Description
These Almond Heart Cookies are delightful European-inspired sandwich cookies perfect for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion. Made with a blend of all-purpose and almond flour, flavored with almond extract, and filled with your choice of raspberry or strawberry jam, they are tender, buttery, and lightly dusted with powdered sugar for an elegant finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup almond flour
Filling
- 1/4 cup raspberry or strawberry jam
For Dusting
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes about 2-3 minutes. This creates a tender texture in the cookies.
- Add Flavorings: Mix in the almond extract and salt to the creamed butter and sugar, ensuring the flavors are well incorporated throughout the dough.
- Incorporate Flours: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and almond flour to the wet ingredients. Mix gently until a soft dough forms, being careful not to overwork it to keep cookies tender.
- Roll Dough: Divide the dough into two equal parts. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each half to about 1/4-inch thickness for uniform cookies.
- Cut Cookies: Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies from the rolled dough. For half of these cookies, use a smaller heart cutter to cut out the center, creating a window for the jam filling.
- Bake: Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges just begin to turn a light golden brown.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack. This helps set their shape and makes them easier to handle.
- Assemble Sandwich Cookies: Spread a small amount of your chosen jam on the whole cookie bases, then carefully place the cutout cookies with the heart windows on top to create sandwich cookies.
- Dust and Serve: Lightly dust the tops of the sandwich cookies with powdered sugar for a beautiful presentation. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- You can use any flavor of jam you prefer, such as raspberry, strawberry, or apricot, to customize the cookies.
- For crispier cookies, bake an additional 1–2 minutes, but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie sandwich
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 40mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
