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Easy Linzer Cookies Recipe (6 Ingredients)

You’ll love these soft and buttery Linzer cookies filled with jam! This shortbread sandwich cookie is perfect for Christmas gifting or cookie exchanges. They only have six ingredients.

linzer cookies

I love baking cookies for cookie exchanges! Actually, let me correct myself.

I love baking cookies for cookie exchanges when: 1) I have enough time to make a more complicated cookie or 2) I have an easy and delicious recipe that I can do quickly.

I wish I were Mrs. Fields or a Keebler Elf, and I could come up with a unique cookie recipe at a moments notice, but I can’t.

I have to have that kind of stuff on hand.

If you’re like me, I think you’re going to like these linzer cookies! Actually I think you’re going to LOVE this recipe. Not only is it tasty, but there six ingredients. That means it’s really easy.

hand holding a linzer cookie

These linzer biscuits are soft and buttery shortbread cookies sandwiched together with jam and dusted with powdered sugar. They are very tasty but not too overwhelming or rich.

They are melt-in-the-mouth soft and decadent with light vanilla flavors. AND they are pretty, which I love.

If you’re showing up to a Christmas party with these, people will think you spent a lot longer on them than you did. We always like that, don’t we?

strawberry linzer cookies

Here’s what you’re going to need for these linzer cookies.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar (icing sugar) + 2 tablespoons for dusting
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 5 Tablespoons strawberry jam (or more as required)

These taste great with any type of jam. My favorites are strawberry, raspberry, and apricot.

I used a snowflake-shaped cookie cutter for these linzers, but you can use any shape(s) you like. You can always do round with another shape inside. Mix it up!

You can fill the center of sandwich cookies with jam using a spoon or piping bag if it looks a bit empty or you missed spots.

linzer torte cookies

You can store these in an airtight container for 8-10 days at room temperature. The moisture in the jam will further soften the cookies when stored. So, if you want them to be a bit crisp, assemble them just before serving.

christmas linzer cookies

You can also freeze them in an airtight container for two-three months. Wrap in plastic and put them in an airtight container.

When you bring them out of the freezer, let them rise to room temperature naturally as opposed to microwaving.

shortbread linzer cookies

Get the printable recipe for these cookies below:

hand holding a linzer cookie

Linzer Cookies

Discover the charm of Linzer cookies: a perfect blend of delicate almond flavors and sweet fruit jam. Learn how to bake these classic Austrian treats at home!
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 20 cookies

Ingredients

Instructions

Make the Cookies

  • [mv_schema_meta name="Cream the Butter and Sugar"]Place butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric hand mixer on medium-high until creamy.
    Butter beat with a hand mixer in a glass bowl until creamy
  • [mv_schema_meta name="Add the Vanilla"]Add vanilla extract and beat again until everything is combined.
  • [mv_schema_meta name="Add the Dry Ingredients"]Sift the flour and salt into the mixture and mix until just combined. Form the dough.
    adding the dry ingredients to the linzer dough
  • [mv_schema_meta name="Chill the Dough"]Cover and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 mins.
    linzer cookie dough in a bowl for the fridge
  • [mv_schema_meta name="Preheat the Oven"]Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line your baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and keep it aside.
    Preheating the oven
  • [mv_schema_meta name="Cut Out the Cookies"]Once chilled, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out star/snowflake shapes using a cookie cutter. Use a smaller snowflake-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the center of half of the cookies.
    cutting star shapes out of cookie dough
  • [mv_schema_meta name="Bake the Cookies"]Transfer the cookies carefully to the prepared baking tray. Bake the cookies until the edges start to brown about 8-10 minutes.
    Cut out stars from cookie dough on parchment paper
  • [mv_schema_meta name="Allow to Cool"]Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes, then transfer them onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
    Cut out star cookies on a baking sheet

Assemble the Cookies

  • [mv_schema_meta name="Sift Confectioners Sugar Over the Cookies"]Place the cookies with the center cut out on a parchment paper lined surface and sift the confectioners sugar over the top.
    Baked linzer star cookies with confectioners sugar sprinkled on top
  • [mv_schema_meta name="Spread Jam on the Bottom Halves"]Spread a teaspoon of jam on the bottom halves of each cookie (the cookies that do not have the center cut out).
    Jam added to the tops of the cookies
  • [mv_schema_meta name="Press the Tops on the Jam"]Press gently the center cut, sugar-dusted cookies on top of the jam spread bottoms.

Notes

Transfer the whole star/snowflake cutouts to the baking sheet first and then cut out the stars in the center to ensure that the shape doesn’t distort while transferring.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 30mg | Sugar: 2g

If you enjoyed this recipe, let me know in the comments! I’d also love for you to check out these other baked goodies and cookies:

Apricot Dark ChocolateBacon Chocolate ChipBrownie Chocolate ChipChristmas ButterChristmas CrackBuckeyeButterscotch PopcornChocolate Chip PuddingChocolate Chip SandwichChocolate MarshmallowChocolate Mint SandwichChocolate ThumbprintGinger MolassesHeath BarNutella StuffedPeanut Butter BlossomsPeppermint FrostedRed Velvet ThumbprintReese’s PiecesReindeerRoloSantaSnickersVanillaWhoopie Pies

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