Raspberry Almond Linzer Cookies For The Win!

So it is cookie month, and last week I made gingerbread cookies, which were a hit. I wanted to make another cookie that would be delicious and represent christmas time. I went with a linzer cookie. I think these cookies look beautiful, especially with the dusting of powdered sugar and that peek of jam in the center of each cut out. I've never made Linzer cookies and decided to make them for this post. The hardest part was deciding on the shape. I went with a circle and a star cookie. The flavors were spot on, almond and raspberry go really well together and I did also zest a bit of lemon in for some brightness. It really took these cookies over the top. I still have to decide on next week's cookie. I think I'm going with sugar cookies. Here's how the Linzer turned out.

Beautiful Raspberry Almond Linzer Cookies

Linzer Cookies

• 2 sticks (1 cup) of room temperature butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 cup of almond meal (ground almonds)
• 2 cups of flour
• zest from one lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar for dusting tops
• 1/2 cup raspberry jam

First sift your flour, almond flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt together in a large bowl and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl take your room temperature butter and 1/2 cup of granulated sugar and beat until pale and fluffy

Add in your lemon zest, vanilla extract, almond extract and egg yolks and beat until combined

Gradually add in your flour mixture and mix just until dough forms

 
Wrap dough in plastic wrap and place in fridge for about 1 and a half hours (dough will be a little crumbly sort of like a shortbread dough) (that's why chilling is a must)

Dust your work surface and roll dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness and cut out your shapes. These cookies need a top and a bottom, so don't forget that. For your top cookies remember to cut out a mini shape.

Bake cookies in 350F oven for 12 minutes or until edges become golden brown


Let cool completely on cooling racks

Place all the tops together on a wrack and dust generously with powdered sugar.

like snow

On the bottoms spread raspberry jams on each cookie

I love raspberry jam

Now take your powdered sugar tops and place them on top of each raspberry jam cookie

Circles

stars

*I placed some more jam in a piping bag and filled each cut out with more jam*

Raspberry Almond Linzer Cookies

Ok, here are the delicious Raspberry Almond Linzer Cookies,  I think these look really pretty and remind me so much of Christmas. Bake these for your family and friends this holiday season.