These linzer heart cookies are the perfect Valentine's or holiday treats that taste just as good as they look. Fresh raspberry jam is sandwiched between two decadent heart-shaped cookies to create the most irresistible dessert.
If you're in search of a healthier Valentine's Day treat to make this season, these raspberry Linzer cookies are a must! They look like stunning, bakery quality cookies and make the perfect party dessert, coffee pairing or cookie gift box. They're one of my favorite cookie recipes to bake around Valentine's season, but they're also perfect for the holidays and Christmas time too.
These homemade Linzer cookies are made with fresh raspberry jam, sandwiched between two buttery, almond shortbread cookies. They truly just melt in your mouth and are bursting with flavor in every bite. Plus, this homemade version is completely vegan and made with much simpler ingredients than the regular store-bought cookies.
If you love this recipe, you need to check out my Vegan Banana Bread Cookies, Peanut Butter Cookies, and Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Ingredients
- White wheat flour
- Almond flour
- Vegan butter
- Cane sugar
- Almond milk
- Lemon juice
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- Raspberry Jam
- Powdered Sugar
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Combine the dry ingredients.
- Combine the wet ingredients, except for the milk.
- Stir the ingredients until a dough forms, then add the milk.
- Divide the dough into two disks, wrap them, and place them in the fridge for 1 hour.
- Roll out one disk on a lightly floured surface and use a cookie cutter to cut out heart shapes.
- Use a smaller cookie cutter to cut out a smaller heart in the middle of each cookie.
- Transfer the cookies to a lined baking sheet, spacing them apart, and refrigerate the sheet for 20 minutes. Repeat with the second disk.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes on the middle oven rack, until lightly golden brown. Let cool on the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Spread jam on half of the cookies, then place the other cookies on top to create sandwiches.
- Sprinkle the top cookies with powdered sugar and enjoy!
You can gather dough and use leftover cut-out centers to make cute mini cookies or experiment with different shapes!
Substitutions
- White Wheat Flour: All-purpose flour or 1:1 gluten-free flour can be used instead.
- Almond Milk: Any non-dairy milk works great for this recipe. You can also use regular milk if you're not following a plant-based diet.
- Cane Sugar: Coconut sugar can also be used, but it will result in darker-colored cookies.
- Raspberry Jam: I love using raspberry jam for the most classic Austrian Linzer cookies, but feel free to use any of your favorite flavors for the jam filling. My favorite alternatives are strawberry jam or blueberry jam.
- Powdered Sugar: Optional for topping, but highly recommended to create the prettiest and most delicious cookies.
Equipment Needed for this Linzer Cookie Recipe
- Mixing Bowls
- Heart-shaped Cookie Cutter
- Rolling Pin
- Cookie Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Plastic Wrap
How To Store Linzer Heart Cookies
These Linzer cookies can be stored in an airtight container or cooke jars at room temperature for up to 5 days. If preferred, you can store them in the fridge but it will affect the cookies crunchy texture.
3 Top Tips For Success
- For best results, chill your dough for the recommended time before baking. The chilling process helps make your dough mixture easier to roll and also prevents cookies from spreading out when baking.
- Use both a large and small heart cookie cutter to cutout cookies. It will be difficult to create the heart shapes yourself and cut-out cookies if you don't have the appropriate cutters.
- Lightly flour your surface before rolling out dough. This will prevent your dough from sticking to the surface.
FAQs
What are Linzer Cookies?
Linzer cookies are a type of traditional Austrian pastry, usually made from two buttery, almond cookies, sandwiched with a layer of fruit jam. They're named after the Austrian city of Linz, and their cookie design is adapted from the Linzer Torte, a famous tart from the region.
What if my baking sheet doesn't fit all the cookies?
Use two baking sheets to bake your cookies in batches on the middle oven rack. It's important to ensure you leave space in between your cookies as they will spread out slightly when baking.
Do I have to refrigerate the cookie dough?
Yes! Chilling your dough makes it much easier to cut and roll out. It also reduces the amount of spreading when your cookies are baking. Your cookies will not turn out the same if you don't allow them to chill for the full recommended time.
📖 Recipe
Valentine's Linzer Heart Cookies Recipe (Vegan)
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Heart-Shaped Cookie Cutter
- Rolling Pin
- Cookie Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Plastic Wrap
Ingredients
- 2 c white wheat flour
- ½ c almond flour
- ⅔ c vegan butter
- ½ c cane sugar
- 2 tablespoon almond milk
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine the dry ingredients.
- Combine the wet ingredients, except for the milk.
- Stir the ingredients until a dough forms, then add the milk.
- Divide the dough into two disks, wrap them, and place them in the fridge for 1 hour.
- Roll out one disk on a lightly floured surface and use a cookie cutter to cut out heart shapes.
- Use a smaller cookie cutter to cut out a smaller heart in the middle of each cookie.
- Transfer the cookies to a lined baking sheet, spacing them apart, and refrigerate the sheet for 20 minutes. Repeat with the second disk.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes on the middle oven rack, until lightly golden brown. Let cool on the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Spread jam on half of the cookies, then place the other cookies on top to create sandwiches.
- Sprinkle the top cookies with powdered sugar and enjoy!
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