Heartshaped Raspberry Linzer Cookies
Table of Contents
Recipe Introduction
Quick Hook
Ever wondered what says "I love you" better than flowers? Let me tell you, these valentines day treats do! We are making heart shaped cookies , delicate raspberry jam cookies that are unbelievably delicious.
Brief Overview
Linzer cookies hail from Austria. These are normally enjoyed around the holidays. Our valentines day baking rendition makes them super romantic and perfect for gifting.
This recipe is medium difficulty. It takes about one hour, including chilling time. You'll get 12-15 linzer cookies , perfect for sharing.
Main Benefits
Honestly, these cookies are almost too pretty to eat. But trust me, you need to eat them! Besides being utterly gorgeous, these are perfect as homemade valentines gifts .
Imagine surprising your loved one with these! It's the ideal romantic gesture, plus they are easy valentines day treats , well.
.. relatively!
Ready to make some magic?
Ingredients You'll Need
For the Dough:
- 1 cup softened unsalted butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup almond flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Filling & Decoration:
- ½ cup raspberry jam cookies , seedless preferred
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Let's Start Baking!
First, cream together the butter and sugar. Make sure it's light and fluffy. This is important for the texture of the cookies.
Then, beat in the egg and extracts. Don't skip the almond extract it adds a lovely depth of flavor.
Next, whisk together all the dry ingredients. Gradually add them to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined. Don't overmix. Overmixing develops the gluten and results in tough cookies.
Chilling Out
Now, divide the dough in half. Flatten each half into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
I sometimes chill it longer. You know, if I get distracted by Netflix! Chilling is key for preventing the cookies from spreading.
Rolling, Cutting, and Baking
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough. It should be about ¼ inch thick. Use heart shaped cookies cutters to cut out the cookies.
For half of them, cut out a smaller heart in the center. It is a valentines day cookies recipe
Place the cookies on parchment lined baking sheets. Bake at 350° F ( 175° C) for 10- 12 minutes. The edges should be lightly golden. Let them cool completely.
Assembling Your Valentines Day Treats
Once cool, spread raspberry jam cookies on the flat side of the solid hearts. Dust the cut-out cookies with powdered sugar.
Carefully sandwich them together. And there you have it! Beautiful and delicious valentines day desserts for two . These romantic desserts are ready to impress.
Seriously, these will be the best thing they have eaten all month!
Ingredients & Equipment for Valentines Day Treats
Okay, let's get these ingredients cookin'! We're making heart shaped linzer cookies. These raspberry jam cookies will be amazing. It's homemade valentines gifts from the heart.
Main Ingredients Breakdown
Here's what you'll need for our valentines day baking session.
- Unsalted Butter: 1 cup ( 226g ). It needs to be soft. Think room temperature.
- Granulated Sugar: ½ cup ( 100g ). Any granulated sugar will do.
- Egg: 1 large egg. Use the freshest egg possible!
- Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon ( 5ml ). Pure vanilla is always better.
- Almond Extract: ½ teaspoon ( 2.5ml ). This really adds to the flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour: 2 ¼ cups ( 281g ). Plain flour is perfect.
- Almond Flour: ¼ cup ( 25g ). Make sure it is finely ground.
- Baking Powder: ½ teaspoon ( 2.5ml ). This helps your cookies rise.
- Salt: ¼ teaspoon ( 1.25ml ). It balances the sweetness, trust me.
- Raspberry Jam: ½ cup ( approximately 150g ). Seedless works best!
- Powdered Sugar: As needed, for dusting. Icing sugar does the trick too.
Seasoning Secrets
Let's talk flavor! The almond extract is key. It gives that classic Linzer taste. You can use lemon zest instead.
Add it to the dough for a zing. For a change of pace, try apricot jam or strawberry jam. These easy valentines day treats are versatile.
The goal is to make romantic desserts !
Equipment You'll Need
Here's what you'll need:
- Electric mixer (stand or hand). It makes creaming easier.
- Rolling pin. Achieve about ¼ inch thickness.
- Heart shaped cookie cutters . You'll need small one for the centers.
- Parchment paper.
- Baking sheets.
Don't have a stand mixer? No worries! Use a hand mixer. Or even a wooden spoon and some elbow grease.
Need valentines day desserts for two ? Scale the recipe down! These almond flour cookies are perfect. Make this valentines day cookies recipe amazing!
Cooking Method: Heart Shaped Raspberry Linzer Cookies
Okay, let's get these cookin'! Making heart shaped cookies for valentines day baking is so much fun! These heart shaped cookies are a sophisticated way to say "I love you."
Prep Steps: Mise en Place Magic!
Honestly, proper prep is everything . It makes the baking process a breeze. First, get that butter nice and soft! I mean, really soft, not melted.
Take out 1 cup (226g) of butter. Get your ½ cup (100g) of granulated sugar, 1 large egg , 1 teaspoon vanilla extract , and ½ teaspoon almond extract all measured out.
This will prevent you from throwing that flour everywhere. Next, grab 2 ¼ cups (281g) all-purpose flour , ¼ cup (25g) almond flour , ½ teaspoon baking powder , and ¼ teaspoon salt .
Whisk them together. This is essential mise en place . Having everything ready to go saves time and stress, especially when you're trying to create these romantic desserts.
Safety first! Make sure your workspace is clean.
step-by-step Process: Heart Shaped Happiness
Follow these steps to bake these valentines day cookies recipe :
- Cream together the softened butter and sugar. Do this until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and extracts until combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients until just combined. Don't overmix!
- Divide the dough, flatten into discs, wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes .
- Roll out the dough to ¼ inch thickness. Cut out heart shapes. Cut a smaller heart in the center of half.
- Bake at 350° F ( 175° C) for 10- 12 minutes until lightly golden.
- Cool completely.
- Spread raspberry jam cookies on the solid hearts, dust the others with powdered sugar, and sandwich!
Pro Tips: Baker's Secrets
Here's a pro tip: Chilling is vital. I learned this the hard way. If you don't chill the dough, your cookies will spread like crazy in the oven.
Roll the dough between two sheets of parchment paper. This stops the dough from sticking and makes transferring the cut-out shapes easier.
If you are really busy, the dough can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days!
These linzer cookies are a perfect homemade valentines gifts .
I remember my first attempt at making linzer cookies. Oh my gosh, it was a disaster! The dough was too soft, the cookies spread, and the jam oozed everywhere.
But hey, we live and learn, right? Now, I always make sure to chill the dough thoroughly.
Recipe Notes for Your Valentines Day Treats
Okay, let's dive deeper into these heart shaped cookies . Honestly, making linzer cookies isn't as scary as it sounds! I've been there, staring at a recipe thinking, "No way, I'll mess this up.
" But trust me, with a few simple tips, you'll be whipping up valentines day baking masterpieces in no time.
This homemade valentines gifts are sure to melt some hearts.
Serving Suggestions: Plating Your Love Story
Presentation is key, especially for romantic desserts ! Think about how you want to show off these valentines day cookies recipe .
A simple dusting of powdered sugar is classic. Wanna get fancy? Layer them on a pretty plate with fresh raspberries.
Brew a pot of Earl Grey tea for the perfect afternoon treat! These easy valentines day treats are sure to impress.
Think of these valentines day desserts for two .
Storage Savvy: Keeping the Love Alive
These almond flour cookies are best enjoyed fresh. But life happens! If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Want to make them ahead? Freeze the unbaked dough. Wrap it well and it will keep for up to a month.
Just thaw it in the fridge overnight before rolling and baking.
Variations on a Theme: Customize Your Love
Feeling adventurous? Swap out the raspberry jam for lemon curd for a tangy twist. Or, try a chocolate hazelnut spread.
For a dietary adaptation, use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. I've tried it, and it works like a charm. It makes them perfect even for those with allergies! You can adapt easily the raspberry jam cookies
Nutrition Nuggets: Goodness in Every Bite
Each of these heart shaped cookies is estimated to have around 150-180 calories. They also pack around 2g of protein, 8-10g of fat, and 18-22g of carbohydrates.
Remember, this is just an estimate and will vary. The best part? They are made with real ingredients and love! What could be better?
So there you have it. Making these valentines day treats is easy, You can create a beautiful and delicious treat that shows your love.
Get baking and let your creativity shine! Don't overthink it, just have fun!
Frequently Asked Questions
Help! My cookie dough is too sticky. What did I do wrong?
Sticky cookie dough usually means it's too warm or hasn't been chilled for long enough. Did you channel your inner Mary Berry and cream the butter and sugar until super light and fluffy? That adds air, which can lead to stickiness if not properly chilled.
Pop the dough back in the fridge for at least another 30 minutes (or even longer) patience is a virtue, especially in baking!
Can I make these heart shaped Valentines day treats ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can bake the cookies a day or two in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Hold off on assembling them (jam and powdered sugar) until just before serving to prevent the cookies from getting soggy.
Think of it as your own little baking "pre-show" before the big Valentine's Day reveal!
What if I don't have heart shaped cookie cutters? Can I still make these Valentines day treats?
Don't let a lack of heart shapes break your heart! You can definitely use other cookie cutters circles, squares, even little gingerbread men if you're feeling rebellious! The key is to have two sizes; a larger size for the base and a smaller size or shape to cut out the center of the top cookie.
Embrace your inner artist and get creative!
My jam is too thick to spread easily. Any tips?
A quick fix is to gently warm the raspberry jam! Microwave it in a microwave safe bowl in short 10-15 second intervals, stirring in between, until it's slightly loosened. You want it just spreadable, not boiling hot! Think of it like giving your jam a little spa treatment to make it nice and smooth.
How should I store leftover Linzer cookies?
Store your assembled Heart Shaped Raspberry Linzer Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They're best enjoyed within 2-3 days, as the jam can soften the cookies over time.
If you want to keep them longer, consider storing the baked cookies and jam separately and assembling them just before serving that's how the pros do it! Storing this way can prolong the shelf life up to a week!
Can I use a different kind of jam for these Valentines day treats?
You sure can! While raspberry jam gives a lovely tartness that complements the buttery cookies, feel free to experiment with your favorite flavors. Strawberry, apricot, or even fig jam would be delicious. Consider what your loved one enjoys - you could even go for a unique flavour to make them extra special.
The possibilities are endless!
Heartshaped Raspberry Linzer Cookies
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Nutrition Facts:
| Calories | 165 |
|---|---|
| Fat | 9g |
| Fiber | 1g |