Easy Cherry Almond Linzer Cookies Recipe That Sparkles Joy

Sweet memories dance through kitchens when these delightful cherry almond linzer cookies emerge from family recipe collections.

Austrian bakers pioneered these delicate sandwich treats generations ago.

Intricate cutout patterns create whimsical windows revealing vibrant cherry preserves nestled between buttery layers.

Delicate almond notes whisper through each crumbly bite, inviting gentle exploration.

Powdered sugar dusts these elegant cookies like fresh snowfall, adding magical visual appeal.

Crisp yet tender textures promise a sophisticated dessert experience that delights sophisticated palates.

Bake these charming cookies and watch faces light up with pure joy.

Features of Cherry Almond Linzer Cookies

• Craft Delightful Treats: Perfect for baking enthusiasts wanting to create beautiful, impressive cookies that look professionally made.
• Master Simple Techniques: Beginner-friendly recipe with straightforward steps anyone can follow, requiring basic baking skills and minimal specialized equipment.
• Customize with Love: Flexible recipe allowing personal touches like different jam flavors or decorative powdered sugar patterns to match individual preferences and occasions.
• Crowd-Pleasing Dessert: Guaranteed to wow family and friends with elegant appearance, delicious almond and cherry combination, and bakery-quality presentation.

Ingredients for Cherry Almond Linzer Cookies

• All-Purpose Flour, Almond Flour: A perfect blend of flours that creates a delicate and nutty base for the Linzer cookies.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the cookies.

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy texture and helps bind the cookie dough together.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a tender cookie structure.
• Egg: Binds the ingredients and contributes to the cookie's soft texture.
• Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract: Infuses the cookies with warm, aromatic flavors that complement the cherry and almond theme.

• Cherry Jam: A sweet and tangy filling that adds vibrant color and fruity flavor to the Linzer cookies.
• Powdered Sugar: A light, delicate dusting that adds a beautiful finishing touch and subtle sweetness.

How to Bake Cherry Almond Linzer Cookies

Step 1: Whip Dry Ingredients

Grab a mixing bowl and blend all-purpose flour, almond flour, and salt until perfectly combined. Use a whisk to ensure no lumps remain.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar

In another bowl, beat butter and sugar together until the mixture becomes light and airy. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract, mixing thoroughly until everything is smooth and well integrated.

Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures

Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Stir gently until a consistent dough forms without overmixing.

Step 4: Chill the Dough

Shape the dough into a flat disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator. Let it rest and firm up for half an hour.

Step 5: Prepare for Baking

Heat the oven to 350F (175C). Dust your work surface with flour and roll out the chilled dough to a thin, even layer.

Step 6: Cut Cookie Shapes

Use a round cookie cutter to create cookie bases. With a smaller cutter, create decorative windows in half of the cookie shapes.

Step 7: Bake the Cookies

Arrange cookies on a baking sheet. Slide into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn a soft golden color.

Step 8: Assemble Linzer Cookies

Once cookies have completely cooled, spread cherry jam on the solid cookie bases. Gently place the windowed cookies on top.

Step 9: Final Touch

Sprinkle a delicate layer of powdered sugar over the assembled cookies just before serving.

Tips for Perfect Linzer Cookies

• Opt for high-quality almond and all-purpose flour to ensure a rich, nutty flavor and tender texture in your linzer cookies.
• Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain clean-cut cookie shapes during baking.
• Use room temperature butter for smoother creaming and better incorporation with sugar and eggs.
• Select a tart cherry jam that balances the sweetness of the cookie and adds a vibrant fruity contrast.
• Dust powdered sugar just before serving to keep the cookies crisp and prevent sugar from melting into the jam.

Flavor Twists on Cherry Almond Linzer Cookies

• Gluten-Free Version: Replace all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend and ensure almond flour is certified gluten-free for celiac-friendly cookies.
• Vegan Adaptation: Swap butter with coconut oil, use egg replacement like flax egg, and select plant-based cherry jam for dairy-free option.
• Nutty Alternative: Substitute almond flour with hazelnut or pistachio flour for different nutty flavor profiles and unique texture.
• Low-Sugar Option: Use sugar substitute like monk fruit sweetener, reduce overall sugar content, and select low-sugar cherry preserves for diabetic-friendly treat.

Pairing Ideas for Linzer Cookies

• Sweet Tea Party Display: Arrange cookies on delicate vintage plates with sprigs of fresh mint for an elegant afternoon gathering.
• Romantic Dessert Platter: Create a beautiful heart-shaped arrangement with cookies positioned around a small bowl of extra cherry jam for dipping.
• Gifting Gourmet Touch: Stack cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with rustic twine, perfect for homemade holiday presents or wedding favors.
• Brunch Centerpiece Accent: Serve alongside fresh berries and whipped cream, creating a delightful visual and flavor complement to weekend brunch spread.

FAQs

• Why add almond flour to the recipe?

Almond flour adds a rich, nutty flavor and creates a more tender texture in the cookies, making them more delicate and sophisticated.

• Can I use a different type of jam?

While cherry jam is traditional, you can easily substitute raspberry, strawberry, or apricot jam for a different flavor profile that still complements the almond base.

• How thin should I roll the dough?

Roll the dough to about ¼-inch thickness to ensure the cookies are crisp but not too fragile, which helps maintain their delicate sandwich structure.

• Do I need any special equipment to make these cookies?

A round cookie cutter set and a smaller cutter for the window are helpful, but you can also use a knife or the rim of a glass to cut out shapes if needed.

Best Cherry Almond Linzer Cookies Recipe

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4.5 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 57 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Delightful cherry almond linzer cookies combine European pastry elegance with sweet raspberry jam centers. Crisp almond-studded shortbread sandwiches create a delectable treat you will savor with pure culinary pleasure.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1.75 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.75 cup almond flour
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 0.5 cup sugar

Flavoring Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 0.5 teaspoon almond extract
• 0.5 teaspoon salt

Finishing Ingredients:

• 0.5 cup cherry jam
• Powdered sugar (for dusting)

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Instructions

1. Combine flour varieties and salt in a mixing vessel, ensuring uniform blending of dry ingredients.
2. Using an electric mixer, whip butter and sugar until achieving a pillowy, aerated consistency. Incorporate egg and aromatic extracts, blending thoroughly.
3. Integrate dry mixture into wet components, stirring until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
4. Transform dough into a compact disc, encase with plastic membrane, and chill within refrigerator for half an hour to stabilize.
5. Heat oven to 350F (175C). On a lightly dusted surface, delicately roll dough to a slender 1/4-inch thickness.
6. Utilize circular cutters of varying dimensions to craft cookie bases and decorative window openings, strategically creating matching pairs.
7. Arrange delicate cookie shapes onto parchment-lined baking sheet, positioning with slight separation to prevent merging.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes, monitoring until peripheral edges transform to a gentle golden hue and surfaces appear set.
9. Allow complete cooling on wire rack to prevent moisture retention.
10. Spread vibrant cherry preserves across solid cookie foundations, gently nestling windowed counterparts atop jam layer.
11. Delicately dust assembled cookies with powdered sugar, creating an elegant, frost-like finish just before serving.

Notes

• Ensure butter is at room temperature for smoother creaming and better cookie texture.
• Use high-quality almond and vanilla extracts to enhance the rich, nutty flavor profile.
• Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain crisp cookie edges during baking.
• For gluten-free version, swap all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and almond flour.
• Swap cherry jam with other fruit preserves like raspberry or apricot for flavor variations.
• Create uniform cookies by using a digital kitchen scale to weigh dough portions precisely.
• Store cookies in an airtight container between parchment layers to maintain crispness.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Austrian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 146
• Sugar: 7 g
• Sodium: 38 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 19 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 17 mg