Buttery and crisp, this linzer cookie recipe swaps almond flour for cornmeal to present traditional cut-out sandwich cookies a fragile, golden crunch. Full of jam and dusted with powdered sugar, these Large Cornmeal Linzer Cookies are a festive twist on a timeless favourite.

These Large Cornmeal Linzer Cookies got here to life the best way a few of my favourite recipes do — by chance, or reasonably, by omission. I used to be midway via testing a traditional linzer cookie after I realized I used to be fully out of almond flour, the ingredient that historically provides linzers their tender, nutty crumb. However if you happen to’ve spent any time in my kitchen, I at all times have at the least three styles of cornmeal tucked within the pantry. Dwelling within the South, cornmeal looks like a birthright – the sunny yellow sort particularly, with its mild crunch and heat, golden shade. So into the dough it went, and associates… I feel this is likely to be my favourite model but!

The cornmeal provides the loveliest texture, a buttery fringe of crunch that performs so nicely with the candy jammy heart. You possibly can fill them with no matter fruit unfold you’re keen on (although I’m a fan of raspberry jam or lemon curd) and lower them into any measurement or form that matches your vacation cookie tins. These very cookies are making their method into The Bakehouse Texas Bakery Field this weekend, and I’m crossing all my fingers that people love them as a lot as I do.

•  Salted butter  The spine of any good linzer cookie. Softened salted butter provides the dough richness and taste, and creates that tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture with simply the correct quantity of salt to steadiness sweetness.

•  Granulated sugar  Provides sweetness and construction. Sugar helps the cookies maintain their form as they bake whereas maintaining the feel crisp and light-weight—precisely what we wish for sandwich cookies.

•  Egg Binds the dough collectively and provides tenderness. One egg provides the cookies simply sufficient richness with out making them cakey.

•  All-purpose flour  The sturdy base of the cookie. It supplies construction so the cut-outs bake evenly and keep sturdy sufficient to carry a beneficiant spoonful of jam.

•  Cornmeal  The twist! Cornmeal provides a sunny, golden shade and essentially the most pleasant buttery crunch. It stands in for almond flour, giving the cookies texture with none nut taste.

•  Baking powder  A small carry to maintain the cookies mild and crisp reasonably than dense. Simply sufficient to maintain them from feeling heavy.

•  Kosher salt  A pinch makes the buttery sweetness sing. With out it, the flavors fall flat.

•  Vanilla extract  Provides heat and depth—only a splash provides these easy cookies a traditional bakery aroma.

•  Strawberry, raspberry, or blackberry jam  Select the jam that makes your coronary heart leap. It brings shiny sweetness and slightly tang to steadiness the wealthy cookie layers.

•  Powdered sugar  A snowy, festive end that provides a contact of additional sweetness and that signature linzer cookie look.

Now let’s deliver collectively this linzer cookie recipe! It’s easy: within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or with a handheld mixer and a big mixing bowl), beat the butter and sugar collectively on medium pace till they’re pale, fluffy, and searching more than happy with themselves (about 3 minutes). Add the egg and vanilla and blend for a full minute extra, pausing to scrape down the bowl so nothing will get left behind. In a separate bowl, whisk collectively the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry elements to the butter combination and blend on low simply till the dough pulls collectively and begins to drag away from the perimeters of the bowl. It ought to really feel very gentle and slightly sandy from the cornmeal. Flip the dough out onto a calmly floured counter, pat it gently right into a 1-inch thick disk (the thinner the disk the quicker it chills), and wrap it in plastic wrap. Let it relaxation within the fridge for at the least 3 hours (although really, in a single day is the place the magic occurs).

If you’re able to bake, seize your favourite massive spherical cutter (I really like a 4-inch cutter for these large beauties) and lower out as many rounds as you possibly can, transferring them to the ready baking sheets. Collect and re-roll any scraps becaues, no dough left behind.

For half of the cookies, use a smaller cutter (slightly circle, star, or coronary heart) to punch a window out of the middle. These can be your tops, and so they’ll bake only a contact quicker, so regulate them. Bake the cookies for 10–13 minutes, till the sides are calmly golden and the facilities look set. Verify the tops across the 9-minute mark, simply to be secure. Let every thing cool fully on the baking sheets earlier than you even suppose about assembling.

To assemble, spoon a tablespoon or two of your favourite jam onto every of the strong cookies. Gently press a cut-out cookie on prime to make the prettiest little sandwich. If a little bit of jam squishes out the perimeters (congratulations, that’s a part of the Linzer appeal). End with a bathe of powdered sugar if you happen to’re feeling traditional, or depart them plain and proud. Both method, they’re large, beautiful, and inconceivable to not love.

These cookies preserve superbly in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 3 days. You too can retailer the unfilled cookies individually and assemble them as wanted (an important trick for maintaining them crisp throughout cookie season).

And really, this can be a recipe value doubling. Someway the cookie tin is at all times mysteriously empty in the course of the holidays, and these large Linzers disappear quicker than you’d suppose particularly alongside these Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies.

Should you make these cookies, I’d love to listen to how they turned out for you! Please depart a remark and a star ranking under as a result of your suggestions helps extra bakers discover this recipe. And in case you have any questions alongside the best way, pop them within the feedback. I’m right here that can assist you bake your most scrumptious vacation cookies but.

Pleased Holidays and Pleased Baking!

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