Description
Sweet linzer heart cookies melt hearts with their delicate almond-dusted texture and rich chocolate center. Delightful Austrian-inspired treats promise a romantic culinary experience you’ll savor with each tender, love-filled bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup almond flour (or finely ground almonds)
Sugar and Sweeteners:
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Flavor Enhancers and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon (1 tsp) vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon (1/4 tsp) almond extract (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon (1/4 tsp) salt
Chocolate Filling Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Whisk softened butter and granulated sugar in a spacious mixing bowl until the mixture transforms into a cloud-like, airy consistency.
- Introduce egg, vanilla, and almond extracts into the butter-sugar blend, stirring until thoroughly integrated.
- Gradually fold in all-purpose flour, almond flour, and salt, gently combining until a cohesive dough forms.
- Partition the dough into two symmetrical discs, encase each in plastic wrap, and allow to rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of 60 minutes.
- Calibrate the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Dust a clean work surface with flour and carefully roll out one dough disc to a delicate 1/8-inch thickness.
- Utilize a heart-shaped cookie cutter to craft base cookies, then create a second set of cookies with a smaller heart cutter to produce decorative “window” tops.
- Arrange cookies on prepared sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes until edges acquire a gentle golden hue. Transfer to wire racks for complete cooling.
- Warm heavy cream in a small saucepan over minimal heat, then incorporate chocolate chips, stirring until achieving a silky smooth texture.
- Delicately spread the chocolate ganache across the surface of each base cookie.
- Crown each chocolate-covered base with the corresponding heart-windowed cookie, applying gentle pressure to secure.
- Elegantly dust the assembled cookies with a light veil of powdered sugar for a refined finishing touch.
Notes
- Chill Dough Thoroughly to ensure easy rolling and prevent spreading during baking, giving cookies clean, crisp heart shapes.
- Work Surface Matters by using a light dusting of flour to prevent sticking without making dough dry or tough.
- Chocolate Filling Temperature is crucial – let it cool slightly so it’s spreadable but not runny, creating perfect cookie sandwiches.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation can be achieved by replacing all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, maintaining the delicate texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Austrian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 236
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 56 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 33 mg