Linzer sandwich cookies recipe

Linzer cookies are a Christmas cookie plate classic that are based on the classic Austrian torte of the same name, which consists of a buttery, nutty dough topped with jam or preserves and then covered with lattice strips of the same base dough. These cookies are very similar, yet the dough is thinner and thus more crisp. The top cookie sports a small cutout in the center, which exposes the jam filling. For a nut whose flavor would really stand out, we chose hazelnuts. We upped the nuttiness even more by also adding a hint of almond extract to the dough. While black currant jam is a traditional filling for Austrian Linzertorte, we liked the bright flavor of raspberry jam with the buttery hazelnut cookie. Chilled butter gave us dough that was easy to work with and resulted in tender yet crisp cookies that complemented the soft jam center. Using confectioners’ sugar as the sole sweetener gave our cookies an extraordinarily tender texture and a fine crumb.