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Linzer Strawberry Heart Cookies

Delicate butter cookies filled with sweet-tart strawberry jam, perfect for holidays, parties, or cozy afternoons with tea.
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Course Baked Goods, Dessert
Cuisine American, Baking
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 100 kcal

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour Substitute: 1:1 gluten-free flour blend if avoiding gluten; texture will vary.
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 Tbsp confectioners' (powdered) sugar Plus more for dusting.
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon Optional but adds warmth.

Wet Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter Softened.
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg Use room temperature.
  • 1/2–1 cup seedless strawberry jam Use good-quality jam or preserves.

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, 2 Tbsp confectioners’ sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the softened butter and granulated sugar. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2–3 minutes.
  • Add the vanilla and egg. Beat until combined.
  • Reduce the mixer to low. Add the flour mixture and mix just until incorporated. Do not overmix.
  • Divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a disk. Wrap both disks in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Baking

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Working with one disk at a time, roll the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness.
  • Use a 2-inch fluted cookie cutter to cut rounds. For half the rounds, cut a 1/2-inch heart from the center to create windowed tops.
  • Re-roll scraps and cut more cookies as needed. Place cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared sheets.
  • Chill the cookie-lined baking sheets for 5 minutes.
  • Bake for 8–10 minutes, rotating pans 180° halfway through. Cookies should be pale golden at the edges.
  • Transfer pans to wire racks and allow cookies to cool completely on the pans.

Filling

  • Meanwhile, heat the strawberry jam in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until slightly reduced and thickened, about 7 minutes. Let cool.
  • Dust the windowed (cutout) cookies with confectioners’ sugar.
  • Spread a thin layer of cooled jam onto the solid cookie bottoms. Top each with a dusted cutout cookie to make sandwiches.

Notes

Use room-temperature butter and egg for easier creaming. Seedless jam gives a smoother fill and less chance of seeds getting stuck in the cutter.
Keyword cookie swap, Holiday Cookies, Linzer Cookies, strawberry jam, Valentine's Day