Linzer Cookies for Halloween

Beautiful and Halloween-festive tablescapes were linked for yesterday’s Tablescape Thursday. Be sure to scroll on down and check them all out. How about a little something to put on top of those table settings?

A couple of months ago I stopped by a local craft store to check out the Halloween stuff and I came across cookie cutters with a Halloween theme.  They were especially made for making Linzer cookies like these.

Make Linzer Cookies For Halloween

 

I’ve always wanted to try my hand at making Linzer cookies, but I just wasn’t sure how.  This Wilton set of cookie cutters makes it really easy.

Linzer Cookies for Halloween

 

Here’s how they look out of the box.  You just slide one of the Halloween shapes into the center of the cookie cutter to cut the tops of your cookies.  Then you remove it to cut the bottom half.  This set had a cat, pumpkin, owl, witch’s hat, bat and ghost.

Linzer Cookies for Halloween

 

Linzer cookies traditionally have finely ground almonds in the dough, although from what I’ve read online, some folks use pecans or walnuts, too.  I used almonds as the directions on the cookie cutter box suggested.

Linzer Cookies for Halloween

 

I mixed the dry ingredients together.

Linzer Cookies for Halloween

 

Next, I beat the sugar and butter together until fluffy.  Then I added the egg and vanilla extract.

Linzer Cookies for Halloween

 

This was the first chance I’ve had to try the new vanilla extract I bought recently at Williams-Sonoma.  I shared a pic of this extract on the BNOTP Facebook page, HERE  the day I bought it.  I asked if anyone had used it and if it was worth the expense.  Several folks said it was great!

Madagascar Bourbon

 

Once the dry ingredients were combined with the butter, egg and vanilla extract, the directions said to divide the dough into two parts, wrap them in plastic wrap and put them in the frig for at least 2 hours.

Linzer Cookies for Halloween

 

When I got one out a few hours later, it was way too hard to roll out with my rolling pin.  I zapped it in the microwave for about 12-15 seconds and it softened up just enough to roll it out.

Linzer Cookies for Halloween

 

After rolling it out to about 1-8 inch thick…

Linzer Cookies for Halloween

 

I began cutting out the tops and the bottoms of the cookies.  This Wilton cookie cutting set made it super easy.   Linzer cookies are a bit like a cookie sandwich.  The bottom is solid but the top has a little cut out.

The dough does need to be well-chilled or it will have a tendency to stick to your cutter.  If the dough begins to get too soft, you can just pop it back in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.  I didn’t have to do that because rolling it out and cutting out the cookies went very quickly.  Once you finish with one section of dough, you can roll out and cut out the second section.  I wonder if this dough will freeze well?  Be nice to freeze one section of dough to enjoy later on.

You can see some of the tops I cut out on the parchment paper on the right side.

Linzer Cookies for Halloween

 

After I cut out the tops and the bottoms, I baked them for 11 minutes in the oven.  Then I let them cool.  They are so thin, they cool very quickly.

The recipe called for raspberry jam for the filling between the two cookie parts.  I ended up putting the jam in a bowl and squishing it up a bit more.  That helped the cookies fit together better…no big lumps in the way.

Linzer Cookies for Halloween

 

I got so involved in my project, I forgot to take pics while I was putting them together.  But it’s super easy.  Just sprinkle powdered sugar on the top part of all the cookies, which is the part with the cut out design.

Next, put a teaspoon of raspberry jam on the bottom half cookie, which is the solid piece with no cutout.  Then gently press the top half with the cut out design, down onto the jam.  So easy!  Believe me, if I can make these, anyone can!

 

Linzer Cookies for Halloween

 

These are scary delicious!  Maybe it’s that awesome vanilla extract.  Or, it could be the two sticks of butter I mixed in with all that sugar! Ha!  Just call me Paula for today. 😉

Now I want to find some Linzer cookie cutters with Christmas designs.

Have you ever made Linzer cookies?  Do you have a favorite recipe you use when you make them? Please share in your comment. I definitely want to make these again…maybe for Christmas and Valentine’s Day.

You’ll find additional Halloween and holiday decorating ideas HERE.

Recipe for Linzer cookies:

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup finely ground almonds (2ounces)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup (2sticks) butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
Confectioners’ sugar )optional)

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine the flour, ground almond and cinnamon.  In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter/sugar mixture and mix well.  Add the flour mixture to the butter/sugar mixture and mix only until incorporated.

Divide dough into 2 sections and press into small disks, about 1 inch thick.  Wrap separately in plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 hours or until firm enough to roll.

Preheat over to 350 degrees.  On a floured surface, roll out one section of dough to 1/8 inch thick.  Keep the other section of dough chilled in the refrigerator, in the meantime.  Cut half of the dough using the round cutter with your chosen insert…this will be the top half of your cookie.  Cut an equal number of round bottoms to go with the tops you’ve cut.  Transfer to parchment paper lined baking sheets.

Bake cookies 10-12 minutes or until light golden brown.  Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove the cookies from sheet and cool completely.  Turn over the bottom cookies and spread with about a teaspoon of jam.  Dust the top halves (the section with the cut-out) of the cookies with confectioners’ sugar.  Carefully sandwich the cookies together.

Make about 20 cookies.

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Comments

  1. I would love to try these! They look delicious & you did a great job on them. You'd never know it was your first time making them.

    (I've been using that vanilla for years & I love it!)

  2. Susan must be delicious these cookies!
    Can I come and take a tea from you?:):):):)
    Have a nice weekend
    Sabry!

  3. Linzers are one of our favorite cookies — love the almond and raspberry jam. The Halloween ones look cute!

  4. Absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

  5. Susan, you so smart. Please pass me a cookie. I've got my cup of coffee ready.♥

  6. I see you're determined to keep up with Halloween yes, but with Elegance theme LOL.

    I Love Linzer Cookies but never dared tomake them… and I wish I'd know where to find those cutters in my country or some site that would dispatch them to me.

    Happy Halloween and LC are the best for Tea in this time of the year – not quite off Summer and not exactly in Autumn.

    Enjoy the Weekend!

    T

  7. Barbara F. says

    Hi Susan, yes, I have made these cookies for years but only for Christmas. These are neat cutters for Halloween. My favorite cookie, I think, even more than chocolate chip! 🙂

  8. Couple of weeks ago I bought the same set not knowing what kind of cookies I could make…well, Thanks to you I know what I'll be baking once I get almonds! Thank you for sharing!

    Sole Ravendo

  9. Susan, I have that cutter and I love it. I do not have the Halloween centres, but the one with a star and other shapes.
    They are such good cookies.
    We have a store which sells everything under the sun for baking called Phat Cat, it is like Pandora's box.

  10. Beautiful cookies! I have always wanted to make them but have never done it. I must give them a try!

  11. BEAUTIFUL cookies! YES, I make them for Christmas and LOVE LOVE LOVE them! For some reason last batch I made were a bit crumbly – not sure why. But I'm planning to do them again for the holidays! Super cute for Halloween – Enjoy them!

  12. Pattie @ Olla-Podrida says

    I am a BIG Linzer cookie fan. I have two sets of cutters, but not one for Halloween. I MUST have these!

  13. Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says

    Thanks, Gina! Sabry…come on over. I'll get the cookies ready. It's a bit cold to sit on the porch, though. We'll have stay in by the fire.

  14. Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says

    Barbara, I found Valentine's Day cutters on Amazon. Definitely want to make them again. Love how they look…and taste.

  15. Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says

    Thanks, Beverly, Louise and Sole! Wish I could pass a cookie right through the computer to you!

  16. Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says

    Megan, I'll have to check Williams-Sonoma near me. Or, maybe I'll just check online. It's dangerous for me to go in WS. lol I see too many things I want to buy there!

  17. Hi Susan,

    These are really cute! I have a traditional Linzer Cookie Cutter set. I have kind of forgotten about it. Thanks for reminding me. Although, I wish I had the cute Halloween set 🙂 I love making cookies with this. I just follow the directions on the package, like you.

    Have a nice weekend,
    Sanna

  18. I was sitting here looking at the title of your post and thinking – maybe I'll skip this – what's the big deal – linzers have circles in a circle – BOY am I GLAD I opened up your post and took a look!!! I LOVE your halloween designs in the middle of those delicious sounding cookies – I'm definitely going to try these. I have little leaf cutters that will be so cute for Thanksgiving 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing and for all you do!

  19. laxsupermom says

    Linzer cookies are a mainstay of my Christmas cookie repertoire, but I've never thought of using them at Halloween. Love your cookies! I'm thinking you could make really cute Jack o' Lantern cookies. Thanks for sharing.

  20. Susan,
    Wonderful inspiration! I've never seen Halloween themed Linzers. I'll have to try this, thanks! I am a sugar-cookie making addict with quite the collection. I just added some ships from Star Wars thanks to W. Sonoma! They are the press kind and actually look like the death star and 3 ships! Sent a batch to my son at college!! Have a wonderful week-end, V

  21. Beautiful job on the cookies! I have never seen that cutter. I do have the cutters from WSonoma OUTLET. I bet they would work.

    I used the leaf cutters today to make an apple pie. Time consuming! But cute!
    Have a great weekend.! I have to unload my bargains from CTree Shop. Had lots of fun!

  22. You did a great job! Much as I have baked over the years, I have never made linzer cookies. Ina Garten has a recipe for them & I always wanted to try it. Thanks for the inspiration!!

  23. Beautiful cookies — and I'll bet they taste as good as they look. I have made these years ago when my son was little. I didn't have the fancy cutter for the top, but I used something that cut a small hole — it's been so long I don't remember what!

    I think I used pecans, but probably any nuts would be good. What about toasted hazelnuts?

  24. Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads says

    Hi Susan,
    I made Linzer cookies for the first time last Christmas. They were delicious. I have not seen the Halloween cookie cutters, so thanks for showing them. Your cookies turned out great!

  25. Now I wish I had bought this set when I seen it.

  26. FABBY'S LIVING says

    I've made Linzer cookies for Christmas, but I don't have Halloween cookie cutters and my grands already saw them and want to make them…I guess I'll have to get them from Florida, or maybe e-bay?, you think?
    Thanks Susan, these are really neat.
    Have a super weekend. FABBY

  27. This is my husbands favorite cookie in the world! I love the Halloween theme, its very cute!

  28. YES you can freeze the dough. My sweet neighbor gave me some frozen dough a couple of months ago and I just baked them up this weekend. Delicious! I used apricot jam.

  29. Tammy at Tammy Loves Dishes says

    Susan, these are so cute I had to order a set of cutters on Amazon. Also got the heart shape. I love eating these cookies, so now I can make my own.

  30. Susan, I'm a bit late on this comment but loved your cookies! Wanted to tell you that Trader Joe's has ground almonds for a VERY reasonable price..something like $3.00 for about a pound. Everywhere else I've priced them, they are exorbitant! I've used them as a cheesecake crust (wonderful) and have several recipes from Germany that call for them which is why I was on the hunt. And…the TJ's last a long time. I put them in my breadbox or the fridge. Thought you'd like to know. They're down the aisle with the jelly on the bottom shelf at Johnson Ferry TJ.

  31. Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says

    Thanks for that tip! I will definitely be buying those. That would be faster than chopping my own. And that's definitely a good price because almonds can be expensive. Thanks again! 🙂
    Wednesday, November 02, 2011

  32. Pamela Krugman says

    I live in northern Colorado. I tired making Linzer cookies last Christmas and was so disappointed when the top half expanded upon baking, covering the design! I will try this recipe as I believe it is different (no leavening). These are beautiful!

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