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?
350°F seems a bit high? I baked mine and they browned faster than expected. Also I used strawberry jam and it was okay, but I feel raspberry is the whole point here.
Pretty easy overall. I chilled the dough for 20 minutes before rolling and it made cutting way cleaner. 10/10 would make again.
Nice! I’m always skeptical about “easy” cookies, but chilling makes total sense. I’ll try 20 minutes next time—maybe mine won’t smear so much.
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 was a bit skeptical about the jam in the cookies, but they turned out delicious. Just the right amount of sweetness!
I dunno, jam in cookies seems weird. I prefer chocolate chips or nothing. 🤷♂️
I was also skeptical at first! But honestly, the jam gave it a nice twist. Glad you loved it!
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.
These turned out so buttery and the raspberry jam really pops. I followed the 1/4-inch thickness and they baked up perfectly at 11 minutes. Will make again for sure!
Omg same!! The buttery texture is spot on, and that raspberry flavor really stands out. I also did 1/4-inch and mine were perfect at around 11 minutes—love these.
Not bad. Not amazing. But hey, cookies are cookies 😅
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!
Mine were a bit crumbly when I rolled them, maybe my butter was too soft? Still tasted great though—sweet, jammy, and tender.
I don’t really like raspberry, can I use strawberry jam? 🤔
These are dangerously good. The jam hits just right and the powdered sugar makes them look bakery-level.
Super easy and quick to make! I added some lemon zest for extra flavor. Will make again for sure!
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! 🍪
Way too sweet for my taste. Powdered sugar on top plus sugar in the dough is kinda aggressive. I’d reduce sugar next time.
Honestly, I’m not a fan of sandwich cookies. The jam-to-cookie ratio is nice though, so I can see why people like them.
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?
Too many steps!!! I don’t got time for this nonsense. I’ll stick to store-bought.
I followed the recipe but my cookies came out too dry. Maybe I over baked them? Not sure I’ll try again.
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!
Jam cookies but like… is it supposed to be raspberry only? I used strawberry and it was fine, tho my daughter ate them all before they cooled. Lol.
Yep, it’s raspberry jam in the original— but strawberry is basically the same idea, so if yours turned out fine I’d say you nailed it. Also your daughter sounds like a speed-run champion 😄 Next time maybe make a double batch so there’s some left to cool!
Not sure about 1/4-inch thickness—mine were thicker and baked uneven. The centers needed more time but the edges already browned.
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?
So good. I keep eating the “middle” cookies before they even become sandwiches 😭
Love how simple the ingredients are. The classic vibe. Next time I’ll dust more heavily because… why not.
Wait, do you bake the cut-out centers too? I might’ve misunderstood and they turned out kinda pale, but still yummy.
Why is there jam in cookies? Sounds weird… but I guess it’s a thing? Guess I gotta try it.
It’s actually really good! The jam adds a nice sweetness. You should definitely give it a try. 😋
These turned out so buttery and the raspberry jam really pops. I dusted a little extra powdered sugar and they looked bakery-level.
Hmm I tried these but mine didn’t really “sandwich” right—the dough felt too dry so the jam just kinda leaked out. Maybe I should’ve creamed longer? Still tasty though, just messier than yours 😅
Yes!! Mine came out buttery too and the raspberry jam flavor is super bright—like you said, definitely “bakery-level.” I also dusted a little extra and it made them look perfect. ☺️
I followed it exactly but my cookies didn’t get that “slightly golden” look until closer to 13 minutes. Not a big deal—just watch the oven.
Totally agree—ovens run hot/cold. I usually start checking at 10 and then mine really only looks “golden” around 12–13 too. Good call on watching it!
My cookie centers shrank a tiny bit in the oven, but they still tasted great. I’m not the best at cutting perfectly round shapes, so mine were a bit lopsided lol.
The dough was super crumbly at first until I let the butter soften longer. Once it came together, cutting was way easier.
Too much flour? Mine didn’t really “come together” and I had to add a splash of water. Not sure if measurement is off.
Mine also didn’t “come together” at first, so I figured the recipe was wrong… but then I realized I was using butter that wasn’t soft enough. After creaming it longer, the texture finally matched. Maybe check that plus flour brand too.
I’ve had that happen too—flour can vary a lot. I measure by weight now and it works way better. If it’s dry, add water a *little* at a time until it comes together.
Followed the steps exactly, but my dough felt a bit dry when rolling. I added a tiny splash of milk and it came together—cookies still great though.
I’m not usually a “jam cookie” person, but these surprised me. The powdered sugar + jam combo is dangerous 😅
Haha I know exactly what you mean 😄 those jam centers are so addictive. The powdered sugar makes them dangerously sweet!
I think my butter wasn’t soft enough—dough wouldn’t cream properly and I got lumps. Still edible, just not pretty.
Good recipe! The dough was a little crumbly at first, but once I worked it a bit (and added no extra flour), it came together. Next time I might use slightly less jam so it doesn’t squeeze out.
I had the same crumbly moment at first 😅 but yeah—working it a bit helped. Also agree on the jam; mine leaked a little when I put too much. Love how tender these turn out!
Hmm. I did everything and mine stayed crumbly anyway. Maybe my butter wasn’t soft enough? I also used less jam like you said, but the middles still kinda slid around. Tastes good though.
These turned out so buttery and not too sweet! The raspberry jam really makes them pop. I used seedless jam and it was perfect.
These cookies remind me of my childhood! My grandma used to make something similar. Brings back memories!
That’s so sweet! Nothing beats grandma’s recipes. These cookies look delicious, can’t wait to try them!
I used apricot jam because that’s what I had and honestly it worked. Slightly less tart, but still great texture.
The baking time is short—mine were more pale than “slightly golden,” so I baked 2 minutes longer and that helped a lot. Would make again.
Not my favorite. They looked pretty but tasted kinda bland. I think they need more sugar.
The sandwich idea is cute, but mine soaked through a little because I spread the jam too close to the edges. Next time I’ll be more careful.
Followed the steps exactly and mine came out a little dry at 12 minutes—maybe my oven runs hot. Still tasty though!
These cookies are amazing! I made them for a family gathering and they were gone in minutes. Definitely a keeper!
I couldn’t get the sandwich effect. My top cookies slid off because my jam was runnier than expected. Next time I’ll thicken it or use less.
Super easy recipe. I accidentally forgot the salt and they still tasted good, but I can tell salt probably helps balance the sweetness.
I think salt is overrated 😅 I usually just skip it and add extra jam instead. Maybe that’s why mine are always super sweet, but hey, nobody complains. Cookies were gone fast.
Yes! Salt really does make sweet flavors taste more “complete.” I’ve done the same thing when I get in a hurry—cookies still worked, but they tasted a bit one-note. Thanks for sharing!
These look like the kind you get from a bakery. Crisp edges, tender middle. I used raspberry and it tasted super authentic.
Way too much work for a cookie, honestly. Cutting out centers is tedious. Flavor’s okay, but I’d rather do a simpler thumbprint.