Linzer Heart Cookies
Bring a touch of sweetness to your Valentine’s Day with Linzer Heart Cookies! These adorable treats are filled with a burst of fruity jam, and are like a hug for your taste buds.  Delicious flavors that’ll make your heart skip a beat. Share these little delights with your favorite people—whether it’s your sweetheart, pals, or family—and let the love and joy of Valentine’s Day take center stage in each scrumptious bite. Handmade with love, these Linzer Heart Cookies are not just treats; they’re edible expressions of affection, perfect for making your celebration extra special.
 
 
An important tip:
 
Be sure to chop the nuts and chocolate very fine in
a food processor (pulse to chop so the friction doesn’t warm them), or
the dough will be too rough-textured to roll out smoothly. You need a
graduated set of heart-shaped cookie cutters to make these.
 
 

Yield: 20 sandwich cookies

 

Ingredients:

 

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 
1 cup cornstarch 
¼ teaspoon salt 
¾ pound (3 sticks) salted butter, at room temperature
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 
2 cups toasted, skinned and very finely chopped hazelnuts
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, very finely chopped 

½ cup seedless raspberry jam 
½ cup confectioners’ sugar for sifting 

 

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Dough:
    • Sift the flour, cornstarch, and salt into a medium bowl.
    • In a large bowl, beat the butter and confectioners’ sugar with an electric mixer set on high speed until combined (about 1 minute).
    • Beat in the egg and vanilla, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
    • With the mixer on low speed, mix in the flour mixture just until combined.
    • Mix in the hazelnuts and chocolate.
  2. Chill the Dough:
    • Gather the dough and shape it into a flat disk.
    • Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours. (Can be refrigerated for up to 1 day. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before rolling.)
  3. Roll and Cut:
    • Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
    • On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
    • Use a 3 1/2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies, arranging them about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
    • Gather dough scraps, gently knead together, and cut out more cookies. Refrigerate if the dough becomes too soft.
  4. Chill Again:
    • Refrigerate the cut-out cookies for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  5. Preheat and Cut Out Centers:
    • Preheat the oven to 325°F and position the racks in the top third and center.
    • Use a 1-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the centers of 20 cookies. These will be the tops.
    • Bake, switching the position of baking sheets halfway through, until cookies begin to brown (20 to 25 minutes).
    • Sift 1/2 cup of confectioners’ sugar over the hot cut-out cookies. Let cool completely on the baking sheets.
  6. Assemble the Cookies:
    • Spread jam on the cookie bottoms, leaving an 1/8-inch border around the edges.
    • Add the tops, sugared sides up, and press together gently.
    • Just before serving, sift the remaining confectioners’ sugar over the cookies.

Enjoy these delightful Linzer Cookies.  Perfect for holiday celebrations or any time you crave a delicious treat.