Description
Romantic Nutella linzer heart cookies blend Austrian baking traditions with chocolate-hazelnut romance. Sweet sandwich cookies with cutout hearts promise delightful moments for passionate bakers seeking elegant dessert perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups / 250 g all-purpose flour
- 1 cup / 100 g almond flour or finely ground almonds
- 1 cup / 225 g unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup / 150 g granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ¾ cup / 200 g Nutella (or other hazelnut spread)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
- ¼ tsp salt
- powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in egg and extracts until smooth and uniform.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Sift all-purpose and almond flour with salt, creating a delicate dry mixture.
- Dough Formation: Gradually incorporate dry ingredients into butter mixture, mixing gently to maintain a tender texture. Form into two flat discs and refrigerate for an hour to firm up and meld flavors.
- Oven Preheating and Preparation: Warm oven to 350F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cookie Cutting: Roll chilled dough to 1/8-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Use heart-shaped cutters to create bases and window-topped cookies.
- Baking Process: Transfer cut-outs to prepared sheets with gentle spacing. Bake for 8-10 minutes, rotating midway to ensure even golden browning. Rest briefly on baking sheets before transferring to cooling rack.
- Assembly and Finishing: Spread Nutella on solid cookie bases, creating a rich chocolate foundation. Top with windowed cookies to form elegant sandwiches. Dust with powdered sugar for a final touch of sweet sophistication.
Notes
- Control Butter Temperature: Ensure butter is softened but not melted for perfect dough consistency, allowing easier creaming and smoother texture.
- Prevent Dough Overworking: Mix ingredients just until combined to maintain cookie’s delicate, tender crumb and avoid developing tough gluten structure.
- Chill Dough Thoroughly: Refrigerate dough for minimum one hour to enhance flavor development and prevent excessive spreading during baking.
- Master Even Cutting: Roll dough consistently at 1/8-inch thickness and use sharp cookie cutters for clean, precise heart-shaped edges and uniform cookies.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Austrian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 202
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg