Linzer Raspberry Cookies are easier than you think! These heart jam cookies are little jewels of delight! A not-too-sweet, easy shortbread cookie and heart-shaped make them perfect for Valentine’s Day!
While living in Germany, I learned and adapted this recipe for Linzer Heart Cookies to work with American ingredients. I enjoy making them for Valentine’s Day, Christmas (the traditional time to serve), and almost any cookie swap!
Why You Will Love Linzer Raspberry Cookies
- Easy Recipe – They may look hard but are simple cut-out cookies with some quality jam!
- Flavor – I adore any shortbread cookies, but this one is next level with a pop of sweet and fruity jam and one of my favorite flavors – almond!
- Customizable – Make these in any shape with any jam flavor. That is the beauty of homemade peekaboo cookies!
- Authentic – An American adaptation from my time spent in Germany!
I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!
Simple Ingredients for Heart Jam Cookies
- Butter | Use the best butter you can afford, preferably European butter – salted or unsalted butter is fine.
- Sugar | Granulated sugar here; I like all-natural cane sugar, but you can use white sugar too!
- Cinnamon | Just a touch, it adds a lovely spice.
- Egg Yolk | Room temperature is best. If you forget to take them out while prepping your ingredients, submerge the egg in warm (not hot) water for 5-7 minutes.
- Almond extract | Use a good one, or replace it with vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- Flour | unbleached all-purpose flour (increase to 1 ½ cups for high altitude)
- Almond flour | Use finely ground almond flour; this is my favorite. Almond meal is a bit coarser and might change the texture of your cookie.
- Kosher salt | It enhances all of the flavors!
- Raspberry Preserves | Use quality raspberry preserves or strawberry jam, if seeds bother you, purchase seedless jam.
- Powdered Sugar | Also called confectioners sugar or icing sugar, to sprinkle on top of the linzer hearts.
My favorite meat thermometer
- I love this Meater wireless meat thermometer
How to Linzer Raspberry Cookies
Get started by prepping two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 1 | Prep and mix dry ingredients
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, the almond flour, and the salt.
Step 2 | Beat the wet ingredients
To the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter, sugar (½ cup), and cinnamon on high until light and fluffy. Then add the egg yolk and almond extract and beat for another minute.
Step 3 | Combine the two bowls
Slowly add the flour mixture, about ⅓ cup to the butter mixture and mix on low until it is well combined. The dough should begin to stick together.
Now, divide the dough ball in half and pat each into a disc. Wrap each piece in plastic wrap and set it in the fridge to chill for an hour.
Step 4 | Cut & Assemble the cookies
Remove one of the cookie dough discs from the fridge at a time. Roll the dough to about โ inch thick on a lightly floured surface. I love this rolling pin with thickness rings for precise and even rolling.
Cut out the heart shapes using the larger heart-shaped cookie cutters. Gather rolled-out dough scraps, re-roll, and repeat the process until the first dough portion is used.
You should have 15-16 cookies from the first batch of dough. These are the bottoms of your Linzer Cookie.
Fresh Tips
- For best results, keep the dough chilled during the process. Chilling allows the cookies to hold their shape when cutting the shapes and baking.
Step 5 | Bake the bottom halves
Place the bottoms of the heart cookies on the baking sheet at least 1 inch apart and pop the cookie sheet full in the fridge again to chill for 10-15 minutes.
Now, you can preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C). Once preheated bake cookies for 10-15 minutes until just turning golden on the edges. Remove to a cooling rack and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes then transfer to wire rck.
Step 6 | Cool the bottoms & cut the tops
Roll the remaining dough out just like the first half of the dough. Cut out your heart shape using the same cookie cutter as your bottom portion. Transfer these cookies to a cooled prepared baking sheet.
Once placed on the sheet, use the smaller heart cookie cutter to cut out a heart in the center of the cookie. This will be the peekaboo center of the top of the Linzer heart cookie.
Place the cookies in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.
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Bake the top cookies for 10-15 minutes (all ovens heat a little different, start checking at 10 minutes). Then, cool them on the pan for at least 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. That way, the center heart stays intact.
Step 7 | Assemble the cookies
Dust the top of the cookies with powdered sugar once all the cookies are completely cool – only the cutout/window cookies, not the bottoms.
Now, for the fun part, place a ยฝ teaspoon of jam in the center of the cookies (bottom halves). Top the jam hearts with the powdered heart cutout cookies, squeezing them together slightly.
Fresh Tips
- Bake the leftover cutouts for a little treat! If desired, you can also dust them with powdered sugar.
- Be careful when placing the tops on, and use even, gentle pressure to press them into the jam. You do not want it all squishing out!
High Altitude Adjustments for Raspberry Linzer Cookies
- Increase flour to 1 ½ cups.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of milk or cream to bring the dough into a smooth cookie dough (should be the consistency of playdough).
- Chill, roll, cut out, and chill again as directed.
- Bake at 350° F (175° C) for 8-12 minutes until the cookies are firm and start turning golden brown. Follow the rest of the recipe.
What will you make for Valentine’s Day? Try my Red Velvet Cake Pops, these Raspberry Chocolate Cupcakes, my Easy 5-Ingredient Raspberry Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies, or this White Chocolate Raspberry Bundt Cake – Oh Yum!
Variations
Get creative and customize the recipe to your heart’s or your sweetheart’s desires!
- Zest: Add a teaspoon or two of lemon zest or orange zest when making the sandwich cookies.
- Nut Variations: Experiment with nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, or pecans for a unique flavor, make sure to grind into a fine flour.
- Spice it Up: Add a pinch of nutmeg, cardamom, or other spices to the dough for a spiced twist.
- Shape Variations: If you don’t have a heart-shaped cookie cutter, you can use other shapes like circles, stars, or flowers. Try ornament shapes at Christmas!
- Jam Choices: So many yummy jams, so little time. Choose your favorite!
- Holiday cheer: Add festive sprinkles to your jam center or top cookies for a boost of cheer to your Valentine’s Day cookies!
Substitutions
- Filling Options: Instead of traditional fruit preserves, try chocolate ganache, lemon curd, Nutella, cherry, or apricot jam for different fillings.
- Use powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar) instead of granulated sugar.
- Different Shapes: Don’t let the heart shapes scare you away! Use a round cookie cutter, scalloped cookie cutter, even biscuit cutters work! Make sure you have something smaller and similar in shape to remove that window for the jam.
Storage Tips
- Store leftovers on the counter in an airtight container for up to 4 days or or refrigerate up to 7 days.
- Freeze these cookies in an airtight container if you are making ahead or just made way too many! If you are stacking the almond cookies, place a sheet of parchment paper between layers to keep the jam from sticking. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter and enjoy!
- When freezing baked goods dusted powdered sugar, the powdered sugar typically “melts” into the cookies, but just re-dust!
Frequently Asked Questions
You bet! In the bowl of your food processor, pulse the all-purpose flour, almond flour, sugar, sugar, salt, and cinnamon until combined.
With the processor running, drop in the pieces of cold butter, one at a time, pulsing a few times until the butter is evenly distributed and the dough is moistened and crumbly.
Add the almond extract, egg yolk, and milk (for high altitude), then process until the dough sticks together.
That is precisely why we frequently chill the dough in this recipe! Cold dough helps the cutting process run smoothly and allows the dough to retain shape in the oven too. Be sure to do this especially if your butter is extra soft, and your house is warm, this can impact the spread of the cookie.
A tried and favorite brand is Bonne Maman. But any brand will work as long as there are no chunks of fruit and it is the color of the season you are baking for!
More Valentine’s Day Recipes
- Ferrero Rocher Ice Cream
- Valentine Cake Pops
- Cookie Heart (Giant Cookie Cake Recipe)
- Easy Champagne Chocolate Truffles Recipe
- Easy Chocolate Mini Pies Recipe (French Silk)
- Rose Ice Cream Recipe (No Churn)
Best drinks to serve with Linzer raspberry cookies
Make it a party, and serve with these delicious drinks. Since it is Valentine’s Day, I would offer this White Hot Chocolate, this Easy Pomegranate Moscow Mule Cocktail Recipe or maybe this Skinny Grapefruit Paloma Spritzer Mocktail.
Starbucks White Hot Chocolate Recipe
A quick and easy recipe on how to make a Starbucks White Hot Chocolate recipe at home. Save time and money, by making this fast copycat white hot chocolate recipe in the comfort of your own home.
Easy Pomegranate Moscow Mule Cocktail Recipe (Holiday Mule)
Make this holiday mule in minutes! Our pomegranate mule is a fresh, festive, and easy cocktail! With fresh pomegranate juice, fresh lime juice, vodka and finished with spicy ginger beer. You might call it a Yule Mule!
Skinny Grapefruit Paloma Spritzer Mocktail
This skinny non-alcoholic sparkling grapefruit mocktail surprises you with a bright citrus flavor, using fresh grapefruit juice, fresh lime juice, topped with ginger beer. A Paloma mocktail that is bubbly, crisp, and oh-so-refreshing!
Best main dishes to serve with Heart Cookies
Valentine’s Day says decadence to me. Try making your sweetheart this Crock Pot Beef Brisket, or my Sous Vide London Broil. And while not a main dish, you may want to serve them with Charcuterie Cones (Bouquet).
How to Make Charcuterie Cones (Bouquet)
I'll teach you how to make a Charcuterie Bouquet or individual charcuterie cones, a creative and fun DIY treat for all special occasions! Skip the flowers and choose an edible bouquet using easy DIY paper cones; packed with meats, cheeses, nuts, fruit, and more.
Best Sous Vide London Broil Recipe (Top Round)
Create a gourmet Sous Vide London Broil effortlessly! With only 10 minutes of prep, elevate an affordable cut to restaurant perfection.
Easy, flavorful, and budget-friendly.
Best Crock Pot Beef Brisket Recipe (Slow Cooker)
Simple ingredients, easy prep, amazing results! This crockpot brisket recipe slow cooks all day, great for busy weeknights, feeding a large family for Sunday dinner, or hosting friends.
Fall apart tender, slice or shred it for sandwiches!
Pro Tip
Be sure to complete this step: Wrap each dough disc in plastic wrap and set it in the fridge to chill for an hour.
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Classic Raspberry Linzer Heart Cookies Recipe
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Print Pin Save RateEquipment
Ingredients
- ยพ cup butter unsalted or salted, softened to room temperature
- ยฝ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 large egg yolk room temperature
- ยฝ teaspoon almond extract replace with 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste if preferred
- 1 โ cups unbleached all-purpose flour increase to 1 ½ cups for High Altitude
- ยพ cup almond flour finely ground
- ยผ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 cup raspberry preserves regular or seedless, try other jams flavors too, like strawberry
- powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare a couple of cookie sheets by lining them with parchment paper.
- In the bowl to your stand mixer, beat the butter (¾ cup/1 ½ sticks), sugar (½ cup) and cinnamon (1 tsp) on high until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the egg yolk (1) and almond extract (½ tsp) and continue beating for one minute.
- In a separate medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour (1 ⅓ cups), the almond flour (¾ cup) and the sal (¼ tsp)t.
- Slowly add the flour mixture ( about โ of a cup at a time) to the wet mixture in the stand mixer and mix on low until it is combined and the dough begins to stick together.
- Divide the dough in half, pat into a disc and wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Place in the fridge to chill for an hour.
- Remove one of the dough pieces from the fridge and on a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to about โ of an inch thick. I love this rolling pin with thickness rings for precise and even rolling.
- Using the larger of the two heart shaped cookie cutters, cut out the heart shapes. Re-roll the scraps and repeat the process until the first dough portion is used. You should have 15-16 cookies from the first batch of dough. These are the bottoms of your Linzer Cookie.
- Place the cookies on the baking sheet at least 1 inch apart and pop in the fridge to chill for 10-15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C).
- While the first half of the cookies are chilling, roll the final portion of dough out just like the first and cut out your heart shape using the same cookie cutter as your bottom portion. Transfer these cookies to a prepared baking sheet and use the smaller cookie cutter to cut out a heart in the center of the cookie. This will be the peekaboo center of the top of the Linzer cookie. Place in the fridge to chill for 10-15 minutes.
- Bake cookies for 10-15 minutes (ever oven bakes different, start checking at 10 minutes). Let cool on the pan for at least 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once all the cookies are completely cool, dust the peekaboo/cutout cookies with powdered sugar. Place a ยฝ teaspoon of jam in the middle of the full-sized, remaining cookies. Top with the powdered cutout cookie, squeezing them together slightly. Enjoy!
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Notes
- A crisp cookie with a nutty almond flavor. Not an overly sweet cookie.
- Although you have to chill the dough, the process is very simple and festive.
- When making the peekaboo cutout, it is best to leave at least half an inch from the edge so that the cookies don’t break when you are baking them.
- Don’t throw away the cutouts; bake them on a lined cookie sheet for 5-6 minutes for a little treat for the baker and family. If desired, dust with powdered sugar.
Linzer cookies are traditionally made at Christmas however it makes a great cookie for the Valentine season too.
- Store leftovers on the counter in an airtight container for up to 4 days or refrigerate for up to 7 days.
- Freeze these cookies in an airtight container if you are making ahead or just made way too many! Place a sheet of parchment paper between layers to keep the jam from sticking. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter and enjoy!
- When freezing baked goods dusted powdered sugar, the powdered sugar typically “melts” into the cookies, but just re-dust!
Variations & Substitutions
- Zest: Add a teaspoon or two of lemon zest or orange zest when making the sandwich cookies.
- Nut Variations: Experiment with nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, or pecans for a unique flavor, make sure to grind into a fine flour.
- Spice it Up: Add a pinch of nutmeg, cardamom, or other spices to the dough for a spiced twist.
- Shape Variations: If you don’t have a heart-shaped cookie cutter, you can use other shapes like circles, stars, or flowers. Try ornament shapes at Christmas!
- Jam Choices: So many yummy jams, so little time. Choose your favorite!
- Holiday cheer: Add festive sprinkles to your jam center or top cookies for a boost of cheer to your Valentine’s Day cookies!
- Filling Options: Instead of traditional fruit preserves, try chocolate ganache, lemon curd, Nutella, cherry, or apricot jam for different fillings.
- Use powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar) instead of granulated sugar.
- Different Shapes: Don’t let the heart shapes scare you away! Use a round cookie cutter, scalloped cookie cutter, even biscuit cutters work! Make sure you have something smaller and similar in shape to remove that window for the jam.
Linzer Raspberry Cookies Food Processor
- In the bowl of your food processor, pulse the all-purpose flour, almond flour, sugar sugar, salt and cinnamon until combined.
- With the processor running, drop in the pieces of cold butter, pulsing a few times until the butter is evenly distributed, and the dough is moistened and crumbly.
- Add the almond extract, egg yolk and milk (for high altitude), then process until the dough begins to sticks together. Turn dough onto surface sprinkled with powdered sugar, knead and proceed with recipe.
High Altitude Linzer Cookies
- Increase flour to 1 ½ cups.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of milk or cream to bring the dough into a smooth cookie dough.
- Chill, roll, cut out, and chill again as directed.
- Bake at 350° F for 8-10 minutes until the cookies are firm and start turning golden brown. Follow the rest of the recipe.
Shelley
Could these possibly be any more adorable?!? And just the perfect recipe for me to find on Valentine’s Day! My {future} daughter-in-law is a particular fan of jam-stuffed cookies and baked goods, so these are an extra-special find! Thank you!
Kathleen Pope
Thank you Shelley, and congratulations on your future daughter-in-law! ????
Neha
Love linzer cookies, these turned out so good!!! Thank you for the recipe just love them
Kathleen Pope
So glad you loved them!
TAYLER ROSS
I made these cookies for the kids today and they loved then! So pretty and festive- not to mention delicious!
Kathleen Pope
Totally delish!! Thanks Tayler!
Lima Ekram
I love Linzer cookies and always wanted to make them! I cant wait to try this!!
Kathleen Pope
Hope you love them!
Eva Fry
Raspberry linzers are my favorite cookies! The recipe is delicious. Thanks for another great recipe, Kathleen!
Kathleen Pope
Thanks so much for your sweet words, Eva!