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linzer cookie bells.
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5 from 2 votes

Linzer Cookies

Linzer cookies are jam filled sandwich cookies made from ground hazelnuts. Recipe from Bon Appetit, December, 1993.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Course: Cookie
Cuisine: Austrian
Servings: 48 cookies
Calories: 125kcal
Author: Cynthia

Ingredients

Linzer Dough

  • 3 cups All-purpose flour (13.2 ounces)
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup hazelnuts toasted (4.5 ounces)
  • 2/3 cup sugar (4.7 ounces)
  • 10 ounces unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Finishing the linzer cookies

  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 13 ounces raspberry jam

Instructions

Making the linzer dough

  • Combine flour, salt and baking powder in a medium bowl.
  • Finely grind hazelnuts with 2/3 cup sugar in food processor.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer beat butter until light and fluffy. 
  • Add ground nuts and sugar mixture, beating to blend.
  • Add whole egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract and blend just until incorporated. With a rubber spatula, stir in flour mixture, scraping down sides of bowl.
  • Divided dough into 4 equal portions. Flatten into disks and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. (The dough can be frozen for up to 2 months at this point)
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Roll one dough disk out on a heavily work surface to about 1/8″ thick. These are sandwich cookies so they should be quite thin.
  • Using a cookie cutter that’s about 2″ to 3″ in diameter and cut out as many cookies as possible from the dough. Transfer cookies to an un-greased cookie sheet with parchment paper or silpat. Using a small pastry bag tip cut out holes on half of the cookies.
  • Gather up the dough scraps and press into a smaller disk and place in the fridge to chill.
  • Bake cookies on prepared cookie sheets until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer baked cookies to a wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining dough and scraps.
  • While cookies are baking and cooling, prepare the jam filling. Boil jam in a heavy small saucepan until thickened, stirring constantly, about 4 minutes. 
  • Dust the top half of the cookies with powdered sugar using a fine mesh sieve or this powdered sugar wand.
  • Once cookies are cool, spread about 1 teaspoon on the bottom cookies, leaving a 1/4″ border. Match each cookie with a cut-out cookie top.
  • Cookies can be made up to 2 weeks in advance. Place cookies in an airtight container with parchment paper separating the layers.