Ben Day's Oma's Linzer Cookies - Makes 3-4 Dozen

Ben Day's Oma's Linzer Cookies (X-mas) - makes 3-4 dozen

Received recipe X-mas 2025 and adapted.

Source: Sphere Magazine, Nov 1977, pg 43

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp cocoa
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• 1.25 c unsalted butter
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 c sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups ground hazelnuts
• 3 c flour
• 12 oz raspberry preserves
• Powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. Combine nuts, cocoa, and spices in a medium bowl
3. In a separate bowl (stand mixer bowl preferred), cream butter 2-3 min until fluffy. Add salt, then slowly add sugar. Beat 5 minutes
4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.
5. Beat dry cocoa mixture into the butter mixture. Stir in flour.
6. Refrigerate covered for at least 45 minutes
7. Roll dough 1/4 at a time on a floured surface (keeping the remainder refrigerated), to about 1/4" thick or less
8. Cut using the same shape (stars preferred). In half of the stars, cut a center hole.
9. Place the cut dough on a greased cookie sheet and bake 10-15 minutes until slightly browned. 
10. Allow to cool. Once cooled, on the the non-holed cookies, spread with jam. Sprinkle the cut-out cookies with powdered sugar, and press the two together. 
11. Store in airtight conatiner up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for 3 months