Shortbread Jam Cookies (Strawberry Linzer Cookies)

Strawberry Jam Cookies are a delightful, sweet treat. Buttery, flaky shortbread filled with jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar. It’s a cookie recipe that’s perfect for holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day!

Overhead close up of linzer cookie dusted with powdered sugar and filled with strawberry jam.

This cookie recipe is one that I’ve been making for years. I love the buttery shortbread and the sweet jam filling. A dusting of powdered sugar to finish them off makes the extra pretty.

The great part about these easy linzer tart cookies is that you may already have the ingredients you need to make them on hand.

You don’t even need eggs for this recipe.

Ingredients Needed

  • All Purpose Flour
  • Sugar
  • Butter
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Salt
  • Jam – You can use any kind of jam that you prefer for these shortbread linzer cookies. See below for suggestions.

Variations

  • Raspberry Linzer Cookies: Use raspberry jam or preserves.
  • Strawberry: Swap in strawberry jam for a fun variation that’s super delicious.
  • Black Currant: This is the traditional filling.
  • Lemon Curd: Add a bit of tang to your cookies.
  • Apricot: Another tangy & flavorful option.
  • Hazelnut Spread: Try adding a bit of Nutella for an extra decadent treat.

How to Make Them

  • Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, combine the butter, sugar and vanilla until just combined.
  • Add the flour, water and salt and mix on low speed until the dough comes together in a mass.
  • Shape into a flat disk.
  • Refrigerate 30 minutes.
  • Roll the dough out to a uniform 1/4 inch thickness.
  • Cut using a linzer cookies cutter.
  • Arrange on baking sheets and cook 20 – 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown.
  • Cool on wire racks to room temperature.
  • Assemble.

Baked cookies on cooling rack before assembly.

How Do You Store Jam Cookies?

  • Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to three days.
  • For longer storage, keep in the refrigerator, for up to one week, though they may lose their crunch.

Can You Freeze Them?

  • You can freeze linzer cookies in an airtight container for up to three months. However, when they thaw, the powdered sugar will dissolve, so you may want to wait until they are thawed to dust with the powdered sugar.

Recipe FAQs

Why are they called linzer cookies?

Linzer cookies are named after the Linzer Torte, which is a tart-like pastry that features a dough lattice over a jam filling.

What nationality are linzer cookies?

They originated in the Austrian city of Linz.

Are linzer cookies shortbread?

Yes, the dough used is a basic shortbread recipe.

How do you keep linzer cookies crisp?

Over time, the cookies will loose their crispness, because, as they sit, the jam will soften them. To solve this, hold off on assembling your cookies until just before you plan to serve them.

Side view of stack of linzer cookies next to cooling rack.

More Cookie Recipes

Did you try these strawberry linzer cookies?

If you loved these jam cut out cookies I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

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For the cookie cutter that I used, click here.

Overhead close up of linzer cookie dusted with powdered sugar and filled with strawberry jam.

Jam Cookies Recipe

These Shortbread Jam Cookies are a delightful, sweet treat that's perfect for holidays like Christmas and Valentine's Day!
5 from 19 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies

Ingredients

  • 3 cups flour
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups butter (softened)
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup good-quality raspberry preserves (or try strawberry, black currant, lemon curd, hazelnut spread)
  • Confectioners’ sugar (for dusting)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter, sugar and vanilla until just combined.
  • Add the flour, water and salt and mix on low speed until the dough comes together in a mass.
  • Dump the dough out onto your work surface and shape into a flat disk. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  • Roll the dough out to a uniform 1/4 inch thickness and, using a cookie cutter, cut rounds (or hearts). Using a smaller cookie cutter, make holes in the middle of half of your rounds.
  • Place cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet and chill for an additional 15 minutes prior to baking.
  • Bake the cookies for 20 – 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown.
  • Allow the cookies to cool to room temperature.
  • Dust the cut out cookies with confectioners' sugar and spread jam on each solid cookie.
  • Sandwich your cookies together.

Notes

  • Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to three days.
  • For longer storage, keep in the refrigerator, for up to one week, though they may lose their crunch.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 129mg | Potassium: 28mg | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 355IU | Vitamin C: 0.9mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.8mg

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This post was originally published in 2020. It was updated in 2023 to add new content. The strawberry jam cookies recipe remains the same. Enjoy!

33 thoughts on “Shortbread Jam Cookies (Strawberry Linzer Cookies)”

  1. hello! My daughter and I are making your cookies and noticed that you have water included in your ingredients, but not your directions. Right now they look great, but we were wondering if we missed something?
    Best, H and M

    Reply
    • Hi Angela – The cookies will store best in an airtight container with wax paper between each layer, at room temperature, for up to three days. The cookies can be refrigerated or frozen for a longer period, but the look of the powdered sugar will change as it absorbs moisture.

      Reply
  2. I made these cookies but kept having to add flour and powdered sugar because the dough just wouldn’t congeal…Even after adding a little extra time in the fridge. Once I did that, they were a hit! Thanks.

    Reply
  3. I’m having the same issue as Olivia, but I didn’t add flour yet, I just put it in fridge.
    Is the dough supposed to be very soft before it hardens in the fridge?

    Reply
    • Hi Carla – The dough will definitely firm up after being in the refrigerator. If you are still finding the dough to be too soft, add in some additional flour a spoonful at a time. I think that the time in the fridge should definitely help though!

      Reply
      • 5 stars
        Erin, I just wanted to let you know that I keep coming back again and again to your site for those cookies, my kids LOVE them, I make them for teachers during the holidays, it takes me quite some time to make them but everyone asks for more. Thank you so much for your recipe!

        Reply
  4. These cookies sound great, but they definitely aren’t Linzer Cookies. Linzer cookies are meant to be like a mini Linzer Torte, which always have ground toasted almonds and that very special flavor that you get from them!

    Reply
  5. Hi! My cookies came out a bit dry, even though I’ve tried adding water to the dough! Any suggestions for buttery, non-dried cookies?

    Reply
  6. These Linzers look amazing, Erin!! I haven’t made linzer cookies in a while but can’t wait to make a batch with some jam made from berry picking this summer!

    Reply
  7. I must have messed up the recipe somewhere because the dough is so so sticky I can’t get it out of the bowl properly. When I tried to roll it out it stuck to everything making it impossible to actually cut shapes and get them out without not being the shape anymore.
    I don’t have a stand mixer or hand mixer with paddle attachment so I did it by hand which may be part of the problem. Gonna let the dough sit in the fridge overnight, I hope this helps!

    Reply
  8. I am not sure why the first round of these burned to a crisp in 20 minutes. The oven is on for a while if you preheat while beginning the recipe which should not make too much of a difference. The dough was not sticking together, I added a bit more water then flour. Will see the remaining! Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  9. The first round of these turned black after 20 minutes so I cooked them for 10 the next round and they are ok. Not sure why they would take so long to bake?

    Reply

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