Learn how to bake original Austrian Linzer Cookies like I learned from my mother in Austria! This recipe has been passed down through generations and I'm excited to share it with you. These sandwich cookies are soft, buttery, and filled with jam. It has been a family favorite for many decades. By the way, have you tried my Vanillekipferl (vanilla crescent cookies) yet?
Step-by-step video tutorial
FAQs
Linzer cookies are soft, buttery and filled with jam. These are traditional Christmas sandwich cookies from Austria, which are usually filled with apricot or strawberry jam. They're so popular that you can buy them in stores all year round, not just during the holiday season, even though they're considered Christmas cookies.
I got mine from my mother when I was still living in Austria. After some research I found that Wilton sells Linzer Cookie cutters that look similar to mine. Their cookie cutter set is available on Amazon. My cookie cutters are 2 inches (5cm) in diameter and so are theirs. However, any 2-inch cookie cutters will work.
Process shots
Making the dough is as easy as making regular sugar cookie dough. Start mixing the butter until creamy. Then add powdered sugar followed by egg yolks. Stir in the vanilla, salt, lemon juice and cinnamon. Finally add flour and almond flour. Divide the dough in half and shape it into discs. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 2 days.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough, ¼-inch (0.6cm) thick. Then cut out cookies and place on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. You can space them 1-inch (2.6cm) apart as they don't spread at all.
Then bake, cool completely, and fill with jam.
Expert tips for success
- The dough contains a lot of butter, so it will become soft if rolled too long. Work in batches, roll out one sheet of dough at a time and keep the second refrigerated until the entire first sheet of dough is cut and ready to bake. If the dough gets too soft, put it back in the fridge. You can also work in smaller batches and quarter the dough if that's easier for you.
- Avoid counteracting the increased softness and stickiness of the dough as you roll it out with too much flour. Use enough flour to roll and cut the dough, but don't work too much flour into the dough or the Linzer cookies will become dry and crumbly.
- Gently roll out the dough with increasing pressure but avoid pressing too hard on the dough or it will tear.
- When it comes to apricot jam, it is popular in Austria to add a bit of rum to the jam. If you want that too, add 1-2 tablespoons of dark rum to your jam, depending on your preference.
- I highly recommend using a kitchen scale and weighing the ingredients. Cups vary in size and too much (almond) flour would dry the cookies out. If using cups instead of a kitchen scale, fluff up the flour, spoon it into the cups, and level with the back of a knife.
- Whenever possible, use real Bourbon vanilla beans, as this is the type of vanilla originally used in these sandwich cookies.
How long do they last?
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Make ahead and freezing instructions
- Cookie dough - Place wrapped dough discs in freezer bags or containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Place the wrapped dough in the refrigerator overnight to thaw.
- Baked cookies - You can either freeze filled cookie sandwiches or just the cookies and fill them after thawing. Individually wrap each cookie tightly in plastic wrap, place in freezer bags or containers, and freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, unwrap and let sit on the counter for 1 hour.
More cookie recipes to try
- Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti
- Christmas Thumbprint Cookies
- Buckeye Cookies
- Gingerbread Men Cookies
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies
- Brown Butter Cookies
The softest and best Linzer Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 large egg yolks
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 vanilla bean* (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
- 2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 cup almond flour, spooned and leveled
- ½ cup apricot or strawberry jam
- Optional powdered sugar for decoration
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, mix the butter on medium speed until creamy for about 1-2 minutes. Add the sugar and mix to combine. Stir in the egg yolks until combined. Add the salt, cinnamon, vanilla*, and lemon juice and mix just until incorporated. On low speed, stir in flour and almond flour just to combine.
- Divide the dough in half and shape into 1-inch (2.6cm) thick discs. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F / 175°C and line 2 or 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one dough disc at a time ¼ inch (0.6cm) thick. Using a 2-inch (5cm) cookie cutter of your choice, cut out cookies and place about 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) apart on the prepared baking sheets. You should end up with about 64 cookies.
- Bake one sheet at a time for 9-10 minutes until they look dry. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Fill cooled cookies with jam by spreading jam on the bottom of one cookie and placing another on top. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if you like. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
Video
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Mainergirl
These were fantastic. The dough was so easy to work with and the cookies didn't spread at all. Very tasty with a mild nuttiness from the almonds. I followed the directions precisely and was a little worried that I should have left the dough out for a bit to warm up after chilling, but it didn't crack much at all when I just rolled it right out and of course got easier with each reworking. Great recipe!
Nancy Lesnett
Can I use all all-purpose flour instead of almond
Flour?
Sabine
Yes, it would be possible but I don't really recommend it because the dough will lose its taste, and most importantly, they won't be so soft and a little dry and crumbly. I hope that helps!
Bhavesh
I have tried this recipe and I found it amazing. My kids love this recipe.
SHEENA M BOLDING
Do I need to chill the dough once rolled out and cut? They may get a little warm after that step.
Sabine
No, just follow the recipe as written. They do not spread.
Maria
I am not a cook, not even amateur. Last minute Linzer cookies the day after Thanksgiving sounded tempting. I didn't have almond flour thus used finely ground peeled almonds: turned out pretty good. I also used different jams to try the taste. My husband "tasted" half the batch.
The recipe is easy and well explained, thank you!
Sharon
I just baked this. Never had them before so I thought ehhhh how different could it be from a regular butter cookie.
Than I took a bite of one without the jam and thought oh my god where have these been all my life. Than I put on the jam and was in heaven.
These are amazing!
Thank you for this recipe!
Roxanne
Very easy recipe to follow for kids today
hiba
Great recipe- cookie has perfect texture and holds shape well enough. I used homemade raspberry jam which worked out well, but I can see why store-bought jam may be more suitable in this case. Thanks for the recipe!
sabrina
Hi! Is there a substitute for almond flour that would not compromise the recipe? My fiance has a nut allergy so i would not be able to use it. Thanks!
Sabine
To be honest, to substitute nut flour for regular flour would affect the recipe big times. In this case, it's better to go with regular sugar cookies and cut and fill them to your liking. I'm sorry!
Jennifer Truax
as a side note,don't toss your vanilla bean pod into the garbage, or compost after removing the seeds, I leave mine in my sugar tub. It leaves the sugar with a subtle vanilla flavour, and smells wonderful. Waste not want not <3
Sabine
Yes, I always do that! I also have vanilla salt at home. You need to try that. It's great for using in baking goods or I also use it for my crockpot chili.