The Most Delicious Forms of Classic Linzer Christmas Cookie Recipes Guaranteed to be a Must-Have in Your Home

The Linzer cookie is a traditional Austrian pastry consisting of a delicate, nutty, and crumbly dough flavored with ground almonds or hazelnuts.

The dough is typically spiced with cinnamon and lemon zest, and the cookies are filled with a layer of fruit preserves, often raspberry or apricot.

The top cookie usually has a small cutout in the center, allowing the colorful filling to show through. The resulting flavor is a perfect balance of sweet and nutty, with a hint of tartness from the fruit preserves.

These cookies are a delightful addition to any holiday baking repertoire.

The good news is that they are surprisingly easy to bake, making them a perfect choice for both novice and experienced bakers alike.

The Best Christmas Linzer Cookies

There’s something truly special about the Linzer cookies baked by grandmas. Their time-tested recipes and baking techniques result in cookies that are truly unparalleled.

Try this recipe for Christmas Linzer Cookies that is shared among generations in our family!

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cup of all-purpose
• 1 1/2 cup of chilled butter
• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• 2 bags of vanilla sugar
• 2 eggs
• lemon zest from ½ lemon

To finish:

• jam (apricot, cherry, strawberry – as per your preference. However, the bitter ones taste better)
• icing sugar

Method:

• We make dough from the ingredients, wrap it in cling film, and refrigerate it for at least an hour.
• Then, on a floured rolling pin, roll out into a thin pancake.
• We cut out the shapes as desired.
• Bake in an oven heated to 380°F for about 7 minutes.
• Then, combine it with your favorite jam and sprinkle it with sugar to perfection.

Linzer Cookies with Cocoa

Introducing the indulgent twist on the classic Linzer cookie: Linzer cookies with cocoa. These delectable treats feature a rich, chocolate-infused dough that adds a new dimension of flavor to the traditional almond-based cookie.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of semi-coarse flour
• 1 cup of butter
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons of cocoa
• 1 egg yolk

To finish:

• raspberry jam
• icing sugar

Method:

• Mix the loose ingredients together, then add the cooled butter and egg yolk and make a dough.
• Store it in the cold for the night.
• The next day, roll out a thin pancake.
• Cut out circles and, in a half batch, small circles in the middle.
• Bake at 360°F for about 5 to 6 minutes.
• After baking, glue one full circle and one circle with a hole.
• Finally, sprinkle with sugar.

Linzer Cookies with Lemon Cream

These delightful creations feature a buttery, nutty dough infused with lemon zest’s bright, citrusy flavor.

The result is a harmonious blend of sweet and tangy flavors that gives these Lemon Linzer cookies a unique and irresistible taste.

Ingredients:

For the dough:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 cup of butter
• 1 egg yolk

Lemon cream:

• 1/4 cup of lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of grated lemon peel
• 2 larger egg yolks
• 1/4 cup of room-temperature butter
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar

Method:

• Mix the ingredients for the dough and leave the finished dough in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
• Put lemon juice, zest, sugar, butter, and egg yolks in a bowl.
• Mix everything over a hot bath until stiff.
• Then set aside and let cool.
• We roll out the dough into a pancake and cut out any shapes.
• Bake in an oven heated to 350°F for about 8 minutes.
• After it has cooled down, spread it with lemon cream and stick it together.

Soft Coconut Linzer Cookies

Indulge in a delightful variation of the classic Linzer cookie with a coconut filling.

These cookies feature a rich, buttery crust filled with a luscious coconut filling. Each bite perfectly balances flavors and textures, making these coconut-filled Linzer cookies a delectable choice for any occasion.

Ingredients:

Dough:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup of butter
• 1 egg
• 1 vanilla sugar
• 2 spoons of cocoa

For the filling:

• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1/4 cup of grated coconut
• 1/2 cup of butter
• 1/4 cup of powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup ground sponge cake

To decorate:

• chocolate

Method:

• Prepare the ingredients for the dough.
• Roll out the dough into a thin 0.1-inch flat cake, from which cut out any shapes.
• Bake at 350°F for about 8 minutes.
• In the meantime, prepare the cream.
• Pour the hot milk and sugar over the coconut and leave to cool.
• Then add ground sponge cake and cooled butter and mix into a cream.
• After the cookies have cooled, combine them with cream and cover them in chocolate glaze.

Gluten-Free Linzer Cookies

These delightful treats feature a nutty and earthy flavor from the buckwheat flour, providing a unique and wholesome twist to the traditional recipe.

They are gluten-free, so they are the perfect alternative for celiacs!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of buckwheat flour
• 4 tablespoons of powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup of butter
• 1 egg yolk
• ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
• pinch of salt

To finish:

• currant jam (or other jam as per your preference)
• powdered sugar

Method:

• Make a dough from the raw materials, which we put in the refrigerator to rest for at least an hour.
• Then, roll the dough into a very thin pancake and cut out the shapes.
• Bake in an oven heated to 350°F for about 7 minutes.
• After cooling, combine with jam and sprinkle with sugar.

Linzer Cookies with Hazelnut Filling

Do you love nutty Christmas cookies? Here’s an excellent recipe for Linzer cookies with a yolk glaze and hazelnut filling.

Ingredients:

For the dough:

• 1 cup of butter
• 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup ground walnuts

For the filling:

• 1/2 cup ground hazelnuts
• 2 tablespoons of rum
• ½ cup apricot jam

Glaze:

• 4 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon of rum

Method:

• Prepare the ingredients for the dough and let it rest in the fridge for at least an hour.
• Roll out the cooled dough thinly and cut out shapes.
• Bake at 350°F for about 8 minutes.
• In the meantime, prepare the filling by mixing all the listed ingredients.
• Prepare the frosting by mixing egg yolks, sifted sugar, and rum.
• Spread half of the baked cookies with icing and half with cream, and then glue them together.
• Be careful; the candy is fragile!

Soft Linzer Cookies

The custard powder will give the recipe the appropriate delicacy.

However, for perfection and tenderness, bake it in advance. Aged is best.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups of semi-coarse flour
• 1 cup of vanilla custard powder
• 1 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 2 1/2 cup of butter
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 egg

To finish:

• jam as per your preference

Method:

• Mix the loose ingredients, then add butter, eggs and yolks and make a dough.
• Put it in the fridge for 2 hours.
• Then, roll the dough into a thin pancake.
• Cut out shapes and bake at 350°F or about 8 minutes.
• After it cools down, cover with marmalade and stick two shapes together.

Linzer rolls half-dipped with fruit filling

This twist on the traditional cookie features a unique roll-shaped design with one end dipped in sweet fruit filling, creating a delicious contrast of flavors.

Ingredients:

For the dough:

• 1 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1 cup of butter
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 1 vanilla sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• ½ package of vanilla custard powder

To finish:

• jam
• baking chocolate

Method:

• Make a dough from the ingredients, and leave to cool in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
• Then, shape the rolls on the baking sheet using a flat pastry tip and a bag.
• Bake at 360°F for about 9 minutes.
• After cooling, seal with marmalade and dip the halves in chocolate.

Sugar-free Linzer Cookies

These delectable treats offer a sweet and satisfying flavor without the use of refined sugar, making them suitable for those with dietary restrictions, including diabetics.

This delightful treat that can be enjoyed by all, including individuals mindful of their sugar intake.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup of butter
• handful ground hazelnuts
• 3 tablespoons of coconut sugar (or other no-refined sugar like Stevia or Monk fruit sugar)
• 1 egg
• ½ teaspoon of baking powder
• a pinch of ground cinnamon
• a pinch of ground cloves

To finish:

• unsweetened homemade jam/sugar-free jam

Method:

• Make a dough from the ingredients. Then, put the dough in the fridge to cool for at least an hour.
• Then roll the dough into a thin pancake, cut out the shapes, and bake in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes.
• After it cools down, cover with marmalade.

How to make the perfect Linzer cookie dough

Whether you’re a newly minted holiday pastry chef who sets out to bake to please not only your stomach but the stomachs of your fellow devotees, you needn’t worry.

All you need to achieve the desired success is a proven recipe and some proven advice from the experienced.

A successful path leads to a 3:2:1 ratio, meaning flour:sugar: egg yolk. By doing this, you are guaranteed not to spoil anything at all.

Another way to succeed is to use high-quality ingredients. Consider the choice of flour and definitely use high-quality fat. In short, butter is guaranteed number one in terms of consistency and taste; you can’t spoil anything with it!

This dough is a base to which you add something with a twist, such as lemon zest, cardamom, ground cloves, or a pinch of cinnamon. This spice goes best with nut varieties.

Work progress in the preparation of the perfect Linz

So, now you know the raw materials ratio. But how do you get them together correctly?

The best method is to mix the dry ingredients, then add the cooled cubed butter and create a crumb-like mixture. The yolk comes only at the end.

Then let the dough rest in the cold – if you don’t underestimate it, you are half-successful.

Baking Preparation

Rolling dough might not be your favorite activity. If you have the right consistency, you will not encounter failure in the form of tearing or, on the contrary, sticking of the dough.

However, if you are worried that the dough will not be rolled out nicely and will be all bumpy, you can help yourself by, for example, rolling it over two skewers that you put on the sides of the dough. This will guarantee you a uniform thickness over the entire surface.

The baking sheet is sufficient for baking. There is no need to line it with baking paper; nothing will stick because the dough is buttery enough.

Final step – decoration

The easiest, and it cannot be said that the less tasty version, is to glue the candy with jam and sprinkle it with sugar. If you want to win more with it, there are no obstacles.

For Christmas cookies, you can decorate them with chocolate icing, egg yolk icing, lemon icing, and other toppings.

You can also change the jam filling for something else. You can try any of the suggested fillings below:

• nutty
• rum
• buttery
• lemon
• chocolate
• cognac
• caramel