing from you! For more delicious recipes and holiday baking inspiration, be sure to follow us on Pinterest and share this recipe with your friends and family.
There's nothing quite like a classic Linzer cookie during the holidays!
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
