**Make sure you stop by The Ardent Epicure for their latest giveaway. Go on enter your chance to win a 2012 Spicie Foodie Calendar! http://www.theardentepicure.com/2011/12/holiday-giveaway-2012-spicie-foodie.html **
In early December we start seeing boxes of Czech Christmas cookies in all of the grocery stores and bakeries. The boxes have a collection of crumbly, soft, buttery, heavenly cookies. They are flavored with vanilla, chocolate, jams, nuts, cinnamon and meringue. I always feel like a little child ogling those boxes. I love them! So much so that I fantasize about sitting with a whole box and not stopping until there are but crumbs left. Sadly that fantasy has yet to come a reality. Maybe this my year will be the one?
My favorite cookies out of those boxes are the Czech Linzer cookies. Guess what? Linzers are available year round and yes I eat them year round. Linzer cookies, or Linecke kolacky, are like or are shortbread cookies. Two cookies are sandwiched together with a fruit jam then dusted with powdered or confectioners sugar. Apparently the name Linzer is due to the fact that the cookies are meant to resemble Linzer Torte. The crumb is dry and they taste like sweet buttery heaven. Linecke Kolacky have always reminded me of Polish Kolacky- nummy nummy!
Linzers have origins in Germany, Poland, Austria, Croatia, Slovakia and of course Czech Republic. No one can agree as to who actually invented them. Does that really matter? I mean the important thing is that they exist. That they help me gain those few extra kilos over Christmas. And we all know that without those extra Linzer kilos we wouldn’t have the extra body fat to keep warm over the winter. No, much to horrible to think about. So people stop arguing and let us all be thankful for whomever invented Lizer cookies. Thanks Linzer cookie inventor dude or dudette!
You that visit here often know that baking is not my forte. Confession time, I cheated with these cookies. I didn’t make the dough from scratch. Hopefully you baking pros and you my baking gurus won’t judge me. In the beginning of December fresh Linzer cookie dough is also on sale at the grocery stores. Perfect for those like me that rather stay in denial about all the yummy butter that goes into a Linzer cookies. But according to Czech Mate Diary rolling the dough is the hardest part. That’s great because you can burn off some calories then recharge with a few …dozen… cookies. To experiment on some instead of jam I used peanut butter and others Nutella. Yep, I went there.
A Christmas without Linzer cookies could be dangerous so you better makes some quick. Check out, no pun intended, these links to Czech Christmas cookie recipes.
– Czech Christmas cookies by Czech Mate Diary
– Czech Christmas Cookie Recipes – Vanocni Cukovri
– Czech Christmas Cookies by Expats.cz
– Linzer Cookies by Czech Under Scope
My heart flutters with every Linzer cookie I eat. Hhm, I hope that is an “I’m in love” heart flutter and not a “I might be having a heart attack” heart flutter. Shrugging, I think I’ll have another cookie.
**Make sure you stop by The Ardent Epicure for their latest giveaway. Go on enter your chance to win a 2012 Spicie Foodie Calendar! http://www.theardentepicure.com/2011/12/holiday-giveaway-2012-spicie-foodie.html **
Beautiful cookies! Grocery stores where I live don’t carry the dough though…guess I need to make my own if I want some of these. (And I DO!)
Hi Betty, Oh too bad about the dough. So you’ll have to make them soon then :)
Nancy! You cheated?! LOL! I am relieved. I love to bake, but do not have patience for the decorating my creations. And I’ve been known to buy pre-made pizza dough pretty regularly!
Lol, Shh don’t tell anyone and I won’t tell your secret either ;) But these were still hard work. Mostly the part about having to wait to photograph them before having a few.
Love your Christmassy presentation, Nancy. It wouldn’t be Christmas without Linzer cookies!
Thank you Hester! Happy Holidays :)
nice pics. cookies look amazing
Thanks Kas!
They look delicious, loving the Nutella ones.
Thanks Kim!
Oh, I love buttery cookies….and these are just gorgeous…especially the ones with the beautiful red jam filling~
Thank you Liz!
Hi and thanks for linking to me. I love your pictures!!!!!! So beautiful :)) Glad that those cookies worked out great.
By the way, how do you mark your pictures with your website link? So that they don’t get stolen?
Thank you!
Hi Tanja, Thank you :) I put the copyright on my photos with Photoshop. You should be able to do it with other programs though. As long as the program gives you the ability to use text. I’ve had people steal them regardless but at least my link is on them, lol!
Oh I am going to be dreaming about the Nutella ones.
You’ll have to make them Emily :)
I made linzers this week too! Yours look gorgeous…Theresa
Thanks Theresa!
I love the idea of filling them with nutella!!! That is the only way my boys will eat this lol. The jam ones I prefer! Will give this a try!
Hi Sommer, Ah well your boys have great taste ;)
Oooh looks wonderful!!! I love holiday baking! Your cookies are so festive and pretty!
Merry Christmas darling! :)
xoxo,
Tammy <3
Thank you Tammy! Merry Christmas to you as well sweetheart :)
Beautiful shots! I’ve never attempted to make these before…seemed to labor intensive especially when I have to watch 2 little ones who seem to be bouncing off the walls most days :)
Thanks Asiya. Maybe you can buy the dough or the ready made cookies instead :)
Mmmm, lovely! My favorites are the nutella ones, I often made them at home in Germany :) I miss baking with my dad like when I was little! Thanks for the memories :)
Hi Kiri, Aw that is such a sweet memory :)
As usual a mouth watering perfect cookie for the holiday these are perfect! Have a blessed holiday season!
Hi Claudia, Thank you and you too have a wonderful holiday season:)
I was just thinking of these cookies! I used to always eat them when I was younger, but I stopped as I got older for some reason. I know, sad, but now I really want to try making these now! Thanks for the inspiration :)
Hi Amalia, Oh no that is horrible ;) I hope you do make some soon.
They look delicious! I like the linzer cookies served the traditional way – with jam!
Thank you Ann :)
Beautiful cookies!!! They look very gorgeous. Just perfect for the upcoming Christmas :)
Thank you Nishi!
Beautiful photos! Those cookies are lovely around the holidays!
Thank you Alyssa!
They sell Linzer cookie dough over there? Boy, Nancy… you have such a tough life! LOL.
Because the end result of these cookies look so very pretty, I’m going to overlook the fact that you cheated with the dough and expect a big box of your home-*cut* Linzer cookies to arrive in the mail around Christmas time :).
LOL! Maya I had actually written your name after the part where I said not to judge me :) I’m roughing it over here! If I was guaranteed the cookies would arrive in their shape and not crumbs I would send you a big box. Tasty as the crumbs may be I don’t think that would be a good gift.
first time in your space…these cookies look really delicious n yummy !nicely done !glad to follow ur space here…do visit mine when u hav time :-)
Hi Sonali, Welcome and thanks :)!
Oh My! These looks awesome! Both the flavours sound awesome.
Thank you !
My Linzer cookies never seem to turn out this well :) They look delicious!
Amy I’m sure they turn out beautiful :)
With peanut butter? Nutella? Amazing!! Love the red ribbon wrapping.
xo
http://allykayler.blogspot.com
Thanks!
Beautiful pictures as always, Nancy! Congratulations on Top 9!! :)
Thanks Meagan!
Fabulous pictures as always, Nancy! Congratulations on Top 9!! :)
Thank you Meagan! Congratulations to you as well :)
Linzer cookies are my favorite. Easy to make and look so festive and are absolutely delicious! Love your presentation!
Hi Asmita, Thank you :)
These cookies are gorgeous! Congrats on the Top 9!
Thank you Luciana :)
Omg! These look amazing!!! I love your food photography and the way you set up for each shot. Amazing work I am big fan!
Hi Natalie, Thank you :) Glad you stopped by.
I was looking for Christmas in July cookies ideas. I found your blog and here I am! I am attracted by the nutella one. That is my favourite spread in the morning. Nice blog by the way and perfect pictures. Makes me feel hungry!
Thank you and enjoy the cookies!:)