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Almond sandwich cookies and warm Season’s Greetings

I’m taking this opportunity to wish my readers and all my blogger buddies around the world a Blessed and peaceful Christmas season.  It has been such a pleasure getting to know you all on a more personal level, I’ve enjoyed all your blogs and have learned so much on the art of blogging.  Here’s hoping that 2016 will have us sharing more wonderful recipes, travel adventures and gardening projects.

Today I bring you these festive cookies which originated in Austria.  I’ve heard them called by a variety of names, but the more traditional name is Linzer raspberry cookies.  Raspberry jam and marmalade/ginger jam embellish the centers in my cookies, but you can use any jams or preserves of your choice.  Raspberries and almonds are a marriage made in heaven, I make them almost every Christmas as my entire family devours these.  They can be a tad time consuming, but the results are just decadent, melt-in-your-mouth, elegant cookies that will have you craving for more when the first batch has disappeared.

There are some simple tricks that will help get these together with minimum hassle. I’d encourage you to definitely sandwich the dough between two wax paper sheets (it makes rolling the dough a lot easier).  Lay them on parchment paper before baking, I find this better than greasing the tray.

IMG_6240 Dip the cookie cutters you will be using in flour first, this way your shapes will be intact when transferring them to the baking sheet.

IMG_6242Remember to keep the dough refrigerated at all times when working in between rolling and cutting out the shapes.

IMG_6245By now I’ve got the assembly line all sussed out :)

IMG_6251Time to jam the centers and dust some confectioners sugar on top

IMG_6259Aren’t they just gorgeous?

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IMG_6255Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!  Click on the link for the recipe.

We are celebrating Fiesta Friday #100 today.  What an accomplishment and thanks to our loyal and dedicated Angie!  She has put on this virtual party for the past 100 weeks!  Thanks Angie, for putting on these parties where we can all share, mingle and make lasting friendships.  Thanks to her wonderful co-hosts Judi, Molly, Steffi, and Suzanne.  Thank you ladies, let’s rock n’ roll!  Merry Christmas everyone and best wishes for 2016.

56 comments

    1. Thanks Sonal, they are a favorite at our home. A tad labor intensive from grinding the almonds to the assembly line, but it is all worth it! So glad to have gotten to know you better this year too, you’re a lovely, caring soul. Happy Holidays!

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  2. Dear Loretta,
    We always say “I wish I was your neighbor” Well,I am moving next door to you after seeing those heavenly cookies:) Almond flour combined with all that yumminess is simply out of this world. And your tips to achieve those picture perfect cookies are very precise and clear!
    Your photos are spectacular and also depict the cheer in your home!
    Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas and a Happy New year my dear friend!

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    1. Awww, thank you dear Sandhya, it has been such a pleasure getting to know you this year. I love your blog and all your amazing snacks and dishes without the extra calories. This cookie is definitely by far our family’s favorite, although time consuming, it definitely reaps rewards in the end. I wish you and your family all the very best for the season and a peaceful and healthy New Year 2016. xo

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      1. Thanks Loretta. The pleasure is all mine in getting to know you too! Thank you so much for your best wishes.Enjoy the season with your family!

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    1. Thank you dear Julie. My sentiments are likewise, it has been such a pleasure getting to know you more than I did the year before :). I love your blog and the enthusiasm you portray each time I read your posts. I could learn a lot from you and do much more than I already do, but oh well…..Thanks for calling me friend, I feel the very same about you. I hope you and your family enjoy Christmas, I know how excited you are about your son’s visit. Stay healthy and blessed in the New Year 2016 xo

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    1. Aww, that’s so sweet Desley, thanks so much. Sending you special Christmas greetings from the USA to Australia, I hope you will settle in your new place before long. It was such a pleasure getting to know you this year, I enjoy your photography, I still struggle with mine, I wish you were closer :)

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      1. Oh that’s a lovely thing to say. I wish I was closer too. I am currently at home with the family. They moved 1000km north to Mackay and it soooo hot and humid here. I will move in to my new place in the early days of January and hope to get back to some regular photography then. I have loved getting to know you too. Your food and food photography are amazing. X

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  6. Oh goodness what perfect timing Loretta! I just started baking cookies for the first time ever! I did cupcakes and cake pops in the past for our Christmas parties but I decided to make it simple this time. And boy, are they so easy and quick to make! I mean I made sure my recipes were super easy (if it involves more than 10 ingredients and more than 10 steps then a big no-no to that recipe). So this here gives me more ideas as to the variety of cookie shapes I can make! Thank you and have a Merry Christmas to you and your family!!! Happy baking!!! :)

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    1. So glad I’ve given you extra ideas for your baking repertoire Belle :). Once you start, there’s no stopping. I always love to bake around the holidays and have the Nutcracker music blaring in the background. These were the absolute best, and I’d have to say my family’s favorite. Enjoy the holidays.

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    1. Thanks Linda….the are my family’s favorite too. It is interesting to hear what everyone calls them. Thanks for the picture compliment, I myself thought they were probably the best ones I’d taken thus far, I like how the dark and the light complimented each other. Have a Blessed holiday season – I’m sure the decorations in Dubai are just beautiful!

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    1. Thanks Elaine; yes under such sad circumstances, but it sure got us to know each other better. Love your blog and your healthy outlook on life. I hope we all inspire one another to keep our blogs alive and ticking!

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  9. First, absolutely beautiful presentation. What caught my attention was that you had the ornaments in a dish and the cookies around it. Thank you for the tips to make baking these gorgeous cookies simpler. Last but not the least perfect recipe! Merry Christmas to you and yours, dear Loretta! <3

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    1. Thanks for all your compliments Fae, that’s so encouraging! Yes, I actually have those gold ornaments in that brass dish in the living room, so I just plonked it with the cookies, and they looked pretty good. It’s been fabulous getting to learn so much about your culture, you’re a lovely, warm person and I’ve enjoyed getting to know you. Merry Christmas dear Fae, and best wishes for 2016.

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      1. You won’t believe it Loretta. I told you about a family wedding remember. Starting from today right upto Tuesday I have to attend a party every evening including a Christmas party on 25th. Too stressful for my diet lol . But then as you said what is New Year for 😉

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    1. Thanks Naina, yours were amazing too! It really helped with the rolling by using the wax paper. Thanks for stopping by, wishing you and your family a healthy and blessed New Year!

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  15. Almonds and raspberries pair perfectly together and make for a delicious cookie! Beautiful photos too Loretta. Hope your two? daughters were able to come and share the holiday with you – family is always so important. Speaking of family it has been a real pleasure having you as a part of my life, virtually unseen! Love your recipes and I keep trying to make things from different cultures. Thanks so much for sharing with the BIG 100 celebration. Always good to see you… Happy Holidays!

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    1. Thanks Judi, and yes our daughters were with us from New York City, it is always wonderful to be able to enjoy these holidays with family and close friends. Thanks, I too have enjoyed getting to know you and enjoy all your shares from your blog. I love to try different cuisines too, don’t we learn so much through food? :). Thanks so much for co-hosting too, you do it so well :) Best wishes for 2016!

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  16. These are some pretty and adorable cookies, Loretta! I hope you got more as I am taking more than I can handle. Don’t worry, I’d have my tea later. ;) Happy FF#100 and I am blessed to have known you through blogging. I wish you a wonderful year ahead, my dear friend! xx

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    1. Thanks Jhuls, you’re more than welcome, these cookies have been so popular around the holidays and also with our virtual FF family, I’ve seen so many variations of this same cookie. Happy FF#100 to you too, isn’t that such a great milestone to have accomplished? It was wonderful meeting you initially at one of the Fiestas, you’re such a warm, lovely person, and I thank you for your sweet wishes. Happy New Year!

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      1. I can’t believe how time flies so fast. I bumped into my own post where it was my first time co-hosting (FF#15) with Selma. Oh wow!

        And thank you for your sweet words, Loretta! You are an amazing woman, too! xx

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  17. They look just too gorgeous! They’re part of our Christmas cookies, too, but we call them Marillenringe for some reason (probably because we fill them with ‘Marillen’ or apricot jam. It’s been such a wonderful year, meeting you at Fiesta Friday, even co-hosting with you! I wish you a very, very happy Christmas, a wonderful FF100, and all the best for the New Year!
    Ginger x

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    1. Thanks so much Ginger, yes I’ve seen and heard many variations of this same cookie these past few weeks. Yes, I recall our co-hosting together, and thanks so much for co-hosting this wonderful 100th week of Fiesta Friday. It has been quite a journey, and of course meeting wonderful folks like yourself is just the icing on the cake! Happy New Year and best wishes for 2016.

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    1. Thanks Suzanne, and thank you for co-hosting this important milestone that we are all happy to be a part of. I hope your Christmas was a good one. Best wishes for a Happy New Year 2016. xo

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  22. Sandhya said moving next door, well, I might just move right in! :) Seriously lovely cookies and it’s been so much fun “meeting” you (and that was thru FF) Happy New Year and Happy Fiesta Friday!! I’m pinning this to the FF Board just in case no one has yet!

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    1. Ha ha, thanks Mollie, you’re more than welcome! I’ve enjoyed your blog and all the information you provide with every recipe too. Blogging has introduced me to a wonderful warm audience out there. Thanks for hosting this auspicious occasion.

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