Cherry Almond Linzer Cookies Recipe

When I first pulled these gorgeous Cherry Almond Linzer Cookies out of my oven, I was completely blown away by how bakery-perfect they looked on my kitchen counter.

The delicate, nutty cookie dough melts in your mouth, balancing seamlessly with the sweet tang of bright cherry preserves and a light almond glaze.

Every time I set a tray of these out during the holidays, they are the very first treat to vanish. You will love how easy they are to make from scratch!

Ingredients

Choosing the right ingredients ensures a delicate, nutty crunch and a sweet, balanced filling for your cutout cookies.

For the Almond Cookie Dough

• 1 cup whole almonds, coarsely ground. Coarsely grinding whole almonds adds an authentic, rustic nut texture rather than a powdery finish. 
• 2 cups all-purpose flour. All-purpose flour provides the essential structure needed for rolling and cutting out neat shapes. 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon. A dash of cinnamon infuses subtle warmth that elevates the sweet almond and fruit notes. 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt. Balances the sweetness of the sugar and enhances the nutty butter base.
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened. Room-temperature butter creams smoothly to give these shortbread-like cookies their delicate crumb.
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar. Sweetens the cookie dough without making the final sandwich cookies overly heavy. 
• 1 large egg, room temperature. Binds the dough together so it rolls out effortlessly without cracking. 
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract. Rounds out the warm spices and dairy richness. 
• 3/4 teaspoon pure almond extract. The essential flavoring that gives these cookies their signature bakery-style aroma.

For the Icing & Filling

• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar. Creates a smooth, semi-thick icing top that dries into a beautiful glossy finish. 
• 1 to 2 tablespoons whole milk. Thins the confectioners’ sugar into a drizzle-worthy, dip-friendly glaze consistency. 
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Infuses the top icing coat with an extra punch of rich almond flavor. 
• 1/2 cup cherry preserves. Sweet cherry preserves provide a vibrant red center window and a tart fruity bite.

Note: Serves 22 to 25 complete sandwich cookies.

Variations

Explore these easy ingredient options to adapt the recipe for different dietary needs or flavor profiles.

• Gluten-Free Swap: Replace the all-purpose flour with a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free measure-for-measure baking flour.
• Berry Jam Alternative: Swap the cherry preserves for raspberry, strawberry, or blackberry jam for a classic fruit variation.
• Traditional Sugar Dusting: Skip the almond icing step and simply dust the top cutout cookies with confectioners’ sugar before sandwiching.

Cooking Time

Here is the complete breakdown of preparation, chilling, and baking times required for this recipe.

• Prep Time: 4 hours (includes dough chilling)
• Cooking Time: 12 minutes
• Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes

Equipment You Need

Having these basic baking tools ready will ensure your dough is easy to roll, cut, and assemble.

• Food Processor: Pulse whole almonds into a coarse, nutty meal for the dough base.
• Electric Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer: Easily creams the softened butter and sugar into a fluffy texture.
• Linzer Cookie Cutters: A larger cutter forms the bases while a smaller center cutter creates decorative window cutouts.
• Rolling Pin: Rolls the chilled dough evenly to a uniform thickness for consistent baking.
• Baking Sheets and Parchment Paper: Keeps the delicate cutout cookies from sticking to the pan while baking.
• Wire Cooling Rack: Cools the baked cookies completely before icing and assembling with preserves.

How to Make Cherry Almond Linzer Cookies Recipe?

Follow these simple, step-by-step instructions to grind your almonds, roll out neat cookie shapes, and assemble delicious iced sandwiches.

Grinding Almonds and Mixing Dry Ingredients

Pulse the whole almonds in a food processor until coarsely ground, taking care not to process into a paste. In a medium bowl, whisk the ground almonds together with the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, and salt, then set the bowl aside.

Creaming Wet Ingredients and Chilling

In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together on high speed for 3 minutes until smooth and creamy. Add the room-temperature egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, beating until incorporated. Turn the mixer to low speed, gradually blend in the flour mixture until a soft dough forms, then divide the dough into two flat discs, wrap tightly in plastic, and chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours.

Rolling and Cutting the Shapes

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of chilled dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Use a 2.5-inch cutter to stamp out round bottoms, then use a smaller shape cutter to stamp out center windows on half of the cookies to create the top lids.

Baking and Cooling

Transfer the cut shapes to your prepared baking sheets, leaving 1/2 inch of space between each piece. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are very lightly golden, then allow the cookies to cool on the pan for 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Icing the Tops and Assembling

Whisk the confectioners’ sugar, milk, and almond extract together in a small bowl until smooth. Dip the top cutout cookies face-down into the icing, letting excess drip off, and set them aside to set. Pulse the cherry preserves briefly in a mini food processor to smooth out big lumps, spread 1/2 teaspoon onto each bottom cookie, and top with an iced cookie to sandwich.

Additional Tips for Making this Recipe Better

A few hands-on techniques I rely on in my kitchen to ensure your Linzer cookies turn out picture-perfect every time.

• Chill your dough thoroughly: I always give my dough at least 3 hours in the fridge before rolling. Cold dough holds its intricate cutout shape much better and prevents the cookies from spreading thin in the oven.
• Pulse chunky preserves: I like to pulse my store-bought cherry preserves in a small food processor for a few seconds. Smoothing out large fruit chunks makes spreading easier and keeps your sandwich cookies sitting flat.
• Don’t grind almonds into butter: When I crush whole almonds in my food processor, I use short pulses. Running the processor continuously releases too much oil and creates almond butter instead of a coarse nut meal.
• Ice the tops before sandwiching: Always apply your icing or powdered sugar dusting to the top cutout cookies while they are separated from the bottoms so you don’t ruin the shiny red jam window.

How to Serve Cherry Almond Linzer Cookies?

Serve these elegant sandwich treats on a decorative cake stand or platter alongside warm beverages for a cozy afternoon tea.

Arrange the cookies so their glossy cherry windows face upward, catching the light for a stunning bakery display. Pair a fresh cookie with a hot cup of black tea, a warm chai latte, or a dark roast espresso to contrast the sweet cherry and almond glazes.

Nutritional Information

Here is an estimated nutritional breakdown per individual sandwich cookie (based on a 24-cookie yield):

• Calories: 180 kcal
• Protein: 3 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fat: 9 g

Make Ahead and Storage

Follow these simple guidelines for storing leftover sandwich cookies and keeping them crisp and delicious.

Refrigerating

Store assembled cookies in a single layer or separated by parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 5 days. The cookies will soften slightly on day two as they absorb moisture from the cherry filling.

Freezing

You can freeze un-iced, un-filled baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw them at room temperature overnight before dipping in almond glaze and sandwiching with fresh cherry preserves.

Reheating

Linzer cookies are meant to be enjoyed cold or at room temperature, so you should never place them in an oven or microwave. If kept in the fridge, let them sit on the counter for 10 minutes before eating to soften the butter base.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe?

Discover why these festive almond and fruit sandwiches will become a favorite staple in your holiday baking collection.

• Classic Bakery Appearance: Decorative cutout windows filled with bright red cherry preserves make these cookies look straight out of a professional pastry shop.
• Delicate Melt-in-Your-Mouth Texture: Coarsely ground almonds and real butter create a tender, buttery crumb that breaks cleanly with every bite.
• Irresistible Flavor Pairing: Nutty almond shortbread paired with tart cherry fruit filling delivers a timeless, crowd-pleasing taste profile.
• Great Make-Ahead Treat: You can bake the cookie bases days in advance, making assembly quick and stress-free when hosting guests.