Nutella Linzer Cookies
Nutella Linzer Cookies are cute, fun to make, and delicious! Make them heart-shaped for Valentine's day, or choose your own shape for any occasion.
What are Linzer cookies?
Linzer cookies originated in the city of Linz, Austria. The recipe for the cookies evolved from the “Linzertorte” which was similar to a pie with it’s almond crust, black currant preserves filling, and lattice top. The recipe was developed using a crust made of nuts since they were easier to find than wheat/flour, which is why the Linzer cookie recipe uses almond flour!
The Linzer cookies consists of two cookies, and traditionally has preserves sandwiched between each one. The top cookie has a cutout of a certain shape in the middle to look like the lattice of the Linzertorte with the preserves peeking through.
In this case, instead of preserves, we’re switching it up and using Nutella! Because who doesn’t want another way to be able to enjoy Nutella?!
WHAT DO I NEED TO MAKE LINZER COOKIES?
Here’s everything you’ll need to make these cookies:
- Almond flour
- All-purpose flour
- Ground cinnamon
- Salt
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- Butter
- Granulated sugar
- Nutella
- Powdered sugar
What cookie cutters should I use?
They sell sets of Linzer cookie cutters that come with tons of cute cutout shapes, for example the tiny heart shaped ones I used here, or the Christmas tree one I used here. They all came in the same set from Amazon!
However, if you don’t have heart shaped cutters, you can just use a regular circle shaped cookie cutter and make the small center cutout with something small like a piping tip.
How to make Nutella Linzer cookies
Linzer cookies can be made in four basic steps: making the dough, rolling the dough, baking, and assembling.
STEP ONE: make the dough
Grab three different bowls- small, medium, and large- cause we’re going to prep our ingredients!
First, In a medium bowl, whisk all the dry ingredients together. Then in a small bowl, beat together the egg and vanilla. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar with a mixer, until light and fluffy. Add the egg mixture, combine, and then add in the dry ingredients and mix. Your dough is done!
STEP TWO: roll the dough
Next, divide your dough in half and form each half into a disc shape. Roll the dough out between 2 sheets of parchment paper, until the dough is about 1/8” thick.
The cookies should be rather thin, because we’re going to be stacking two on top of each other.
Now, place the sheets of dough on a baking sheet and transfer them to the fridge to chill for 2 hours, or the freezer to chill for 30 minutes.
Once the dough is finished chilling, preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use cookie cutter of your choice to cut out the cookies, and use a smaller cookie cutter to cut windows in half of the cookies. The solid cookie with no cutout in the middle goes on the bottom and the cutout/window goes on top.
If the cookies are sticking to the cutter, try dusting the cookie cutter with flour.
STEP THREE: bake
Place the cookies on your prepared baking sheet, about 1” apart. Bake in preheated oven for 7-9 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
STEP FOUR: assemble
Finally, once the cookies have cooled completely, spread about 1/2 teaspoon of Nutella onto the center of a cookie, then top with a second cookie that has the cutout window.
The powdered sugar is covering the Nutella in the middle. What should I do?
You can add more Nutella to the center of the cookie so it covers the powdered sugar, or take a wet q-tip and dissolve the powdered sugar using that.
What do I do with the tiny cookies from the center cutouts?
Bake them and use them for snacking (feel free to dip in loads of Nutella), or re-roll them and make more cookies!
Do I have to use Nutella?
If you don’t like Nutella, I’m very confused by that, but it’s okay.
Instead of Nutella, you could stuff these Linzer cookies with a chocolate ganache, or raspberry jam!
Nutella Linzer Cookies
Rich, chocolatey Nutella is sandwiched between two buttery cookies in this delicious little Linzer cookie! Make them into heart shapes and gift them to your Valentine- because let’s be honest, the best gift is always food!
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup Nutella
- powdered sugar (for garnish)
- In a medium bowl, combine almond flour, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, and salt. In a small bowl, beat together egg and vanilla.
- In a large bowl, using a mixer, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and vanilla mixture and beat until combined. Add in dry ingredients and beat until just combined.
- Divide the dough in half, forming each half into a flat disc. Place each disc between 2 sheets of parchment paper and roll out to 1/8” thick. Place the sheets of dough on a baking sheet and transfer to refrigerator to chill for 2 hours, or freezer to chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Peel the parchment paper off the top of the dough sheet and cut the cookies using cookie cutter of your choice. Use a smaller cookie cutter to cut windows in half of the cookies.
- Place cookies on prepared baking sheet, about 1” apart and bake for 7-9 minutes. Allow to cool on a wire rack.
- Once cookies are completely cooled, spread about 1/2 tsp of Nutella in the middle of one cookie, then top with a second cookie that has the cutout in the middle. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.