Up your Christmas cookie game with these cardamom Christmas linzer cookies! Using raspberry preserves, these are the perfect cookie sandwich.
Linzer cookies are a part of traditional Austrian baking which actually derived from a tart. The tarts were baked in a similar fashion to a pie with a crust made of nuts and a filling of black currant preserves. The linzer cookies follow a similar format with a dough with ground nuts and fruit preserves sandwiched in the middle.
While the traditional method for baking linzer cookies is delicious, I added a Scandinavian spin to them by adding cardamom. I also made these cookies easier to bake by eliminating the ground nuts. Now your friends with nut allergies can also enjoy these tasty treats!
How to Make the Best Cardamom Christmas Linzer Cookies
While the full recipe instructions are available below, here are some tips to make the best linzer cookies this holiday season!
Cardamom: I love cardamom, since it reminds me of the baking from my family in Norway. If you do not like the flavor of cardamom, then simply leave it out or swap it for up to one teaspoon of a different spice of your choice.
Chilling the Dough: to achieve the best linzer cookies, you must chill the dough. Do not skip this step! Chilling the dough is important because it solidifies the butter in the dough. When the dough bakes it will expand more slowly and achieve a fluffier texture. If you skimp on chilling your dough, you will be more likely to have flat cookies instead of the light and fluffy texture we are after.
Cookie Cutters: fruit preserves sandwiched between two cookies is the signature of linzer cookies. The top cookie has a cutout to expose the preserves in the middle. Use a large circular or simply shaped cookie cutter to cut out all of the cookies. Then, use a smaller different shaped cookie cutter to cut out the center of half of the cookies. Once baked, sprinkle powdered sugar over the top cookie.
Fruit Preserves: while you can use any fruit preserves, I love to use Bonne Maman raspberry jam in my linzer cookies. The flavor complements the cardamom in the cookies perfectly!
Using a stand mixer or handheld mixer, mix together the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract until just combined.
Add the flour, salt, cardamom, and water and continue to mix until just combined. Shape the dough into a flat disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the fridge and chill for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350F.
Sprinkle flour on your surface and the top of the dough. Roll until it is 1/4 inch thick. Using a large cookie cutter, cut out as many cookies as possible. Using a smaller cookie cutter, cut out the center of half of the cookies. Chill for 15 minutes before baking.
Bake cookies for 15 to 20 minutes, until the edges are golden. Place the cookies on a cooling rack and allow to cool to room temperature.
Dust the cutout cookies with powdered sugar. Spread the raspberry jam onto the full cookie rounds and place the cutout cookies on top. Enjoy!
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