It doesn't get more festive than these pretty, melt in the mouth Eggless Linzer Cookies - the famous Christmas cookies from Austria. Cookies with a round cut out are sandwiched with raspberry and saffron preserve. Then they're dusted with icing sugar to give a snowy finish. The perfect bake to celebrate the season of joy!
Christmas feels imcomplete without a couple of bakes. I usually do some sort of pastry - like these nutella puff pastry christmas trees. Cookies always stand out for me though!
So this Christmas we went for these sweet and crumbly shortbread cookies which are filled with jam.
The Recipe
Traditional Austrian Linzer cookies are prepared with a rich and buttery shortbread dough with either ground almonds or hazelnuts and eggs.
My version is eggless, so instead you'll need plain flour, butter, sugar, ground almonds, cinnamon and baking powder.
You can also use whole nuts, but you'll need to grind them down first in a high speed blender.
Once cookies are baked, they are spread with a sweet and tart jam. I went with a raspberry jam and saffron jam for variation, but you can use strawberry or apricot too.
Once filled with jam, the top part of cookies dusted with icing sugar to give a festive look.
Step by Step with Tips
Make sure your butter is at room temperature.
Once the dough is prepared, wrap it in a cling film or greaseproof paper and chill it in the fridge for a couple of hours.
Work fairly quick when you work with dough and cut out the cookies so the dough stays chilled and firm. If you feel that cookies are getting soft, place them back in the refrigerator until the dough has firmed up again. This will help them retain their original shape and prevent cookies from spreading.
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📖 Recipe
Linzer Cookies (Eggless)
Ingredients
- 2 cup plain flour
- 1 cup ground almonds
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- ¾ cup icing sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- ½ cup jam or preserve I used raspberry and saffron jam
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Combine plain flour, salt, cinnamon powder, baking powder and almond flour in a big bowl.
- In another large bowl beat the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
- Gradually add the flour and almond mixture into the butter and sugar mixture and mix until well combined.
- Remove the dough from the bowl, divide the dough into two equal portions and wrap each piece in butter paper or cling film and leave it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours (You can keep the dough in the fridge for up to 2 days)
- Preheat oven to gas mark 4/350F/180C.
- Line two baking trays with butter paper.
- Take out the dough from the fridge and leave it on the worktop for 10 minutes.
- Put one portion of dough on a piece of butter paper and cover it with another paper, roll out into ¼" thickness.
- Cut the cookies with 3" cookie cutter into whatever shape you desire. Also, cut out the same quantity cookies with a small hole in the centre.
- Arrange the cookies on a baking tray.
- Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Bake cookies in preheated oven for 12 minutes or just starting to turn golden around the edges.
- Let the cookies cool down completely.
- Dust the centre cut out cookies with icing sugar.
- Spread little jam on the other cookies and place the centre cut out cookies on jam spread cookies.
Notes
Nutrition
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional values are estimated by a computer and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. For personalised dietary advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
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Hayley Dhanecha says
I love how these linzer cookies look so elegant with the jam peeking through, yet they’re surprisingly simple to put together. These feel like such a special treat for tea time or gifting.
My Culinary Journey says
Cookies can't be more prettier than this. OMG... So cute and beautiful. These are apt for Festive season.
Wonderful share Jagruti.
jcookingodyssey says
Thank you MCJ!
Anshu says
Wow! these cookies look super pretty and awesome. They are on my todo list for quite a while...now gonna try them out soon.
jcookingodyssey says
These are so easy to bake!
Avin says
The cookies look so so pretty. They may be Christmas special but I am gonna try this soon. 😄
jcookingodyssey says
Oh yes, to enjoy these cookies you don't have to wait for Christmas 🙂 Go ahead!
Freda says
Your linzer cookies have turned out fabulous:) They look very festive and delicious, Jagruti!
jcookingodyssey says
Thanks Freda!
Swati says
These cute little bites are my favorite so perfect for special occasion or even just like that!! Beautifully shot!!
jcookingodyssey says
Thanks Swati, glad you enjoy these cute cookies!
jayashree says
These linzer cookies look so cute and delectable, nobody can say no to them.
jcookingodyssey says
Totally agree with you Jaya!