Valentines Linzer Cookies

SO... for this you may need a little more planning. If you are really in a hurry and don’t worry too much about all the yummy flavours , you can also buy a readymade cookie dough roll from your local grocer- in the fridge/freezer section. Its easy enough to be made a family activity-as always, be careful with kids in the kitchen so they don’t get injured.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 cup (96g) slivered almonds
• 1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus some extra for dusting
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 250ml strawberry or raspberry jam, seedless if preferred

Directions

• In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, salt and baking powder, set aside.
• In a food processor, pulse almonds with brown sugar until finely ground, set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together butter and powdered sugar on low speed until combined, then increase to medium-high and whip until creamy, about 1 minute.
• Mix in egg, then blend in vanilla and almond extract.
• Mix in almond mixture, then with mixer set on low speed, slowly add in flour mixture and mix until combined. Form mixture into a ball and drop onto a sheet of plastic wrap, then flatten into a 15cm round disk, cover with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 180deg Celsius.
• Dust work surface with flour, cut disk in half and then evenly roll out each portion 4mm thick.
• Cut into heart shapes using a cookie cutter, then using a smaller heart shape cookie cutter, cut smaller hearts into the centers of half of the hearts.
• Carefully transfer to Silpat or parchment paper lined baking sheets (you can run a sharp knife or pastry scraper under cookies to help lift them if needed. Also, chill dough that's not currently being rolled or baked, the hearts hold their shape better when cold), spacing cookies 2.5cm apart.
• Bake in preheated oven 10 - 12 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cool on baking sheet several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. WARNING: its hot-use gloves and place it so kids can’t reach.
• Spread strawberry jam over whole hearts, dust cookies with heart cut centers with powdered sugar then place those cookies over the full hearts.
• Store in an airtight container.

Recipe Source: Cooking Classy