Linz eyes: the sweet stars of the Christmas season

Delicious recipe idea from our Fiss vacation apartment

When the cool winter air blows through the streets and the lights flicker in the windows, it’s that time of year again: time for Linzer Augen, the small but mighty stars among Christmas cookies!

A piece of tradition in every bite

Linzer Augen, named after the Austrian city of Linz, are not just cookies – they are small works of art in the art of baking. These delicious treats consist of two layers of shortcrust pastry, lovingly filled with a savory layer of jam. The top layer is usually adorned with a small, cut-out hole – the famous “eye” through which the jam seductively peeps.

That’s why we love them so much:

But what makes these cookies so special? Is it the perfect balance between sweet and fruity? Or the delicate crumbliness of the dough that melts in your mouth? Perhaps it’s the memory of grandma’s kitchen, where the smell of freshly baked Linzer eyes filled the air. One thing is certain: eating a Linzer Auge is like a hug for the soul.

Our recipe: Linzer eyes with apricot jam

Ingredients:

• 300 g flour
• 100 g sugar
• 200 g butter (room temperature)
• 100 g ground almonds
• 1 egg
• Zest of a lemon
• 1 pinch of salt
• Apricot jam for filling
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions:

1. Prepare the dough: Mix the flour, sugar, ground almonds, salt and lemon zest in a bowl. Add the butter in small pieces and the egg. Knead everything into a smooth dough. Wrap the dough in cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
2. Roll out and cut out: Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface. Cut out cookies with a round cutter (approx. 5 cm in diameter). Cut out a smaller hole in the middle of half of the cookies – these will be the “eyes”.
3. Bake: Place the cookies on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (fan oven 160°C) for approx. 10-12 minutes until golden brown. Leave the cookies to cool completely.
4. Filling: Stir the apricot jam until smooth. Spread a thin layer of jam on the underside of the cookies without a hole. Place the cookies with the hole on top and press down lightly.
5. Decorate: Dust the Linzer eyes with powdered sugar.

Tips:

• For a more intense flavor, the dough can also be left to rest overnight in the fridge.
• If the jam is too firm, it can be thinned with a little water or lemon juice.

Gift idea:

Linzer eyes are not only a treat for yourself, they also make wonderful gifts. Lovingly packaged in small tins, they are the perfect gift for Christmas parties or a token of appreciation for friends and family. Because as the saying goes? The way to the heart is through the stomach – and Linzer eyes are pure love.

In the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, Linzer Augen offers a moment of peace and enjoyment. They remind us that the simple things often bring the greatest joy. So, grab yourself a Linzer Auge, sit back and let yourself be enchanted by this little piece of Christmas happiness!

We at Appartementhaus Sonnenterrasse, your vacation apartment in Fiss, hope you enjoy trying out our Linzer Augen recipe and wish you an atmospheric Advent season with your loved ones!

Source: our own kitchen