Austrian jam cookies, often inspired by traditional Linzer-style pastries, are a beloved classic that brings elegance and comfort to any dessert table. With their tender, buttery texture and sweet fruit filling, these cookies capture the heart of Austrian baking traditions in every bite. They are especially popular during holidays, but they are just as wonderful to enjoy year round with a cup of tea or coffee.
The dough is usually made with simple ingredients like butter, sugar, eggs, and flour, sometimes enriched with ground almonds or hazelnuts for extra depth. This nutty note gives Austrian jam cookies their signature richness and delicate crumb. After chilling, the dough is rolled out and cut into beautiful shapes, often with a small window in the center of the top cookie. Once baked, the cookies are filled with vibrant jam, commonly strawberry jam, apricot, or red currant, then gently pressed together to form their iconic sandwich look.
What makes these cookies truly special is the balance of flavors and textures. The soft, buttery layers melt in your mouth, while the jam adds a bright, fruity contrast. A light dusting of powdered sugar on top gives them a festive, elegant finish and makes them look like they came straight from a European bakery.
Austrian jam cookies are perfect for sharing. They look stunning on a dessert platter and are ideal for gifting in decorative boxes or tins. Their refined appearance makes them suitable for celebrations, tea parties, or cozy family gatherings. Despite their delicate look, they are surprisingly easy to prepare, which makes them a favorite for both beginner and experienced bakers.
These cookies also invite creativity. You can experiment with different jams, add a hint of lemon zest to the dough, or use heart, star, or flower shapes to match the season. Each small change gives the cookies a new personality while keeping their traditional charm.
Austrian jam cookies are more than just a sweet treat. They represent warmth, tradition, and the joy of slow baking. Whether you make them for a special occasion or simply to enjoy with your afternoon coffee, they always bring a touch of European elegance and homemade love to the table.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup raspberry jam
- 1 cup powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add in the flour and salt, mixing until the dough comes together.
- Roll the dough out on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out cookies with a round cookie cutter. Use a smaller cutter to cut out the centers of half the cookies.
- Transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until slightly golden around the edges. Let them cool completely.
- Spread raspberry jam on the whole cookie bases, then place the cut-out cookies on top, pressing down gently to create a sandwich.
- Dust the top of the cookies with powdered sugar before serving.
Nutrition
Super easy and delicious! Perfect for my kids’ school bake sale. Thank you!
Glad to hear you liked it! These cookies are a hit at every bake sale, right?!
Not sure what I did wrong, but my dough was really crumbly. Total fail for me.
I didn’t have raspberry jam, so I used strawberry instead. Still turned out great!
i made these and they were GONE in a day! everyone loved them. 👍
That’s awesome to hear! These cookies are a family favorite in our house too! 🍪❤️
The instructions were a bit confusing, but I figured it out eventually. They taste alright I guess.
So yummm!! Better than store bought for sure! Just a tip: add more jam next time!
These cookies are amazing! I’ve made them twice already and my family loves them.
Why do people like these so much? They’re just cookies with jam. Meh.
I think they’re amazing! The buttery taste with sweet jam is just perfect. Gives me nostalgia. 🥰
Easy and fast to make! My grandma would love this recipe, it feels traditional!
These are absolutely delicious! I made them for a family gathering and they were gone in minutes. Will definitely make again!
I totally agree! These cookies are a hit every time. My kids can’t get enough of them!
They look good, but my friend said jam cookies are too sweet for her. I wonder if I should try with less sugar?
I dunno, the dough was too sticky and not fun to work with. Maybe I did something wrong?
These turned out better than expected! A hit at the family gathering. Will make again!
Total waste of time! The jam ended up leaking out and it was such a mess. Lame.
These cookies were amazing! I made them for my kids and they loved them! Definitely a 5-star recipe!
I’m glad to hear that! These cookies are a hit for sure! Did you try any other flavors of jam?
Yum!
Pretty sure there are like a million similar cookie recipes out there. This one’s just average.
Austrian jam cookies? I thought these were just regular cookie sandwiches! But hey, they taste good!
Wait, you mean these are Austrian? I never knew that! They seem like a regular dessert to me.
I thought they were just normal cookies too! But really, it’s all about the jam flavor! Yum!
My grandma used to make these! Brings back good memories. They didn’t taste just like hers though.
I think I added too much sugar….they were sweet! Next time, I’ll use less. Overall, still yummy!
I followed the recipe but my cookies spread too much in the oven. What did I do wrong? They didn’t turn out like the picture.
Love the raspberry jam! But I wish there were more flavors. Why not try strawberry or blueberry next time?
I totally agree! Strawberry would be delicious!
I made them for my office, they vanished in minutes! I’ll definitely make them again. Thanks!
That’s awesome to hear! These cookies are a hit, right? I’m so glad your coworkers enjoyed them!
I don’t really like raspberry, can I use strawberry jam? 🤔
Easy to make but my dough was too crumbly. Is it supposed to be that way? Not sure if I’ll try again.
Maybe your butter was too cold or you added too much flour? I had that issue too at first. Just keep practicing, you’ll get it right!
Yum! I’ve never made jam cookies before and it turned out great! My kids loved helping with the cutting. 🍪❤️
That’s awesome! Jam cookies are so fun to make, especially with kids. They always turn out tasty! 🍪
I tried making these but they came out all wrong. The dough was too sticky. What did I do wrong?
Sounds like the dough had too much moisture. Maybe try adding a bit more flour next time?
Why is the dough sticky? I don’t know much about baking, but I think something went wrong. Maybe the butter was too soft?
These cookies are amazing! So buttery and the jam adds the perfect sweetness. My kids love them!
I’m glad to hear your kids love them! They really are a treat. I’ve made a batch for my family too, and they vanished in no time!
These cookies look good but jam in cookies just sounds weird to me. I prefer chocolate chip, where’s the chocolate?
Why do you have to press the cookies down? Seems pointless.
So yeah, I dunno why but mine burnt! I left them too long, but that’s on me.
Maybe set a timer next time? 12 mins is tricky, can be easy to lose track of time. Good luck!
Burnt cookies happen to the best of us! Just keep an eye on ’em next time. They’ll come out perfect, I know it!
Omg these are my fav now! I just had to share. Baking should be all like this!
Very pretty and yummy cookies. Just wish the jam didn’t leak out from the sides. Still a great recipe!
You did a great job! I found the jam didn’t leak if you chilled the dough first. Maybe try that next time!
Those cookies look nice, but I don’t think jam should be in cookies anyway. What about chocolate?