Chocolate Linzer Cookies Recipe
Chocolate Linzer Cookies Recipe made with a soft, buttery chocolate dough, a hint of espresso, and filled with a rich cream cheese frosting.
Chocolate Linzer Cookies Recipe
These Easy Chocolate Linzer Cookies are a decadent twist on the classic, made with a tender chocolate cookie dough flavored with cocoa, brown sugar, and a touch of instant espresso for deeper richness. Each cookie sandwich is filled with a smooth cream cheese frosting, sweet, creamy, and perfectly balanced. Using simple ingredients, for these linzer cookies, such as butter, sugar, vanilla, cream cheese, and powdered sugar. These cookies look elegant but are easy to make. Perfect for holiday cookie boxes, special occasions, or anytime you’re craving a homemade chocolate treat. Let every bite bring you pure, melt-in-your-mouth bliss. Find more ideas 👉Cookies, Biscuits and snack bars, brownies recipes.
Can I make the cookie dough ahead of time?
Yes! You can refrigerate the dough for up to 2–3 days. Just let it soften slightly before rolling, or freeze the dough for up to 2 months.
Why is espresso powder added to the dough?
Instant espresso powder doesn’t make the cookies taste like coffee—it simply enhances the chocolate flavor, giving the cookies a deeper, richer taste.
What can I use instead of cream cheese filling?
You can swap the filling for jam, Nutella, chocolate ganache, or a vanilla buttercream if you prefer a traditional or different flavor.
Why dust the cookies with powdered sugar?
The light dusting gives Linzer cookies their classic, elegant look and adds a soft sweetness that pairs perfectly with the creamy filling.
Can I reduce the sweetness of the filling?
Yes. Just add the powdered sugar gradually and stop when the filling reaches the sweetness and thickness you prefer.
Ingredients for Chocolate Linzer Cookies Recipe
For the cookie base
- unsalted butter, softened
- sugar
- brown sugar
- egg
- vanilla
- flour
- instant espresso powder
- salt
- baking powder
- powdered sugar
For the cream cheese frosting filling
- unsalted butter, softened
- cream cheese, softened
- powdered sugar
- salt
- vanilla
How to make Chocolate Linzer Cookies Recipe
- Preheat the oven to 350 deg. F (175 deg. C) Line a couple baking sheets with parchment and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter, sugar and brown sugar, and cream until smooth with the paddle attachment.
- Add in the egg and vanilla. Mix well.
- Add in the flour, espresso powder, salt and baking powder. Mix thoroughly, scraping down the sides often.
- On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Use a 2 inch round cookie cutter to cut out as many rounds as possible. Reroll the scraps as many times as you can, kneading well between each roll.
- In half of the round cutouts, use a one inch star (or similar shape) cookie cutter to remove the center of the cookie.
- Place the cookie rounds on a piece of parchment and transfer to the freezer for about 10 minutes.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 9-10 minutes or until the centers are set.
- Allow to cool completely before assembling.
- For the frosting filling. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter and cream cheese and mix well, until there are no lumps and the mixture is smooth.
- Add in the powdered sugar, salt and vanilla. Mix on low until combined. Scrape down the sides and bump up the speed to medium for about 2 minutes or until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.
- Once the cookies are completely cool, spread a layer of frosting over the top of the solid cookie.
- Top with the cookie with the center removed.
- Sprinkle with a dusting of powdered sugar.
- Each cookie sandwich is filled with a smooth cream cheese frosting, sweet, creamy, and perfectly balanced.
- Perfect for holiday cookie boxes, special occasions, or anytime you’re craving a homemade chocolate treat. Let every bite bring you pure, melt-in-your-mouth bliss.
- To make another delicious Linzer cookie find the recipe.👉Homemade Linzer Raspberry Jam Cookies
Storage
- Make in bulk, and ahead of the holidays.
- Cookies should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Love sweet treats? Explore our 👉Cookies Biscuits and snack bars collection for easy, delicious desserts that everyone will enjoy.
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Chocolate Linzer Cookies Recipe
Chocolate Linzer Cookies Recipe made with a soft, buttery chocolate dough, a hint of espresso, and filled with a rich cream cheese frosting.
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 9-10 min
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: 36 1x
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Oven cook and baking
Ingredients
- 1/2 c unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 c sugar
- 1/3 c brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 t vanilla
- 1 1/2 c flour
- 1 t instant espresso powder
- 1/2 t salt
- 1/2 t baking powder
- 1 T powdered sugar
- 1/2 c unsalted butter, softened
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 c powdered sugar
- 1/2 t salt
- 1 t vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 deg. F (175 deg. C) Line a couple baking sheets with parchment and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter, sugar and brown sugar. Cream until smooth with the paddle attachment.
- Add in the egg and vanilla. Mix well.
- Add in the flour, espresso powder, salt and baking powder. Mix thoroughly, scraping down the sides often.
- On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Use a 2 inch round cookie cutter to cut out as many rounds as possible. Reroll the scraps as many times as you can, kneading well between each roll.
- In half of the round cutouts, use a one inch star (or similar shape) cookie cutter to remove the center of the cookie.
- Place the cookie rounds on a piece of parchment and transfer to the freezer for about 10 minutes.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 9-10 minutes or until the centers are set.
- Allow to cool completely before assembling.
- For the frosting filling – in the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter and cream cheese. Mix well, until there are no clumps and the mixture is smooth.
- Add in the powdered sugar, salt and vanilla. Mix on low until combined. Scrape down the sides and bump up the speed to medium for about 2 minutes or until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.
- Once the cookies are completely cool, spread a layer of frosting over the top of the solid cookie.
- Top with the cookie with the center removed.
- Sprinkle with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Storage: Cookies should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
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