Linzer Cookies have a rich, buttery flavor and festive appearance, they are sure to be a hit with anyone who tries them. The combination of the soft, rich cookie and the sweet jam filling make these Linzer tart cookie a delicious and indulgent treat!
Cookie dough: In a small bowl, whisk together both types of the flour, salt, and cinnamon until combined, and then set it aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer that was fitted with a paddle attachment, or in a mixing bowl with a hand mixer, cream together the softened butter and sugar, on medium speed until light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3 to 5 minutes. Then, add in the egg and vanilla extract and mix again until combined.
Using a rubber spatula, fold in the dry flour mixture into the butter mixture and stir to incorporate. The dough will look dry at first, but as you mix, it will hydrate and look more uniform. Proceed to spread the dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap and press it out into a flat disc. Wrap it in the plastic wrap until well covered.
Chill: Then place the dough into the fridge and let it chill for 1-2 hours or until firm.
Prep: When you are ready to bake the cookies, prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper and then set them aside. Start to preheat the oven to 350degrees F.
Shape: Roll out the dough onto a floured surface until it is 1/8 of an inch thick. Use a 2.75-inch round cookie cutter to cut out the cookie shapes. After that, use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter or another small cookie cutter shape, to cut holes out of the center of half of the cookies. Each cookie will have a top and bottom, the top cookie will have the center cut out.
Continue to gently transfer the cookies to the baking sheets and keep them spaced at least 1 inch apart from each other. Reroll and cookie dough scraps and cut more cookies, making sure to get half of the cookies to have their centers removed, as before. If the dough is too warm to handle, place it into the fridge to firm up again.
Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are just beginning to brown and the middle of the cookies look set and no longer shiny. These cookies are thin so they can burn quickly, be sure to watch them closely.
Assemble: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes or until they are firm enough to be transported to a wire rack to continue cooling. Then, place all of the cookies with their center holes removed onto a baking sheet or another easily cleanable surface.
Dust the tops of these cookies with powdered sugar by running it through a fine-mesh sieve. Spread about ½ a teaspoon of jam onto the bottom side of the cookies that do not have holes cut from them. Proceed to sandwich the cookies together with the powdered sugar-coated top pieces. Serve immediately and enjoy these beautiful and tasty treats!
Notes
These Jam-filled cookies should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.For longer storage, you can also freeze them for up to 2 months. Just be sure to thaw them completely before serving.