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Bake a Batch of Linzer Cookies

Bake a Batch of Linzer Cookies
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Bake a batch of Linzer cookies using simple ingredients; practice measuring, rolling, cutting shapes, sandwiching jam, and decorating to learn baking basics.

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Step-by-step guide to Bake a Batch of Linzer Cookies

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Perfect Linzer Cookies Recipe - Festive Holiday Treats You'll Love!

What you need
1 egg yolk, adult supervision required, all-purpose flour, baking sheet, cookie cutters including a small cutter for windows, cooling rack, granulated sugar, ground almonds or almond meal, jam for filling, measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, parchment paper, powdered sugar for dusting, rolling pin, unsalted butter softened, vanilla extract, wooden spoon or electric mixer

Step 1

Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds so your baking is clean and safe.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) so it will be ready when the cookies are shaped.

Step 3

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it near your work area.

Step 4

Put 1 cup (2 sticks) softened unsalted butter into a mixing bowl.

Step 5

Add 2/3 cup granulated sugar 1 egg yolk and 1 teaspoon vanilla to the bowl and beat until the mixture is light and smooth.

Step 6

In a separate bowl measure 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup ground almonds and a pinch of salt and stir them together.

Step 7

Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and stir until a soft dough forms.

Step 8

Shape the dough into a flat disk so it is easy to roll later.

Step 9

Wrap the dough disk and chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to make rolling easier.

Step 10

Roll the chilled dough between two sheets of parchment to about 1/8 inch thickness.

Step 11

Use cookie cutters to cut matching pairs of shapes from the rolled dough.

Step 12

Use a small cutter to make a little window in half of the cut shapes so jam will show through.

Step 13

Place the cut cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes until the edges are lightly golden.

Step 14

Let the cookies cool completely on a cooling rack then spread jam on the whole cookies and top with the window cookies; dust the tops with powdered sugar.

Step 15

Share a photo of your finished Linzer cookies and tell the story of how you made them on DIY.org.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can I use if I don't have ground almonds, parchment paper, or unsalted butter?

If you don't have ground almonds use 1 cup almond flour or 1 cup finely ground walnuts, if you lack parchment paper use a silicone baking mat or lightly grease the baking sheet before placing the cut cookies, and if you only have salted butter omit the pinch of salt in the dry ingredients.

The dough is too sticky to roll — what should we do?

If the dough is too sticky to roll, wrap the dough disk and chill it in the refrigerator for an extra 15–30 minutes and then roll it between two sheets of parchment as the instructions say to prevent sticking.

How can I adapt this recipe for different ages of kids?

For preschoolers have an adult do the oven and cutting steps while the child presses cookie cutters into the rolled dough and spreads jam, for elementary-age kids let them measure the flour and beat the butter-sugar-egg yolk-vanilla mixture, and for teenagers encourage experimenting with shapes, jams, and the dusting of powdered sugar before chilling and baking.

How can we make the Linzer cookies more special or creative?

Personalize the cookies by stirring a teaspoon of lemon or orange zest into the butter-sugar mixture, using different jams when you spread jam on the whole cookies, swapping ground almonds for hazelnut meal, and decorating the finished sandwich cookies with patterned powdered sugar or melted chocolate before photographing them for DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to Bake a Batch of Linzer Cookies

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Linzer Cookies Recipe Demonstration - Joyofbaking.com

4 Videos

Facts about baking basics for kids

🥄 Baking is a science: spooning flour into a measuring cup and leveling it gives a different result than scooping directly—try spoon-and-level for best cookie texture.

🎄 Linzer cookies are a popular holiday treat because they keep well, travel nicely, and make cheerful edible gifts.

🥧 Linzer cookies come from the same family as the Linzer torte and trace their roots back to the city of Linz, Austria.

🍓 The little cut-out 'window' on the top cookie shows off the jam filling—powdered sugar on top makes it look like a tiny frosted frame.

🌰 Traditional Linzer dough often uses ground nuts (usually almonds or hazelnuts) which make the cookies extra tender and flavorful.

How do I bake a batch of Linzer cookies with my child?

Start by measuring flour, ground nuts, sugar, and cold butter together; let your child help pour and mix. Add egg yolk and vanilla, chill the dough 30–60 minutes. Roll between parchment to about 1/8–1/4 inch thick, use a large cutter and a smaller cutter to make the window centers. Bake until edges are light golden, cool completely, spread jam on one cookie and sandwich with the cutout, then dust with powdered sugar. Supervise oven use and hot trays.

What materials and ingredients do I need to bake Linzer cookies?

Ingredients: all-purpose flour, ground almonds (or almond flour), cold unsalted butter, granulated sugar, an egg or egg yolk, vanilla, a pinch of salt, jam (raspberry or apricot), and powdered sugar for dusting. Tools: measuring cups/spoons, mixing bowls, a hand mixer or whisk, rolling pin, parchment paper, large round or shaped cookie cutter plus a small cutter for the window, baking sheets, cooling rack, spatula, sieve for powdered sugar, and oven mitts.

What ages are Linzer cookie baking activities suitable for?

Children as young as 3 can join for simple tasks like stirring or sprinkling powdered sugar with direct supervision. Ages 5–7 can measure ingredients, press dough into shapes, and help with cutting. Kids 8+ can follow steps more independently but still need help with the oven and hot trays. Always supervise knife-like cutters, oven use, and handling of hot pans; adapt tasks to the child’s skill and attention level.

What safety tips should I follow when baking Linzer cookies with children?

Always supervise children around the oven and hot baking sheets; teach them to use oven mitts and step back when opening the oven. Keep hair tied back and sleeves rolled up. Avoid raw egg tasting; wash hands after handling dough. Be aware of nut allergies in Linzer recipes and consider seed or oat substitutes if needed. Use child-safe cutters and pre-measure ingredients to reduce spills and mess. Cool cookies fully before sandwiching or serving to little ones.
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Bake a Batch of Linzer Cookies. Activities for Kids.