Linzer cookies are the best

Hi my dear reader, I am back and my Christmas cookies with me! Hahaha, I sound like Terminator…no I am not!!!! Linzer cookies are the typical Christmas cookies, you will find on any Czech Christmas table. Christmas cookies are another, of many traditions in Czech Republic. I am sure here in Canada and all around the world, we make cookies for Christmas, but have you heard about Czech cookies on Christmas? I bet you didn’t, so let me tell you a bit about it.

Christmas cookies are one of the biggest tradition in Czech Republic. Every lady in Czech Republic makes her own cookies on Christmas. And it is not only one sort of cookies. We make a dozens of sorts of cookies. It is usually the same recipes used in every household, same shapes, same tastes….well almost. Of course every housewife has their own secrets, how to make gingerbread softer or how to make Linzer cookies more tasteful. But in general, all the recipes have same base. As I mentioned, that we do dozen of sorts of cookies, I literally meant it…my Grandma usually made 20 sorts of Christmas cookies, and each sort makes at least 30-40 cookies. Of course, you won’t be able to eat all this during the Christmas season and that’s why we visit out families, where cookies are brought to the tables. You give out to your neighbors or colleagues at work, etc.

In Czech , Christmas cookies are called “cukrovi”, this literally translate the word for cookie and specifies the word Christmas at the same time. Because, as I previously said, these are a traditional cookies and they are made only for Christmas. This tradition is so important for Czech people, that the woman takes a days off from the work, just to prepare these cookies. And let me tell you, it takes time, to bake it, assemble it, some cookies might take up to 3 days to make (you know time to rest, make an icing, special chocolate covers, etc.)

Linzer cookies are far the easiest ones to do, well sort of, the only thing is that you have to do it in 2 different stages (no worries nothing difficult). First you bake it and then you spread jam of your taste in between two cookies. But from all the other cookies, this one is so far the easiest one.

So I won’t keep you away from the recipe, here you have and don`t forget, you should always have fun making these cookies. Enjoy the time, invite your kids to help you. I know sometimes it could be messy, but once shouldn’t be that big disaster and let me assure you, your kids will love it!

INGREDIENTS:

• 300 g (2 & 1/2 cups) all purpose flour
• 100g (1/2 cup) fine sugar
• 200g  (3/4 cup) softened butter
• 2 egg yolks
• zest from  1 lemon
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 3/4 cup good raspberry jam
• Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F/ 170 C.
2. In the bowl of electric mixer, mix together the butter and sugar until they are just well combined.
3. Add egg yolks, lemon juice, lemon zest and flour.
4. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together.
5. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk.
6. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
7. Roll the dough 1/4-inch thick and cut any shape (rounds, stars, hearts small, big) with a cookie cutter for the bottoms first (around 10 of them)  and for the top cookie  do the same, but then cut out smaller shape with cookie cutter in the middle (cut a hole from the middle of each round with a heart or spade shaped cutter).
8. Place all the cookies on a baking sheet (with parchment paper) and bake the cookies for 10 -20 minutes (depending on the size of cookies), until the edges begin to brown.
9. Allow to cool to room temperature.
10. Spread raspberry jam the bottom side of each solid cookie and cover with the top cookie (with the hole).
11. Dust the top of the cut-out cookies with confectioners’ sugar.

Enjoy!🎄