Tuesday, December 16, 2008

TWD: Linzer Sables




This is a tricky TWD month. We were allowed to make the recipes in the order than we saw fit. This was the recipe I was supposed to make when I made the Buttery Jam Cookies instead. I swapped. Like I said, tricky.

Anyway, a Linzer cookie, as far as I have gathered is a traditional shortbread cookie layered with jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar. A sable is a French butter cookie. Now just by themselves, those things sound wonderful. Dorie uppped the ante a little by making the cookies with ground nuts. It definitely adds a little something.

This was a pretty easy cookie to make. It came together well. I used ground almonds for mine. I've said before that I'm not a fussy cookie person. This verged on fussy for me. My rolling skills leave a little something to be desired. I rolled out my two pieces of dough into (relatively) level rectangle-like shapes. The two pieces of cling wrapped help keep it all neat. I used my 2" cookie cutter for the bases and "frames". I found this star cutter in a box of old cookie cutters from my mom.

Just a little tangent -- I know that I re-roll more than I should. It's just that wasting even a little dough kills me. Thank goodness there was no extra flour with the rolling. Ok, back to the main post.

My cookies baked a tad unevenly because they weren't all the same thickness. I sandwiched them with either raspberry or apricot jam. They actually turned out pretty well. They look nice, and they are tasty as well. I'm not sure that I'm rushing to make these again, but I'll keep them in the arsenal for an afternoon tea or something.



These were made with the star cut outs. Not as pretty.



Apricot jam. Mmmmm.



This recipe was chosen by Dennis from Living the Life. I should be back on track with butterscotch pudding next week. And it uses real scotch!

15 comments:

Engineer Baker said...

Tricky tricky :) Your linzers are so pretty with the powdered sugar on top.

Sabrina said...

I hate rolling out dough, i always mess it up.
Your cookies turned out beautifully! Very nice job!

Prudy said...

Those are just gorgeous, absolutely bakery worthy.

chocolatechic said...

They look lovely.

The buttery jam cookies are fabulous too.

Anonymous said...

These are so beautiful...they look like jewels. I LOVE the reverse ones with the star cutout on top...those are absolutely gorgeous on the plate with the others surrounding them. Great job...no, really...GREAT JOB!

Kimberly Johnson said...

Beautiful job on the linzer sables! I love how you used the mini star cutouts!

Cristine said...

Looks great! YUM!

kimberly salem said...

they look pretty! i like the idea to use the inside of the cutouts too :) glad you liked them!

What's for Supper? said...

Yours look so pretty. These were my favorite TWD thus far.

Megan said...

You know, when you roll between sheets of plastic (without using extra flour) you can reroll to your hearts content. I learned that from Tish Boyle (The Cookie Book).

The look very nice, and very tasty!

Tammy said...

I am a re-roller as well. I try to just do it twice, but it doesnt always work ou that way! Your cookies look delicious!

Kana said...

I made these a few weeks ago and LOVED it!!!!We finished them very quickly. I think this is one of the best recipes in the book!

Melissa said...

Mmmm... the ones with apricot jam are calling my name! I skipped over these ones but they look so good on everyone else's blogs that I may just have to go back and make them!

Sarah said...

your linzers are really pretty! hope you try the gingerbread biscotti and like it!

Shari said...

They look very pretty. I love cookies with a sprinkle of confectioners' sugar!