There’s something magical about buttery, nutty cookies sandwiched with tangy jam that makes you want to bake them again and again. This Easy Almond Shortbread Linzer Cookies Recipe is my go-to when I want a treat that looks fancy but doesn’t demand hours in the kitchen.

The image shows a group of round sandwich cookies with two layers each; the bottom layer is a pale golden biscuit, and the top layer is a similar biscuit with a cut-out shape in the center revealing a smooth, orange jam filling inside. The top biscuit layer is dusted thickly with white powdered sugar, giving a soft, snowy look. The cut-out shapes vary, including circles, triangles, flowers, and diamonds, all evenly spread across the white marbled surface where the cookies are placed. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Easy Almond Shortbread Linzer Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Easy Almond Shortbread Linzer Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Easy Almond Shortbread Linzer Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This recipe holds a soft spot in my heart – it’s foolproof and delivers the classic Linzer cookie elegance without the stress. Plus, the almond shortbread base offers that perfect crisp-tender bite, and the jam filling brings in a pop of fruitiness that keeps you coming back for more.

Simple Ingredients: Uses pantry staples you probably already have with no fancy equipment needed.
Easy to Shape: Rolling and cutting the dough is straightforward; you’ll be amazed at how quickly these come together.
Customizable Fillings: Whether it's raspberry jam, lemon curd, or even chocolate spread, you can tailor them to your taste or occasion.
Make-Ahead Friendly: The dough and cookies keep well, saving you time during busy days or holidays.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in the Easy Almond Shortbread Linzer Cookies Recipe serves a special role, combining to create that buttery, tender, and slightly nutty shortbread base that pairs beautifully with a sweet and tangy filling.

Flat lay of a large chunk of unsalted butter at room temperature, a small white ceramic bowl filled with sifted powdered sugar, a small white ceramic bowl with glossy vanilla bean paste, a neat pile of all-purpose flour, a small mound of almond flour, a small white ceramic bowl containing kosher salt, whole uncracked brown eggs nearby, a small white ceramic bowl holding bright red jam, and a small white ceramic bowl dusted with powdered sugar, all arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted Butter: Gives a rich, creamy texture and flavor; using unsalted helps control the saltiness.
Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and keeps the dough smooth and tender compared to granulated sugar.
Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract: Adds warm depth and aroma that complements the almond flavor perfectly.
All-Purpose Flour: The foundation for structure in the cookie dough.
Almond Flour/Meal: Brings moistness and a lovely nutty flavor, giving these Linzer cookies their unique character.
Kosher Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
Jam or Curd of Your Choice: Acts as the luscious filling; think raspberry jam or lemon curd for classic contrast.
Powdered Sugar to Dust: Adds that signature dusted look and a touch of extra sweetness on top.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

What I love most about these Easy Almond Shortbread Linzer Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to make them your own. I play around with the fillings depending on the season or holiday, and I encourage you to do the same — make these cookies a reflection of your favorite flavors.

Variation: One fall, I swapped raspberry jam for spiced cranberry sauce and it was a hit at Thanksgiving – the slight tartness paired beautifully with the almond shortbread.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Easy Almond Shortbread Linzer Cookies Recipe

A top view of a shiny metal mixing bowl filled with smooth, light yellow batter that has visible small black specks throughout. The batter is thick and creamy, with swirled, textured peaks and ridges formed by stirring, resting mostly in the center of the bowl and clinging lightly to the sides. The bowl is placed on a flat white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Whip Together Butter, Sugar, and Vanilla

Start by placing room temperature butter, sifted powdered sugar, and vanilla bean paste or extract into your mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, whip on high speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale—this usually takes about 3 to 5 minutes. Trust me, taking this extra step ensures your cookies end up tender and melt-in-your-mouth. If you don’t have a stand mixer, a handheld mixer works just fine!

Step 2: Add Flours and Salt Carefully

Next, gently fold in the all-purpose flour, almond flour, and kosher salt. Mix until just combined — over-mixing here can make the dough tough, and we want tender, crumbly cookies. When it’s ready, the dough will be soft but not sticky, easy to handle.

Step 3: Roll Out Your Dough Between Parchment

Turn the dough onto a large piece of parchment paper. Fold the parchment over and gently press the dough into a rectangle. Then top with another piece of parchment and roll out to about ¼ inch (6mm) thickness. Rolling between parchment keeps things neat and prevents sticking—plus, rolling directly on the counter can warm the dough too much and make it tricky to cut.

Step 4: Chill the Dough Thoroughly

This step is key! Transfer the parchment-covered dough to a baking sheet and chill in the fridge for at least two hours. I sometimes make the dough in the morning and bake late afternoon or even a couple of days later — it firms up the dough and makes it easier to cut clean shapes without losing that crumbly texture.

Step 5: Cut and Shape Your Cookies

When chilled, pop the dough with the parchment into the freezer for 10 minutes to firm it up even more. Remove the top parchment and use a 2-inch fluted round cutter to stamp out as many cookies as possible. Don’t toss the scraps — just gather, re-roll on parchment, chill again briefly, and cut more cookies. For half of your cookies, use a smaller shaped cutter to cut out the centers — these are your cookie tops with the pretty window.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Freeze the cut-out cookies on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before baking to maintain their shape. Then bake at 325°F (160°C) for 11–12 minutes or until lightly golden around the edges. Keep an eye on them — thickness and oven variation can shift baking times slightly. Let the cookies cool fully on the sheet to firm up before moving on to assembly.

Step 7: Assemble and Dust

Dust the cut-out ‘top’ cookies with powdered sugar for that classic look. Spread your chosen jam or curd just to the edges on the bottom halves, then gently sandwich the tops over them, cutout side up. The filling should peek through the little window, making these cookies as beautiful as they are delicious.

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve learned a few little tricks that make all the difference when making this Easy Almond Shortbread Linzer Cookies Recipe. These have saved me from many a baking mishap and made the process enjoyable rather than frustrating.

Chill and Freeze Wisely: Freezing the dough and cookies helps maintain their shape and produces clean edges — it’s a game-changer.
Don’t Overwork the Dough: Mixing flour just until combined keeps the cookies tender, so resist the urge to overmix!
Use Parchment for Rolling: Rolling between sheets keeps your dough cool, prevents sticking, and makes clean-up a breeze.
Choose Your Jam Carefully: I recommend jams with a firm set so they don’t run when you store or stack the cookies.

How to Serve Easy Almond Shortbread Linzer Cookies Recipe

Almond Shortbread Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually stick to a generous dusting of powdered sugar over the cookie tops — it just feels classic and elegant. Sometimes, for a festive twist, I add a tiny edible flower on each cookie or a light brush of apricot glaze over the sugar for subtle shine.

Side Dishes

These Linzer cookies pair beautifully with a warm cup of tea or coffee. At holiday brunches, I serve them alongside fresh fruit and a cheese platter — their subtle sweetness is a nice contrast to savory bites.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve arranged these cookies in pretty gift boxes layered with parchment. They also look lovely stacked on a tiered dessert tray or nestled in clear cellophane bags tied with a ribbon for holiday gifts — everyone always appreciates how polished they look!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover assembled Linzer cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh and tender for about 3 days before the shortbread starts to lose its perfect crumbly texture. If you want to keep them longer, pop the cookies and filling separately into containers and assemble just before serving.

Freezing

Freeze the unbaked cookies after cutting and freezing on the baking tray for up to a month. When ready, you can bake them straight from frozen — just add a minute or two to baking time. I’ve also frozen baked (but unfilled) cookies, thawed them at room temp, then assembled — they hold up surprisingly well!

Reheating

If you want to refresh slightly stale baked cookies, pop them in a warm oven (about 300°F/150°C) for 5 minutes to regain a bit of crispness. Avoid microwaving, which can make them soggy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use other nuts besides almonds in this Easy Almond Shortbread Linzer Cookies Recipe?

Absolutely! You can substitute almond flour with hazelnut or pistachio flour to give the cookies a different but equally delicious nutty flavor. Just ensure the nut flour is finely ground for the best dough texture.

How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking?

Chilling the dough well, both before cutting and again freezing the cut cookies, helps prevent spreading. Using cold butter and rolling the dough evenly to about ¼ inch thick also keeps the cookies firm and prevents them from losing shape.

Can I make these Linzer cookies gluten-free?

Yes! You can use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend in place of regular flour. Make sure it’s a blend that contains xanthan gum or another binder to help maintain texture. The almond flour also adds moisture to keep the cookies tender.

What’s the best jam or filling for Linzer cookies?

Traditionally, raspberry jam is a favorite for Linzer cookies due to its sweet-tart balance and vibrant color. However, feel free to use lemon curd, apricot jam, or even chocolate hazelnut spread. The key is using a filling with a nice, firm consistency that won’t run too much when the cookies are stacked.

Final Thoughts

The Easy Almond Shortbread Linzer Cookies Recipe has become one of my favorite baking projects — it’s simple enough to make on a weeknight yet impressive enough for holiday gatherings. I hope when you try them, you enjoy the buttery, nutty bite and that sweet dollop of jam as much as I do. Baking these cookies feels like a little celebration every time, and I’m excited for you to share that joy with your family or friends.