Yet Another Linzer Cookies

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups sweet butter, softened
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 2 1/2 cups flour (all purpose, unbleached)
• 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon clove
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon rind, finely grated
• 1/4 cup raspberry jam, seedless

Recipe

• 1 beat softened butter until fluffy.
• 2 while beating, add confectioners' sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
• 3 mix together flour, nuts, spices and lemon rind.
• 4 gradually add to butter mixture, beeating until just blended.
• 5 wrap and chill dough for at least one hour.
• 6 divide chilled dough in half.
• 7 roll each half of dough to a 1/8 inch thickness.
• 8 from one half of dough, cut three inch stars (or hearts).
• 9 from second half, cut three inch stars, and then cut out centers of each star with a one and a half inch star cookie cutter.
• 10 preheat oven to 325°f.
• 11 line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• 12 bake cookies for 15 minutes. smnall stars may take only 12 minutes.
• 13 turn cookie sheets mid-way thru baking.
• 14 cool on wire racks.
• 15 while still warm, sprinkle hollow stars with confectioners' sugar.
• 16 spread solid stars with jam and top with hollow stars.
• 17 save cut-outs (tiny stars) for cook's treat or to decorate serving plate.