Linzer Cookies

Linzer Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 1/4 cups hazelnuts, ground medium fine
1/2 cup seedless raspberry or cherry jam

*

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar at medium-high speed until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, and beat until smooth, about 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla.

Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and zest. Add to butter mixture; beat on medium speed until combined, about 1 minute. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Form dough into 3/4-inch balls, and roll in ground hazelnuts. Place balls on ungreased baking sheet 1 inch apart. Bake until cookies begin to set, about 8 minutes. Remove from oven. Working quickly, make a slight indentation in each cookie with your thumb. Return to oven, and bake about 8 minutes more. Place on a wire rack to cool.

Melt jam in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Place 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of jam in each indentation. Cool completely.
Recipe of Martha Stewart

Delectable Cookies From Germany

Christmas Cookies From Germany

Many of us admire the European Bakeries when we travel and must admit the baked goods are a picture. Today I am offering a recipe from Melanie living in Germany. Our son and his wife had an au pere twelve years ago. They were blessed to have Melanie with them for one year. They have remained in contact with Meli. Actually she and her new husband visited California while they were on their honeymoon. Meli posted on her Facebook that she baked Christmas cookies. I requested the recipe and she obliged. Thank You Melanie. I have posted the recipe as she sent it. The converted measurements are in italics. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

300 grams of flour

2 1/2 cups flour

180 grams butter

3/4 cup butter

100 grams vanilla sugar

1/2 cup vanilla sugar

1 egg

a bit of salt

my guess 1/2 teaspoon salt

two handsful chopped nuts

my guess 1/2 to 3/4 cup of chopped nuts

* lf vanilla sugar is not available to you, you may use granulated sugar and add the vanilla flavoring.

Directions:

Mix ingredients quickly with hands. Let cool for 30 minutes. roll out dough to 3 millimeters (1/4 inch) thick. Cut out little circles with a glass. Bake at 400 for 10 minutes. Cookies don't have to be brown.

When cool place jelly between two cookies. When finished you can sprinkle with powdered sugar.