Looking for the perfect way to celebrate National Cookie Day? You’ve come to the right place!
Discover why December 4th is the sweetest day of the year and how you can join the cookie celebration right here in Provo and beyond. Get ready to indulge in your favorite treats and learn fun ways to make this #NationalCookieDay unforgettable!
In our home, the aroma of freshly baked cookies might be a little stronger today, and for good reason!
But National Cookie Day isn’t just about indulging (though that’s definitely a perk!). It’s also a sweet reminder of the simple pleasures in life. Think about it:
- Comfort in a bite: A warm cookie can instantly transport you back to childhood, to cozy kitchens and happy memories.
- The perfect treat: From a midday pick-me-up to a post-dinner delight, cookies are the versatile treat that always hits the spot.
- Sharing the sweetness: Baking and sharing cookies is a wonderful way to connect with friends, family, and even neighbors.
So, how are you celebrating this glorious day? Here are a few ideas to get those cookie cravings satisfied:
- Bake a batch of your favorite sourdough cookies: Fill your home with that irresistible aroma and enjoy the fruits (or chocolate chips!) of your labor. Whether you’re a fan of our classic chocolate chip, crave the chewy goodness of oatmeal raisin, enjoy the fun of jelly-filled thumbprint, or get excited about a perfectly crisp sugar Christmas cookie, today is your day.
- Support your local bakeries: Utah Valley has some fantastic spots whipping up incredible cookies. Treat yourself to something special and support local businesses.
- Host a cookie swap: Gather your friends and family and have everyone bring their favorite cookies to share. It’s a delicious way to try new recipes!
- Simply enjoy a cookie (or two!): No grand gestures needed. Just savor the simple joy of a well-made cookie.
Whatever you choose to do, make sure it involves a cookie (or several!). Here is a special treat for the Holidays:
The Delightful Austrian Linzer Sandwich Cookie
The Linzer cookie, or Linzer Auge (Linzer Eye), is more than just a sweet treat—it’s a little slice of Austrian history, tradition, and culinary elegance. While delicious any time of year, Linzer cookies are strongly associated with Christmas and Advent throughout Austria, Germany, and parts of Central Europe.
Derived from the world’s oldest known cake, the Linzer Torte, these delicate sandwich cookies are a staple during the holidays, prized for their rich, nutty flavor and beautiful presentation. They are a favorite to bake at home and are included in the traditional Christmas cookie platters (Plätzchen or Weihnachtsgebäck). The beautiful red filling framed by the white powdered sugar makes them look perfectly festive for the season!
🍰 A History in Miniature
The Linzer cookie hails from Linz, Austria, the same city that gave us the famous Linzer Torte. The torte’s recipe dates back to at least 1653, making it a foundational piece of pastry history.
The cookie is essentially a miniaturized, sandwich-style version of the torte. While the torte is a lattice-topped pastry, the cookie simplifies this concept, making a perfect, portable bite.
✨ The Three Elements of Perfection
What makes a Linzer cookie truly unforgettable is the perfect balance achieved by three distinct components:
1. The Dough: Nutty and Buttery
The foundation of the Linzer cookie is a specialized shortbread dough. Unlike plain shortbread, this dough is rich in ground nuts, most traditionally hazelnuts or almonds. This addition provides a tender, melt-in-your-mouth crumb and a deep, earthy flavor.
- Key Ingredients: Butter, sugar, flour, and ground nuts.
- The Spice: A hint of cinnamon and lemon zest is often added, lending a warm, festive aroma.
2. The Form: The Iconic “Linzer Eye”
Linzer cookies are defined by their unique shape. They are always a sandwich cookie, with a solid bottom and a top piece featuring a distinctive cutout in the center.
- This cutout is often a small circle, star, or heart, allowing the filling to peek through.
- The cookie’s top and bottom are typically cut using decorative, fluted cutters.
3. The Filling: Tart Contrast
The secret to a perfect Linzer is the filling. The rich, sweet, and nutty cookie needs a tart counterbalance to prevent it from being too heavy.
- Traditional Choices: Redcurrant or raspberry preserves are the most classic fillings due to their sharp tang.
- Popular Alternatives: Apricot jam is also common, offering a slightly milder fruit flavor.
Classic Hazelnut Linzer Sourdough Cookie Recipe (adapted from Caramyn Suzor at Little Spoon Farm)
Linzer Cookies
This recipe yields a tender, buttery cookie with a subtle hazelnut flavor and a beautiful tart filling.
| Prep Time | Bake Time | Chill Time | Yields |
| 30 min | 10-12 min | 1 hour | About 36 cookies (18 sandwiches) |
🍪 Ingredients
For the Cookie Dough
| Amount | Ingredient | Notes |
| 1 cup (2 sticks) [226 g] | Unsalted Butter, softened | |
| 3/4 cup [150g] | Powdered Sugar, plus extra for dusting | |
| 1 large [56] | Egg | |
| 1 tsp [5g] | Vanilla Extract | |
| 1/2 tsp [3g] | REAL™ Salt | |
| 1/4 cup [55g] | Sourdough Starter or Discard (see #3) | |
| 2 heaping cups [270g] | All-Purpose Flour | |
| 1 cup [100g] | Finely Ground Hazelnuts or Almonds | Must be finely ground and not toasted. |
| 1/2 tsp | Ground Cinnamon | Optional, but highly recommended |
For the Filling
| Amount | Ingredient | Notes |
| 1/2 cup [170] | Raspberry or Red Currant Jam/Preserves | Use a tart jam for best results. |
🔪 Instructions
Step 1: Make the Dough
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer (with the paddle attachment) to cream the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg yolk, vanilla extract, and sourdough starter or discard until just combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ground nuts, salt, and cinnamon.
- Mix Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix. The dough will be soft.
- Chill: Divide the dough into two equal disks, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour (or up to 2 days). The dough must be cold to roll and cut easily.
Step 2: Roll and Cut
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll Dough: On a lightly floured surface or between two sheets of parchment paper, roll one disk of the cold dough out to about 1/8-inch thickness.
- Cut Shapes: Use a fluted or round 2-inch cookie cutter to cut out the shapes.
- Cut “Eyes”: Take half of the cut-out cookies and use a small cutter (like a thimble, small round piping tip, or mini star cutter) to create the center cutout or “eye.” Remember: For every plain cookie, you need one cutout cookie.
- Re-chill and Bake: Place the cut-out cookies on the prepared baking sheets. If the dough has softened, briefly chill the baking sheets in the freezer for 5–10 minutes before baking to help the cookies hold their shape.
- Bake: Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden brown. They should still be quite pale.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 3: Assemble and Finish
- Dust the Tops: Once the cookies are completely cool, place the cutout cookies on a plate and lightly dust them generously with powdered sugar. Do this step before assembling; otherwise, you’ll dust the jam!
- Fill the Bottoms: Warm the jam slightly in a small saucepan or microwave to make it easier to spread. Spread about 1 teaspoon of jam on the flat side of the plain (solid) bottom cookies.
- Assemble: Gently place a powdered sugar-dusted cutout cookie on top of the jam-covered bottom cookie to form a sandwich.
- Enjoy! The cookies are best enjoyed a few hours after assembly, as the jam slightly softens the crumb. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
Enjoy this classic taste of Austria!
Happy National Cookie Day, everyone! May your day be filled with sweetness and plenty of crumbs!
What’s your favorite kind of cookie? Share in the comments below! 👇
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