So, these cookies are a little out of character for me: for starters, they are bigger, like the size of my hand. That is unusual for me as I prefer smaller cookies. And second, they use artificial colors in the sugar, which I do once in a blue moon. But back in late June, i made some fantastic strawberry jam, and then in mid-July, I found a strawberry shaped cookie cutter, so I knew that these cookies needed to me. They are actually quite yummy, with just a hint of almond in the cookie itself. And the homemade jam is great too.
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/ cup almond flour/meal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
various colored sugar sprinkles
1 cup strawberry jam
You will also need: a strawberry-shaped linzer cookie cutter, or two cutters of the same size, one with a shaped hole, or strawberry-shaped standard cookie cutter and a small circular cutter
Directions
In mixing bowl, cream together unsalted butter, sugar and egg until light and fluffy. Beat in flour, baking powder, salt, orange juice and vanilla until smooth and well combined. Chill in refrigerator 2-3 hours or until firm enough to be rolled.
Preheat over to 400F. Roll out half of the dough on a well-floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness (be careful to get the surface even, otherwise you will have oddly-browned cookies. Also, do not roll the dough to thin, otherwise you will have hard cookies when they come out of the oven). Cut with strawberry-shaped cookie cutters. Place on cookie sheet lined with silpat or onto parchment paper. Cut out an equal number of full cookies and cookies with holes in the middle. Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown at the edges. Cool completely on a wire rack.
To decorate, whisk together lemon juice and confectioners’ sugar in a small bowl. Using a food safe paint brush, brush the cookies with the sugar “glue” and then sprinkle with sugar sprinkles. Once completely decorated and set, use the strawberry jam to sandwich together two cookies to make a linzer cookie. Repeat until all cookies are used.
