This is my great-grandmother's family recipe which we grew up with and has been passed down from Germany. These great German cookies are a must have for Christmas! Soft and flaky! Make them with your favorite jams and cutters to customize!
Preparation Time
40 mins
Cooking Time
20 mins
Total Time
60 mins
Calories
188 Calories
Recipe Instructions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 2
Place oven rack in the center position. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread almonds onto a baking sheet.
Step 3
Bake in the preheated oven until almonds are lightly toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.
Step 4
Pulse almonds with 1/4 cup white sugar in a food processor until finely ground.
Step 5
Whisk flour, lemon zest, cinnamon, and salt together in a bowl. Beat butter and remaining 1/2 cup white sugar together in a separate bowl until light and fluffy; beat in egg yolks, vanilla extract, ground almond mixture, and flour mixture until just combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 3 to 12 hours.
Step 6
Roll dough into a rectangle about 1/4-inch thick on a lightly floured surface; cut into cookies using a 3-inch cookie cutter. Place cookies about 1-inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Cut the centers out of half the cookies using a smaller cookie cutter.
Step 7
Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are lightly browned around the edges, about 12 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Step 8
Place the cut-out cookies on a baking sheet and lightly dust with confectioners' sugar. Spread a thin layer of jam onto the full cookies. Place the cut-out cookies on top of the full cookies; gently sandwich them together. Spoon more jam into the cut-out area.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup confectioners' sugar
¾ cup white sugar, divided
1 cup whole almonds
2 large egg yolks
1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1 lemons, zested
¼ cup raspberry jam, stirred well, or more as needed