Almond linzer cookies with cherry preserves

Almond linzer cookies with cherry preserves
Almond linzer cookies with cherry preserves

Thom and I don't get into the whole Valentine's Day thing. Not by my choosing, but because he thinks it's silly to have a holiday where you're expected to do something nice for your significant other. Shouldn't that be every day? Why can't I bring home flowers or chocolates, just because? he'll argue. And so I support him because Yeah, ok, Valentine's Day is straight up superficial and I don't like roses anyway. But that's not going to stop me from squeezing (literally) into a sexy black dress, putting on red lipstick, and taking my handsome man out on the town. Because that aspect of Valentine's Day I can totally get behind. An extra day to channel my inner Beyonce? Count me in.

Sexy black dress aside, the real reason I don't fight him on Valentine's Day is because he's the guy who planned a faux vacation to Canada, just so that I'd have a reason to finally get my passport. And then, as we were coming up on customs at the Montreal airport - as I'm jogging twenty paces ahead of him and shouting Seriously dude! Hurry up before the line gets outta control! - he stops and starts rooting through his bag. I give him my best ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? face and he yells Stop! We've got to go the other way. To which I call him a moron and ask if he can read BECAUSE IT SAYS VISITORS TO CANADA THIS WAY. The way I'm going. And then he pulls out his phone and says We're not actually staying in Montreal; we've got a connecting flight. We're going to Paris for two weeks. And then I gasp and start bawling my eyes out, while he captures my reaction on camera

Almond meal + Creaming
Flour prints
Almond linzer cookie dough
Dough rolling

But that's not all. He's the man who waits for me at the bus stop with an umbrella, because it's pouring rain and he doesn't want me to get wet during the ten second walk to our building's entrance. The man who hides my favorite candies in the pockets of my pants and cardigans, just so that one day I’ll find them and be reminded of how much he loves me. He's the man who tolerates our perpetually messy kitchen because I'm a complete slob (for real) (Slobby McSlobberson) who can't be bothered to clean it when I know it's just going to get messy in the morning.

And so he's the man who washes the dishes and cleans the countertops every night before he goes to bed, just so that I can wake up to an immaculate kitchen. The man who refuses to let me carry the groceries, and holds the door even when his arms are full. In fact, I can probably count on one hand (ok, two) the number of times I've had to open a door while in his presence. He's the man who offers to go get me fries at midnight because I can't sleep and Goddamn it, I'm craving something greasy. And salty. Always something salty. The man who would literally give his life - his existence on this planet - if it meant I'd never feel another ounce of pain as long as I live. He's the man who chose to share his life with me and, despite his blatant refusal to celebrate Valentine's Day, sometimes I can't help but feel like the luckiest lady on the planet.

Maybe I am. And maybe you are, too.

We be cuttin'
Almond linzer cookies6
Almond linzer cookies with cherry preserves

Notes: I use mostly powdered sugar in this recipe because it helps to keep the cookies softer than they would be if made with granulated sugar. Feel free to use your favorite nut meal and/or jam - I chose almond and cherry because the two together are pretty delicious. But I've got pecan meal and apricot preserves on the mind for the summer. If you don't have almond extract, substitute additional vanilla extract. And for the love of Buddha, make sure you freeze the dough before you put it in the oven - this ensures the cookies keep their shape. If you don't do it they'll be puffy and mishapen. And you don't want that.

ALMOND LINZER COOKIES WITH CHERRY PRESERVES

1/2 cup vegan butter
2 tbsp cane sugar
1/4 cup powdered cane sugar, plus more for dusting
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp pure almond extract
1/4 tsp fine sea salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup almond meal
1 1/4 cup unbleached flour
1/4 cup morello cherry preserves

In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the butter, sugars, and extracts. Whip on medium-high speed for 3-4 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed, until light and fluffy. Add the salt, baking soda, and almond meal; mix just until combined. Add the flour and mix until incorporated. Divide the dough in two and pat into discs. Wrap with plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or up to two days.

Line two large baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper; set aside. Line a flat surface with parchment paper and sprinkle with flour. Remove one ball of dough from the fridge and roll it out until it's about 1/4-1/8" thick. Slide the dough, on the parchment paper, onto a cutting board or other flat surface that will fit in your freezer. Cut dough with a round 2" cutter, then use a 1.5" heart cookie cutter to cut the centers of half of the cookies (you will need a total of 12 cookies with centers removed), but don't remove the center pieces just yet. Remove dough scraps from around the cookies and place tray in the freezer for 10 minutes. Transfer the frozen cookies to one of the prepared baking sheets, removing the center pieces from the cut cookies (you can bake those too, if you want). Repeat process with scraps and remaining disc of dough. Freeze cookies for another 10 minutes prior to baking. Bake at 350˚F for 7-8 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool. Store in an air tighter container until ready to spread with jam; will keep for up to five days.

When you're ready to assemble the sandwiches, use a fine mesh sieve to sprinkle the cookies with the cutout centers with powdered sugar. Spread the uncut cookies with about 1 teaspoon of cherry preserves and sandwich with powdered cutouts. Serve immideately.

Yield: 1 dozen 2" linzer cookies

43 comments:

  1. This is such a lovely tribute to your other half! and the biscuits look amazing too!

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  2. Beautiful post (and the cookies don't look half bad either!).

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  3. awww!!! Such a lovely post... hang onto that man :)

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  4. I just LOVE linzer cookies!! They are so pretty!! I think this will be my next baking endeavor!

    Ergo - Blog

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  5. Lucky lady indeed! I'd say Thom is a lucky man as well, you make some delicious looking treats.

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  6. These look amazeballs. And I bet you would look amazeballs in a little black dress. Lovely recipe and photos, friend!

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  7. Gorgeous dress, an amazing sounding partner, and delicious cookies. You and Thom are both very lucky people.

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  8. What a sweetie!! I like Valentine's day and sounds like you've got yourself quite the romantic. And these cookies look amazing.

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  9. The fact that you make these with almond flour is so impressive - just gorgeous cookies!

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  10. This post is so sweet and cute. I love it! And the cookies are lovely too!

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  11. Oh, this is so darling, it hurts! I love your love! I just wrote a Valentine's Day post that is decidely more single gal/man-hatery... but gosh darn it if I'm not feeling romantic!... I'm also feeling like I want cookies!

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  12. love this. i've never had linzer cookies, but i've been wanting to make them, for years. now i can attempt them without having to convert it to dairy-free ingredients.

    for a mere second i was slightly jealous of the love you share with your Thom and then i berated myself because i truly believe that *i* am the luckiest girl in the world with my dw. i'd challenge you to a love-off but that's just silly.

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  13. You've got such a keeper, there. :) Love this.

    Also, LOVE these cookies. Yummmm.

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  14. Those cookies look gorgeous! Lovely post xxx :)
    http://rainingcakeandcookies.blogspot.co.uk/

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  15. I want your man! He's going to have girls queuing up far and wide after that beautiful tribute :)
    Those shortbread look so scrummy too.

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  16. Aw, that's sweet :) (the story and the cookies)

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  17. I've been wanting to make linzer hearts! I'll try this recipe!

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  18. Wowowow. If that wasn't the best love letter-ish blog post I've read this year, I don't know what is! Adorable story and gorgeous cookies!

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  19. It sounds as if the man and the cookies both stepped out of a fairy tale. Sigh. Your story beautified my day. Thank you.

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  20. Sounds like quite the man you have there! Hold onto him! And eat cookies!

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  21. That is the cutest story!

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  22. Linzer cookies are so perfect for valentines. And also he puts CANDY in your CLOTHES! Dream Man!

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  23. i love love this post.. everything about it so beautiful, delicate and sweet... the cookies and the you and Thom. He sounds like a really nice person. Wish you 2 all the love, happiness and no pain years and years ahead..

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  24. Wow. I cried and I'm jealous; does Thom have any brothers in NY? ;]

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  25. In my opinion, this is one of your nicest posts for so many reasons. Your photos just keep getting better and better and your writing cracks me up so often. From one slob in the kitchen to another - well done!

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  26. It sounds like you feel about Thom exactly the way I do about my boyfriend. It's such a wonderful world when every girl can feel like the luckiest one on the planet and there are enough soul mates for everybody! These cookies look utterly divine and the perfect celebratory Valentine's treat, even if you don't celebrate the day :-)

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  27. Who needs Valentine's when you have surprise trips to Paris? This is the most lovely post, made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

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  28. OH. my word. THIS STORY!!! Thom. You rock. When are you going to Paris?? Was this recent?? You two are amazing. And these cookies? Just stop. I can't take it all!! :)

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    Replies
    1. We went to Paris November 2010.. it's the trip that gave me the travel bug ;)

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  29. Aww, wow what a sweet post! And channelling Beyoncé is aaalways a good thing :) the cookies look absolutely gorgeous too!

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  30. Best. Story. Ever.

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  31. You have obviously have found someone as equally amazing as you are :) Beautiful post and beautiful cookies - enjoy your night out on the town!

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  32. This post is amazing! Gorgeous cookie, gorgeous words. Thank you Ashlae!

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  33. That just might be the sweetest story I ever did hear. Happy love day! The cookies look gorgeous.

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  34. the sweetest. I love it. I want to hug both of you because I LOVE, love. the cookies look damn good too. happy unvalentines to you two

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  35. Ashlae, I LOVE this post. My jaw dropped when I read through it yesterday and I couldn't find the words to tell you why. Still can't, but I must say that your cookies and your relationship look and sound spectacular. Glad you two have each other today and every day.

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  36. P.s. I NEED that black dress from American Apparel... so much so that I'm tempted to run up the street to buy it before dinner tonight.

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  37. ahhh sweet. hugs coming your way xo P.S. the cookies look divine I hope you will share them at my hop :-)

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  38. Candies in your pockets, that killed me. Awesome post.

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  39. these look divine!

    and your fella, he sounds amazing. can you find a gal another one like him? :)

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  40. In regards to the recipe, can vegetable shortening work as well?

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    Replies
    1. Yes! But the texture is going to be a bit different; soft and crumbly.

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