Hello Chefs,

This week in culinary school, we made something as beautiful as it is delicious: Linzer cookies! And let me tell you—they’re not just tasty, they’re downright festive. I knew right away they’d be perfect for the Fourth of July season.

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What Is a Linzer Cookie?

A Linzer cookie is a delicate, buttery shortbread-style sandwich cookie traditionally made with ground nuts (usually almonds or hazelnuts) and filled with jam. The top cookie has a small cutout—called a window—so the colorful jam peeks through like a little jewel. They’re based on the classic Austrian Linzertorte, but turned into bite-sized treats.

They’re melt-in-your-mouth tender, just sweet enough, and totally customizable for any occasion.

Why They’re Perfect for the Fourth of July Season

Not only are Linzer cookies delicious, but they’re basically edible art. We used raspberry jam in class (a classic choice), but you can easily swap in blueberry jam alongside raspberry to get that red, white, and blue moment. Add a dusting of powdered sugar on top for the white, and boom—a patriotic treat that’s cute, classy, and crowd-pleasing.

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Tips for Perfect Linzer Cookies Every Time

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Use Finely Ground Nuts

Many Linzer cookie recipes call for almond flour or ground hazelnuts in the dough. This adds richness and a soft, tender texture. Make sure your nuts are super finely ground so the dough stays smooth and cohesive.

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Chill the Dough Well

This dough can be a bit soft, so chill it before rolling out. Cold dough is easier to cut, less likely to spread, and gives cleaner edges to your shapes.

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Roll Evenly and Thin

Aim for about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick. Too thick and the cookies will overwhelm the filling. Too thin and they might be hard to handle. An even thickness is the secret to baking them all at the same rate.

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Mix and Match Shapes

You can go classic with round cutters and heart or star-shaped centers, or get festive! For the Fourth, try star-shaped cookies with small circular centers—or mix stars and circles for a playful spread.

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Use a Firm, Smooth Jam

You want a jam that’s not too runny—look for raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, or even lemon curd. If it’s too loose, heat it for a minute or two to reduce it slightly, then cool it before spreading.

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Dust With Powdered Sugar Before Assembly

This keeps the sugar from melting into the jam. Dust the tops separately, then sandwich with jam right before serving.

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Make Them Your Own

Linzer cookies are incredibly versatile—swap the fillings, change the shapes, or color the dough for a holiday twist. We made ours in class with raspberry jam and classic round cutouts, but I can’t wait to make red (raspberry), white (powdered sugar), and blue (blueberry) versions for Independence Day.

They’d also be perfect with heart cutouts for Valentine’s, pumpkins for fall, or little trees for Christmas. It’s such a fun and fancy-feeling cookie that still tastes like pure comfort.

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Here is the recipe.

Until next time, stay sweet and star-spangled!