These might be the prettiest cookies ever. Each cookie offers two buttery shortbread cookies with blackberry jam sandwiched between them. My mom bought me a Linzer cookie cutter set (this is a similar one) a couple years ago, I like to make them for Valentine’s day with a heart cut in the center.   A star feels festive for the Christmas.

Lemon Linzer Cookies

1 cup butter

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups cake flour

zest of one lemon

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Blackberry or Raspberry Jam

Mix the butter , vanilla and lemon zest together with an electric mixer. Add the powdered sugar and mix well. Finally add the flour one cup at the time, and mix well. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for about 30 mins in the fridge.

Roll out the dough on a well floured surface to 1/4″ thick.  Cut about 16 of each the tops and bottoms of the cookies.  Place the cookies on parchment paper lined cookie sheets.  Place the cookies in the fridge for about 20 mins before baking in a 350 F oven for about 12 mins.  

Cool the cookies on the rack completely before filling with blackberry or raspberry jam. Dust the tops of the cookies with powdered sugar.