Linzer torte cookies were one of my mom’s go-to recipes that I have fond memories of making with her as a child. We didn’t make them for Valentine’s Day per se, but made them for any special occasion that came up – parties, piano recitals and even rainy Saturdays.
This recipe isn’t quite the same as hers, which unfortunately was lost when she passed away. But it is the closest thing I have found to the buttery cookies we made together during my childhood. I find this version to be particularly versatile because the cookies are excellent made in both dairy and pareve varieties, which cannot be said for every dessert recipe!
I actually don’t make these for Valentine’s Day either, but really love to make these cookies for Sheva Berakhot celebrations for friends! But they are also great as a sweet treat for your loved ones on Valentine’s Day, Shabbat or any day you just want to show a little extra lovin’.
I love making these fun square-shaped cookies with just a smidge of sweet jam peeking out from the heart shaped cut-out. But you can have fun and make any shape that suits your fancy.
Ingredients
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
½ cup sugar
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla
1 tsp fresh orange zest
2 cups all-purpose flour
Extra flour for rolling
Raspberry jam
Powdered sugar
Special equipment: rolling pin and cookie cutters
Directions
Cream butter and sugar together until smooth. Add egg, vanilla and orange zest and combine.
Add flour one cup at a time until full incorporated.
Place dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface and cut into desired shapes. You may need to add extra flour during this step as this dough tends to be sticky, but try not to add too much.
Place on baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
When cookies have cooled completely, spread with jam and sprinkle powdered sugar on top.
pareve
Pronounced: PAHRV or pah-REV, Origin: Hebrew, an adjective to describe a food or dish that is neither meat nor dairy. (Kosher laws prohibit serving meat and dairy together.)
Shabbat
Pronounced: shuh-BAHT or shah-BAHT, Origin: Hebrew, the Sabbath, from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.
