Linzer Hearts: Raspberry with Rosemary Lemon Glaze

These Linser Hearts are based on the original, but with a little twist. Lindser Hearts are generally made with raspberry filling and a powdered sugar top, but my experimenting resulted in a lemony-herby version of them. I experimented with different flours as part of my Baking Flours 411, so please use this recipe to substitute the flours of your choice!

Ingredients

For cookie:
1c         butter
3/4c     sugar
1/2tsp  vanilla
1tsp      lemon zest
2c         All-Purpose flour
1tsp      salt
2tsp     rosemary, finely minced

Filling:
Raspberry Preserves
(I like to use Bonne Maman Raspberry Preserves, which can easily be found at Safeway)

For icing:
2c        powdered sugar
1tbs     freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4tsp vanilla
1/4tsp rosemary, finely minced

Make the Cookies

Cream butter and sugar in mixer on high. Add in vanilla and lemon zest and mix until incorporated. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, salt and rosemary. Slowly add flour to butter mixer 1/2 cup at a time until incorporated. Chill for 1 hour.

Roll out chilled cookie dough on floured surface to 1/8 – 1/4 inch thickness. To make layered cookies, use one large and one small heart-shaped cookie cutter (I like Williams Sonoma’s De Buyer Cookie Cutter sets). Cut one heart with a hole, one without. 

Cookie cutter shapes for Linzer Hearts

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes or until edges turn a tiny bit golden brown.

Make Icing

Whisk together powdered sugar, lemon juice and vanilla. The consistency should be thick but spreadable, not watery. To make thicker, add powdered sugar. To thin, add a touch more lemon juice or a few drops of water. Add in rosemary at the end.

Assembly

To assemble, cover the solid heart with the raspberry preserves. Ice the cut-out heart top by spooning on a small bit of icing and then brushing with a silicon basting brush. Once tops have dried fully (refrigeration helps), press together like a sandwhich. Except much yummier and prettier!

Assembling Linzer Hearts

A twist on the original with added lemony-herb flavors