Christmas (Cookies) In July…Well, April

Cruises, Recipes

Viking River Cruises recently announced some great savings on their Christmas river cruises and to celebrate, they sent us a special Linzer cookie recipe.


Linzer cookies employ the same recipe as the Linzertorte, believed to have been first baked back in the 1700s in the city of Linz—but instead the dough is cut into cookies and two of them form a sandwich around the preserves. Moreover, the top cookie has a small cutout in its center (known as Linzer eyes), thus exposing the underlying jam and adding to the visual appeal. While the traditional cutout is circular, other shapes, such as hearts, are also popular.

Ingredients:

Three-quarters of a pound unsalted butter at room temperature
One cup granulated sugar
One teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Three and one-half cups flour
One-quarter teaspoon salt
Three-quarters cup raspberry preserves
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Place onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.

Roll the dough 1/4-inch thick and cut two 3/4-inch rounds with a plain or fluted cutter. With half of the rounds, cut a hole from the middle of each round with a round, heart- or spade-shaped cutter. Place all the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet and chill for 15 minutes.

Bake the cookies for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature. Spread raspberry preserves on the flat side of each solid cookie. Dust the top of the cut-out cookies with confectioners’ sugar and press the flat sides together, with the raspberry preserves in the middle and the confectioners’ sugar on the top.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 36 cookies

To learn more about Viking Cruise Lines or to book your cabin, please call Premier Custom Travel at (800) 304-6789.