It was Christmas Eve, my family just finished dinner, and the dogs were already fast asleep. I'm not sure why, but I was feeling extraordinarily guilty for not cooking anything special for my family on Christmas Eve. So rather than mope around and stuff myself with the bounty of chocolates and cakes that we already have in my house, I decided to add to our Christmas collection.
Ta da! You have to admit that these are pretty impressive Christmas cookies. And if you participate in any holiday cookie exchanges, these Linzer cookies should definitely be a contender! Don't get me wrong, cookies are delicious all year round. So bookmark the tab now, eat some today, and then impress all your friends at your next party when you bring these bad boys to the table.
These cookies look much harder than they actually are to make. Cookie cutters will become your new best friend, dusted powdered sugar will cover up any flaws, and strawberry jam adds the perfect tartness to the sweet cookie. You know I'm not lying cause who wants to be on Santa's naughty list?
Linzer Cookies
Serving Size: Makes 18 sandwich cookies
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. pure vanilla
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 strawberry or raspberry jam
Powdered sugar for dusting
1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mix together the butter, sugar, and vanilla until they are just combined.
2. Add the flour,salt, and nutmeg to the electric mixer and mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. If the mixture is coarse and crumbly slowly add cold water or milk until a pliable dough forms.
3. Turn the dough out onto a work surface lightly dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap the dough in plastic and put in a freezer for 15 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the dough from the freezer and roll out to 1/4 inch think on a lightly dusted work surface. Cut out 18 heart shaped cookies with the cookie cutter.
5, With half of the hearts. cut a smaller heart out of the center. Place the cookies on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
6. Once the cookies are cooled, spread the jam on the bottom side of the cutout cookie and the top of the solid cookie. Press the sides with jam together to form a cookie sandwich,
7. Dust the top of the cookie sandwich with powdered sugar and serve!
Tip:
I had to add some milk to my dough because I don't have a paddle attachment to work the dough. You can use the normal whisk attachment like I did, but you will definitely need the recommended water or milk to keep the dough together. This whisk attachment by its nature will break apart the dough, so once the ingredients are well incorporated, use your hands to bind the ingredients!
To sprinkle the powdered sugar, I always pour the sugar into a little strainer and then lightly tap the side for an even coating.
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