Festive Linzer Cookies
Festive Linzer Cookies
These crispy tender hazelnut star Linzer cookies are deliciously buttery and nutty like shortbread, with a bit of jelly in every bite. They’re so delicious! And pretty.
Festive, pretty and worth the effort!
Who can resist these pretty star shaped cookies with jelly filled centres and sugar dusted tops?! These Linzer cookies will disappear quickly from your holiday treat plates. There’s just something about them that are irresistible!
Please make sure to read my TIPS section for best cookie making results!
Hazelnut Star Linzer Cookie Recipe Tips + Tricks
- MAKES 24 COOKIES: This recipe makes 24 jelly filled cookies, but it also depends on how big your cookie cutter is. The stars I used are a medium sized cutter, so not too big and not too small.
- COOKIE CUTTERS: You will need 2 cookie cutters: one medium sized one for the cookie, and one small one for cutting out the centres that make the window to the jelly centre.
- HAZELNUTS: Use toasted hazelnuts. Toast them at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes. Make sure they’re fully cooled before you process them.
- JELLY / JAM: You can use your favourite jam or jelly for the centres. Here are some great options: raspberry jelly or jam, strawberry jelly, chokecherry jelly, crabapple jelly, apricot jelly, lemon curd, or even Nutella. SO many options.
- CHILL THE DOUGH: For best results make sure to chill the dough. There are 2 chilling steps: the first is chilling the two disks of dough so they’re easy to roll out. And the second step is chilling the dough once more once it’s rolled out so the dough keeps its shape as you cut into it with cookie cutters. You will also end up with leftover dough after cutting out the shapes, just roll up that dough and rechill it while you work with the other dough, then come back to it.
- POWDERED SUGAR TIPS: Dust the tops with the powdered sugar before placing them on the base cookies or you may get sugar on the jelly filling.
- FREEZING: These cookies freeze very well, even when filled and dusted with powdered sugar. Just place carefully into an airtight freezer container, don’t stack them, and freeze for up to a month. Once you’re ready to serve them, if needed, you can lightly dust with powdered sugar, taking care not to get it on the jelly centres.
Putting them all together:
These Linzer cookies are easier to make than you might think! Once you have the dough made, chilled, then rolled out, the fun part begins…cutting out shapes, baking then filling. And the most satisfying part of all, seeing the finished product. These cookies are so pretty.
I used star shaped cookie cutters for these, but you can use what ever shape you like: star, circle, square, or any Christmas cookie cutter.
So festive so fun
Make a Cookie Box!
If you’re looking for a delicious gift idea for friends and family this holiday season, put together a cookie box filled with festive cookies and treats, including these Linzer Cookies! Check out my Cookie Box blog post here for more ideas and tips.
Festive Linzer Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup hazelnuts toasted
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup butter at room temperature
- 3 large egg yolks
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- powdered sugar for dusting
- jelly or jam for the filling (your choice of flavour, see tips above)
Instructions
- First toast the hazelnuts in a 350 degree F oven for about 10 minutes, just until lightly toasted. Watch them carefully and stir occasionally, you don't want them to burn. Once done, let cool completely.1 cup hazelnuts
- In a bowl sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 3/4 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- Use a food processor to pulse the cooled toasted hazelnuts with 1/4 cup of the flour mixture, until fine. Then add remaining flour mixture and pulse.
- Add the butter and pulse once again until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs (see image above for reference).1 cup butter
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl and use a fork to blend in the egg yolks and vanilla until the dough comes together.3 large egg yolks, 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Shape the dough into two disks, wrap in parchment paper, and let chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes. NOTE: The reason for the 2 disks is so that the cookies can be made in 2 batches – I roll out and shape one disk, while the other disk of dough remains in the fridge to stay cool. Warm dough does not roll out well.
- Remove one disk from the fridge and roll it between two pieces of parchment paper to 1/8 inch thickness. If it's too stiff to roll, let it sit for a few minutes to warm up slightly.
- Leave the dough on the parchment paper and set it on a baking sheet. Refrigerate for another 30 minutes.
- Remove from the fridge and cut with cookie cutters, I like to use a star cutter, but you can use any shape you like. Cut out 48 star shapes with the medium cutter then place the cookies on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
- Now cut out the centres from 24 cookies using the small cutter. You can bake these small centre stars too!
- Note: you will end up with leftover dough after cutting out the shapes, just roll up that dough and rechill it while you work with the other dough, then come back to it.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees F. (bake each cookie sheet separately)
- Remove from the oven and let cool.
- Dust the tops of the star shaped cookies with powdered sugar. Make sure to do this before placing the tops over the jelly covered bottoms.powdered sugar for dusting
- Spread the jam or jelly filling on the bottom cookie, then gently set the star cookie (with the cut out centre) on top. Don't press or it will break. TIP: I like to slightly warm up the jelly so it's easier to spread.jelly or jam for the filling
- Let sit for at least a couple of hours or even over night.
More Christmas Cookie Recipes
Everything from classic shortbread to gingerbread, sugar cookies, thumbprints, mint chocolate, hot chocolate, snowballs, peppermint, cut-out cookies, slice-and-bake and more!
Have a delicious day!
