Linzer Augen Cookies

Ingredients

• 200g (1 ¾ cups) all-purpose flour 200g (1 ¾ cups) all-purpose flour
• 100g (1 cup) ground almonds 100g (1 cup) ground almonds
• 150g (1 ¼ cups) unsalted butter, softened 150g (1 ¼ cups) unsalted butter, softened
• 100g (½ cup) granulated sugar 100g (½ cup) granulated sugar
• 1 egg yolk 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Zest of 1 lemon Zest of 1 lemon
• ½ tsp salt ½ tsp salt
• 150g (½ cup) raspberry jam 150g (½ cup) raspberry jam
• Powdered sugar, for dusting Powdered sugar, for dusting

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 120 kcal / 502 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 7g, 3g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 13g, 6g
• Protein: 2g
• Fiber: 1g
• Salt: 0.1g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and ground almonds.
2. 2.
   In a separate large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
3. 3.
   Add the egg yolk, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and salt to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until well combined.
4. 4.
   Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
5. 5.
   Divide the dough in half and shape each portion into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
6. 6.
   Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. 7.
   On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to a thickness of about ¼ inch.
8. 8.
   Using a round cookie cutter, cut out cookies and transfer them to the prepared baking sheet.
9. 9.
   Use a smaller cookie cutter to cut out a small shape in the center of half of the cookies.
10. 10.
    Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
11. 11.
    Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack.
12. 12.
    Spread a teaspoon of raspberry jam on the solid cookies, then top with the cutout cookies.
13. 13.
    Dust the cookies with powdered sugar before serving.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Almonds — Make sure to use ground almonds for the dough to achieve the desired texture. If you can't find ground almonds, you can grind whole almonds in a food processor until finely ground.

Tips & Tricks

• To prevent the dough from sticking to the rolling pin, lightly dust it with flour before rolling.
• If you prefer a sweeter filling, you can mix the raspberry jam with a teaspoon of powdered sugar before spreading it on the cookies.
• Experiment with different flavors of jam, such as apricot or strawberry, for a variation in taste.
• For a decorative touch, sprinkle some sliced almonds on top of the cookies before baking.
• Store the cookies in an airtight container to maintain their freshness.

Serving advice

Serve these Linzer Augen cookies as a delightful treat during afternoon tea or as a sweet ending to a dinner party. They pair perfectly with a hot cup of coffee or tea.

Presentation advice

Arrange the Linzer Augen cookies on a beautiful platter, dusted with powdered sugar. The vibrant raspberry jam filling peeking through the cutout adds an elegant touch to the presentation.