Linzer Strawberry Heart Cookies are delicate, almond-flavored, buttery cookies sandwiched together with a generous layer of strawberry jam. The heart-shaped design makes them perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or just to brighten up your day!
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup ground almonds (almond meal or finely ground almonds)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional, for extra almond flavor)
For the Filling:
1/2 cup strawberry jam (or raspberry jam, if preferred)
Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
1. Make the Cookie Dough:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ground almonds, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) and mix until combined.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until the dough comes together. It will be a bit crumbly but should hold together when pressed.
2. Chill the Dough:
Shape the dough into a disc and wrap it in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until firm. Chilling the dough makes it easier to roll out and cut the cookies.
3. Roll and Cut the Cookies:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Once the dough is chilled, roll it out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8 inch thickness.
Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes from the dough. For half of the cookies, cut out a small heart in the center to create a window. These will be the top cookies.
Place the cut-out cookies on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a bit of space between them.
