Recipe 4 of the Christmas Cookies Around the World Holiday Project for Kids: Linzer Cookie Recipe to Bake with Kids
Every country celebrates Christmas in its own unique way, and one of the most famous ways to celebrate is by baking cookies. In Austria, one of the most popular Christmas cookie recipes is known as the Linzer cookie. This easy Linzer cookie recipe allows kids to mix ingredients, roll out the dough, and use cookie cutters to create delicious and easy Linzer cookies.
Our Christmas Cookies Around the World series is a fun way to teach children about different cultures by taking them on a fun tour of cookies from all around the world. You can even use this series to help you create a Christmas around the world class party. Making cookies is also a great age-appropriate way to emphasize togetherness while also learning about the traditions and popular recipes from another country.
The Christmas Cookies Around the World series is a fun way to introduce children to:
- World geography
- Holiday traditions
- Popular cookies from various cultures and parts of the world
Your kids will love learning about different places around the world with the help of this cookie activity. In addition to this packet, there is a full series of additional articles with tips and baking videos available here on the Christmas Cookies Around the World main page.
Along the way we’ve incorporated various extension activities like the simple Christmas Cookies Taste Test response page pictured below.
Brief History of the Austrian Linzer Cookie Recipe
The Linzer cookie is the oldest written cookie recipe dating all the way back to 1653. It was originally baked as a pie back then. Later it was adapted into a cookie as bakers in Linz, Austria used the Linzertorte dough to make a modified version of the original cookie recipe. While the Linzer cookie is the most notable name, another name for it is also the Austrian Linzertorte because of the dough it originated from.
Fun Facts About Christmas in Austria
- Christmas in Austria is celebrated on the evening of December 24th.
- The most common way to wish someone a merry Christmas in German is to tell them, “Frohe Weihnachten.” Directly translated, that means merry Christmas.
- During Christmas time there are temporary Christmas markets all over Austria. You can drink mulled wine, eat sweet treats like gingerbread or sugar roasted almonds. Some markets are also known for traditional handicraft.
- In Austria, the Santa Claus equivalent is St. Nicholas.
- The classic Christmas dinner in Austria therefore consists of carp fried in butter, along with a variety of vegetables and potatoes.
- As part of the Christmas celebration in Austria, a traditional tree is decorated with gold and silver ornaments, stars made out of straw, sweets, and candy wrapped in tinfoil, gilded nuts, decorated gingerbread cookies etc.
- Austria has many unique Christmas traditions that they do around the Christmas season such as who brings the presents and even special songs.
- The popular Christmas carol, “Silent Night” was first performed in Austria over 200 years ago.
VIDEOS ABOUT CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRIA
Learn all about the different Christmas traditions that come from Austria with this helpful video.
Learn about the fun Christmas traditions in Austria and look at the scenic views in Rick Steves’ European Christmas: Austria.
If you want to get a glimpse at what Christmas is like in Austria, this guide will help show you what it’s like there and even plan a trip!
Additional Resources for Teaching Children About Austria
Use this helpful resource to teach your kids about Austria and help them understand the country better.
Austria’s government website has a lot of helpful and really useful information to help teach your kids all about the country of Austria.
Linzer Cookie Recipe
Watch this short video to see how easy it is to make this linzer cookie recipe. Then scroll on to get the printable version of the recipe.
Linzer Cookies
Equipment
- Cookie cutters: circle, small heart
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¾ cup slivered almonds
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup powdered sugar plus more for dusting
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ¼ tsp almond extract
- 8 oz strawberry jam or raspberry, preferably seedless
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, cinnamon, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
- In a food processor, pulse almonds with brown sugar until finely ground. Set aside.
- Using your stand mixer or hand mixer whip together butter and powdered sugar on low until combined. Increase to medium high until light and creamy.
- Add the egg. Mix well. Then add the vanilla and almond extract.
- Add in the almond mixture. Mix well.
- Slowly add in the flour mixture. Mix until a dough forms and it is combined.
- Form into two balls and place each on a piece of plastic wrap. Flatten to a disc and cover with plastic. Place in refrigerator for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Dust your work surface with flour. Roll out one of the balls very thin (about 1/6 inch). Cut into circle using a cookie cutter. Use a smaller heart shaped cookie cutter to cut the centers out of half of the circles.
- Carefully transfer the cookies to parchment lined baking sheets about 1 inch apart. (Keep the dough not being used in the refrigerator. The hearts hold their shape better if chilled).
- Bake for 10-12 min until edges are golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for about 3 min. Then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- Spread jam over circles. Then place the cookies with the heart cutouts on top of the jam. Dust with powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container.
Get Your FREE Christmas Cookies Around the World Taste Test Recording Sheet
Use the taste test recording sheet to have kids record information about the cookie(s) they tasted and rate how well they liked the cookies. Individual pages can be compiled into a taste test booklet for all the cookies you try in the series, or you can choose to have kids record only their favorite cookie if you prefer.
Save paper by printing two or four to a page if preferred.
Get the entire 12 Days of Christmas Cookies Around the World project
For those interested in expanding the 12 Days of Christmas Cookies Around the World project into a class or family project we’ve created a 50+ page activity guide to make it super easy for you.
Inside you’ll find:
- Quick Reference List of Cookies and Countries
- Generic Cookie Taste Test Recording Sheet
- Cookie Taste Test Recording Table
- Class Graphing Header and Voting Cards
- Christmas Cookies Around the World Passport (three versions)
- Taste Test Journal
- Cookie Recipe Cookbook
- Editable Cookie Recipe Page to add in additional family and multi-cultural options
- Gift Tags
- Notecards
- My Family’s Favorite Cookie Recipe (two versions)
- Editable Parent Letter (two versions)
- Ingredient List by Cookie
The project is designed for use in the classroom, at home, or in community programs. Suggestions and modifications for each setting are included in the resource.
Get your Christmas Cookies Around the World Project
This project is also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
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