Holiday Baking.
I am not much of a holiday baker. Well, of course I bake for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I don’t get into the frenzy that delights others. Magazines and newspapers are filled with newfangled versions we “need” to try this year. Not for me. I want traditional recipes like my mother made. With one exception…
Mom never made Linzer Cookies. When I was 14, I visited Austria and fell in love with Linzertorte and, by extension, with Linzer Cookies. I’ve been working on my Linzer Cookie recipe for a while now. While there are many variant recipes out there, what makes mine special is the spice mixture I created for the dough.
So, as you prepare for your holidays, whatever they may be, consider a batch of these incredible treats!
~ David
Two-Bite Linzer Cookies
To print this recipe, please click the small printer icon below.
Ingredients
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 3/4 cup almond flour
- 1 teaspoon spice mix (recipe follows instructions)
- 3/4 cup raspberry jam
- confectioners sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F, and line three baking sheets with parchment.
- Place the butter, granulated sugar, and lemon zest in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat, using the paddle attachment, until creamy. Add the yolk and extracts, and mix well, scraping down the sides of the bowl. (This can also be also be done by hand.)
- Add flour, almond flour, and spice mixture, and beat on low speed until it all comes together in a ball. Divide the dough into two equal pieces; wrap one piece and refrigerate.
- On a well-floured surface and with a floured rolling pin, roll out one ball to 1/8-inch thick. Using a 1-1/2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 24 cookies. You may need to pull and knead together the scraps, and roll out again to cut the last few. After you cut out 24 cookies, add any remaining scraps to the refrigerated piece of dough. Transfer cookies to a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 13 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool on the baking sheet set on a rack.
- Roll out the remaining half of the dough (including the scraps), and cut out 24 more cookies. Using a 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch cookie cutter, cut out the centers. I used a square shape to make “diamond” centers, but the shape doesn’t matter. Transfer the 24 cookies with cut-out centers to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place them in the oven and bake for 13 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet set on a rack.
- With the leftover dough, start a third batch. Pull together all the scraps, knead them together, roll out, and cut out 24 more rounds (gathering the scraps and re-rolling as needed). Using the smaller cookie cutter, cut out the centers of 12. Bake the cookies for 13 minutes, then let cool on baking sheet set on a rack as with the first two batches.
- When fully cool, flip the solid cookies so the flat side is up. Dust confectioners sugar over the cookies with holes.
- Place about 1/2 teaspoon of raspberry jam on the flat side of the whole cookies and spread it slightly. Top each with a dusted cookie and press down lightly (touching only the side edges) to make a cookie sandwich.
- Makes 36.
- ___________________________
- Spice Mixture
- • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- • 1/8 teaspoon ground coriander
- • 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
- • 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- • 1/8 teaspoon ground mace
- Whisk together all the spices in a small bowl.
- Makes just over 2 tablespoons.
© 2025 Copyright Cocoa & Lavender
Mimi Rippee
November 16, 2024 at 6:07 amNo cardamom?! Just kidding.These are beautiful. I have a German friend who must make 20 different kinds of cookies every Christmas. Crazy.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:29 pmIt does help explain why Christmas time in Germany is so spectacular. Their holiday cookies are the best!
Barb
November 16, 2024 at 7:08 amThese cookies are edible art! They sound delicious, and I like the low sugar content. Like you, I prefer the traditional treats my mother and grandmothers made.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:28 pmI hadn’t really thought about the sugar content, Barb. But it’s true. The sweetness comes from the spices and also the jam.
Jill W Becker
November 16, 2024 at 9:56 amLooks delicious. My mothers favorite cookie from growing up in Prague. Neither she nor my grandmother ever baked cookies so we always knew the best bakeries for cookies.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:23 pmThere is nothing like a good European bakery, Jill!
Carolyn J Niethammer
November 16, 2024 at 11:45 amI bought a 2-part cookie cutter set in Marrakesh to make this sort of thing. You’ve inspired me to use them for the first time.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:23 pmWow, Carolyn. I had no idea. You could buy a two-part cookie cutter set like this, much less in Marrakesh! I hope you get to use the cookie cutters this holiday season.
Mad Dog
November 16, 2024 at 3:40 pmI love the plate and the step by step pictures. I bet those cookies are good!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:22 pmI had a lot of fun putting together the step-by-step pictures, Mad Dog! The cookies are quite good, and I think you should try making them!
FEL!X
November 16, 2024 at 6:14 pmLovely! Reminds me to start the holiday baking!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:22 pmThanks, Felix! How much baking do you do each year?
angiesrecipes
November 16, 2024 at 8:59 pmThey look so festive and tempting!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:21 pmAbsolutely yes to both, Angie!
Gerlinde de Broekert
November 16, 2024 at 11:12 pmDavid, these are perfect Linzer cookies I love your spice mixture. It is similar to the Lebkuchen spice you can find in Germany.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:21 pmDo you know something, Gerlinde, for all the time I spent in Germany, I never had Lebkuchen. I need to look for a recipe and make some. I’ll check your blog first!
Marcelle
November 17, 2024 at 8:17 amI’ve never made Linzer cookies, but I love to eat them 🙂 These are so pretty and I love the warm spices in this recipe. We really need to try THIS recipe soon, David!!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:20 pmYou definitely need to try these soon. The more I make them, the easier the recipe seems. My first time I felt like I was making four different recipes just to make one! Now I do it without even thinking about it.
Pauline
November 17, 2024 at 4:12 pmThese are indeed works of art David. Beautiful. I think they need to be Winter biscuits here to achieve the fine detail, I’m sure the icing sugar will disappear in our humidity, such a shame. Perhaps if refrigerated though it would last. I also love the combination of spices you have used. When I make them, I think I will measure out the weight of the butter, for next time. I don’t think I am as patient as you in measuring out 12 tablespoons:) The biscuits would be so moreish just on their own. I love traditional dishes at Christmas too.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:20 pmThanks, Pauline,
It’s funny, here in the United States butter comes with markings for the number of tablespoons. So almost every recipe in the United States calls for tablespoons of butter. Each tablespoon is 1/2 ounce!
I know you’re in the midst of summer, so do save these for winter time when the weather is right.
Inger
November 17, 2024 at 4:30 pmI love Linzer cookies! The spices in the cookie dough make it really special!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:18 pmYes, Inger, I prefer my spice in my cookies and not in my beverages. 😊
Eha Carr
November 18, 2024 at 8:14 pmTrust you to be baking cookies, as always beautifully photographed, on my slow return to the fold . . .. Yes, they do remind me of Linzer biscuits . . .
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:17 pmWelcome back, Eha! Are Linzer cookies different than Linzer biscuits?
Eha Carr
November 22, 2024 at 5:25 pmHa! Ha! Ha! What the US calls ‘cookies’ we ALWAYS call ‘biscuits’ – having ‘fun’ as usual!
Valentina
November 18, 2024 at 10:14 pmI love these cookies, David. One of the first things I learned how to make in the pasty class in culinary school was a Linzertorte, and I’ve loved it ever since. And how lovely it is in cookie form. So fun and pretty, much like your plate they’re on, which I’d likely hang on my wall. 🙂 ~Valentina
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:17 pmI think I learned how to make Linzertorte back in 1980, right after I spent my summer in Heidelberg, Germany. It has been a favorite ever since, but I like the cookies better in a way.
Ron
November 19, 2024 at 8:30 amHello, David,
I think when i brought down my website i must have inadvertently unsubscribed. But, not to worry, i’ve signed back up.
I love this kind of cookie and in my day would have love to roll out this dough.
You guys take care
Eha Carr
November 19, 2024 at 4:56 pmRon – have been totally ‘out of it’ since March . . . starting with cataracts and the rest! Had no idea you no longer posted. My current address is eha.carr@outlook.com – if you get a chance, please write!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:16 pmThanks for resubscribing, Ron. It’s so nice to know you’re out there reading.
Glad you like these cookies. They’re perfect for the season…
Raymund
November 19, 2024 at 2:41 pmThese cookies sound like the perfect festive treat to share or maybe keep all to yourself with a warm cup of tea!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:15 pmThanks, Raymund. I try really hard to give most of them away so that I don’t eat them all!
Jeff the Chef
November 20, 2024 at 8:00 amI’ve always wanted to make linzer cookies, so thank you for the inspiration and the recipe!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:14 pmPlease give these a try, Jeff. I am pretty sure you’re going to love them!
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
November 20, 2024 at 12:47 pmOhh, David, you know I can’t resist a “two-bite” cookie! Just perfect for my afternoon tea parties! And your recipe is, I can tell just by reading it, absolutely perfect. Going on my must-make-soon list.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:14 pmThank you, Jean. That does beg the question… Why are cookies so big these days? When my mother, and I’m sure your mother as well, made cookies for us as kids, they were small. They should be a small treat, not an entire meal. Rant over.
Karen (Back Road Journal)
November 21, 2024 at 11:15 amThese sound spectacular. My husband loves linzer cookies as well as lebkuchen and these sound similar with the added spices.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:13 pmThank you, Karin. I used to make a linzer torte every holiday, but I find the cookies are a little less dangerous for the diet! (Just a little…)
Velva-Evening With A Sandwich
November 22, 2024 at 5:29 amDavid, these are my favorite style of cookies. I could eat these all day, everyday. They are beautiful cookies to bake to share during the holidays.
Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
Velva
Cocoa & Lavender
November 22, 2024 at 4:11 pmThank you, Velva! Sadly, I could eat them all the time, too, which would not be good for me.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! I hope you’re still basking in the glow of your wonderful trip.
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
November 23, 2024 at 9:41 amI’m not a baker, either. But as we hate most store-bought cookies for being overly sweet, I bake during the holiday season, particularly shortbread which can be only subtly sweet. Linzer cookies are another great option – they are only required more time than shortbread (and then again, I’m a lazy person haha). Great spice mixture, too, although mace and coriander are surprising ingredients!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 23, 2024 at 10:33 amI completely agree with you, Ben. Store-bought cookies are the worst. So much sugar and so many preservatives… But I have to disagree with you about this: you are not lazy! You work incredibly hard on your blog and you do so many amazing recipes. Always impressive…
Ronit Penso
November 23, 2024 at 11:32 amPerfection! These little gems would disappear in no time, so gifting some is indeed the perfect way to enjoy them! 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
November 24, 2024 at 6:20 amThey do disappear quite fast, Ronit!
sherry
November 24, 2024 at 12:52 amoh wow i love all those spices! and that gorgeous plate!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 24, 2024 at 6:12 amThanks, Sherry. You and I both appreciate beautiful artwork! The plate is from Southern Germany — I bought it when I was 14.
2pots2cook
November 27, 2024 at 7:33 amJust perfect to enjoy after osso buco, dear David!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The-FoodTrotter
November 30, 2024 at 2:34 amI love this so much, strangely the best I ever had was in Panama and they were filled with guava jam! So luscious 🙂