Hazelnut Linzer Cookies With Blackberry Jam Food

HAZELNUT-CHOCOLATE LINZER COOKIES

Steps:

• Add the nuts to the bowl of a food processor, fitted with a blade, and pulse until finely ground (it should be powdery and not a paste), about 15 pulses. Set aside. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl until evenly combined and set aside.
• Put the butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, and mix on medium speed until creamy and light, about 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the mixer, scrape down sides of the bowl, and add egg yolks and vanilla. Mix until well incorporated.
• Mix in the orange zest, ground hazelnut powder, and the flour mixture until just incorporated. Divide the dough into 2 even pieces, pat each into a thin disk, enclose in plastic wrap, and let rest in refrigerator at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and arrange racks in the upper and lower third of the oven. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature until pliable enough to roll. Roll out half of the dough on a piece of lightly floured parchment or waxed paper to 1/4-inch thickness. Using a 2-inch round cookie or biscuit cutter, cut out rounds of dough. Using a 3/4-inch round cookie cutter, cut out the center of half of rounds to make rings. Transfer rounds and rings to the freezer to set up for 5 minutes before continuing. Gather the dough scraps and chill.
• Transfer the chilled cookies to parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving at least 1-inch between each cookie. Bake 2 sheets of cookies at a time until the undersides are golden, switching sheets halfway through, about 12 to 15 minutes total. Cool 5 minutes on sheets then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat until all dough is used.
• To assemble cookies, spread 1 teaspoon of the chocolate spread on the bottom of each solid round cookie, then top with a ring-shaped cookie.
• For Blackberry-Pecan Linzer Cookies variation, follow the same instructions except spread 1/2 teaspoon jam on the bottom side of each solid round cookie, then top with a ring-shaped cookie.

HAZELNUT LINZER COOKIES WITH BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Whisk first 5 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Beat butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, and citrus peels in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in egg yolks. Beat in dry ingredients in 4 additions; beat in nuts. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap; chill at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll out half of dough on lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Using 2-inch round cutter, cut out rounds. Using 3/4-inch round cutter, cut out center of half of rounds to make rings. Transfer rounds and rings to prepared sheets. Gather dough scraps; chill.
• Bake cookies until golden, reversing sheets after 10 minutes, about 22 minutes total. Cool completely on sheets. Repeat until all dough is used. Do ahead Store airtight at room temperature up to 2 days or freeze up to 2 weeks.
• Arrange cookie rings on work surface. Sift powdered sugar over. Spread 1 teaspoon jam on each cookie round. Press rings onto jam on rounds. Do ahead Can be assembled 1 day ahead. Store between sheets of waxed paper in airtight container at room temperature.

BLACKBERRY-PECAN LINZER COOKIES

Steps:

• Add the nuts to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade and pulse until finely ground (it should be powdery and not a paste), about 15 pulses. Set aside. Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt in a large bowl until evenly combined. Set aside.
• Put the butter and both sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on medium speed until creamy and light, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the vanilla and egg yolk. Mix until well incorporated.
• Mix in the orange zest, ground pecan powder and the flour mixture until just incorporated. Divide the dough into two even pieces, pat each into a thin disk, enclose in plastic wrap and let rest in the refrigerator at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and arrange the racks in the upper and lower third of the oven. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature until pliable enough to roll. Roll out half of the dough on a piece of lightly floured parchment or waxed paper to 1/4-inch thickness. Using a 2-inch round cookie or biscuit cutter, cut out rounds of dough. Using a 3/4-inch round cookie cutter, cut out the center of half of the rounds to make rings. Transfer the rounds and rings to the freezer to set up for 5 minutes before continuing. Gather the dough scraps and chill.
• Transfer the chilled cookies to the prepared baking sheets, leaving at least 1 inch between each cookie. Bake two sheets of cookies at a time until the undersides are golden, rotating the sheets halfway through, 12 to 15 minutes total. Cool 5 minutes on the sheets, and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Repeat until all the dough is used. To assemble the cookies, spread 1/2 teaspoon jam on the bottom side of each solid round cookie, and then top with a ring-shaped cookie.

HAZELNUT LINZER COOKIES

Steps:

• Grind hazelnuts with 1/4 cup sugar.
• Stir together Flour, cinnamon, salt. Set aside.
• Cream butter, sugar, vanilla and egg yolks.
• Stir in dry ingredients.
• Pat into rectangle, wrap in plastic and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Roll out dough on lightly floured surface and cut out with 2" cookie cutter.
• Cut small shape in half of the cookies.
• Place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees 12- 14 minutes. Cool on rack.
• Heat preserves slightly in saucepan.
• Spoon 1/2 teaspoons preserves onto whole cookie.
• Dust cut-out tops with powdered sugar.
• Place dusted cookies on top of preserve covered cookies.
• Store in tins.

LINZER COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat margarine, oil, granulated sugar and lemon peel, if using, until light.
• Beat in egg and vanilla extract until smooth.
• In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.
• Add to sugar mixture, and stir by hand just until dough is soft.
• Divide dough in half, shape each half into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate one hour, or until well chilled.
• When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F.
• Between two pieces of wax paper, roll out one disk to ¼" thickness.
• Cut out cookies using a 1½"- to 2"-round cookie cutter or glass rim.
• Using a ½"-round or shaped cutter, cut centers out of half the cookies.
• Place cookies 2" to 3" apart on baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
• Sprinkle cookies with centers cut out with almonds; if using, pressing gently to help them adhere.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly golden around edges.
• Transfer to rack to cool.
• Repeat with remaining disk, rerolling scraps once to get as many cookies as possible.
• Spread solid cookies with jam, and sprinkle cut-out cookies lightly with confectioners' sugar.
• Top each solid cookie with a cut-out cookie.
• Notes: Freeze Em; Freezing is a good idea for these cookies, since they're so low in fat that they don't keep as long as traditional high-fat cookies.
• Store in airtight containers, or freeze them if they aren't going to be eaten within a day or two.
• Soft and crisp cookies shouldn't be stored together; the crisp ones will go soggy, and the soft ones will lose moisture.