Szilveszteri (Linzer Cookies)

I wanted to make cookies for a class party one time and thought it would be great fun to try out these lovely Linzer cookies! My Hungarian friend graciously translated this authentic family recipe for me, and the cookies turned out beautifully! The cookies bake VERY fast, so be sure to keep an eye on them when the first batch is in the oven to get a feel for how quickly they cook. The top cookies might even be done a minute earlier because they have less dough due to the cutout. They also require at least 12 hours to set after they are baked, so you'll have to make them about a day in advance of the event you want to serve them at.

Note: These do require linzer cookie cutters to get the shape of the top and bottom cookies. Mine are Wilton brand, and have a fun valentine themed cutout. You can even get ones with holiday themed center cutouts to make great Christmas cookies!

Here's the recipe:

• 5 1/4 cups of flour
• 2 ½ sticks of thoroughly softened butter
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 ½ cups of powdered sugar (I always blend granulated sugar until it's fine enough for me)
• sour cream as necessary
• Pinch of baking soda

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Knead the flour, butter, and lemon. Beat the yolks separately, and then knead into the dough, along with sugar and baking soda. Use sour cream to soften until is easy to work with. Roll out until the cookies are quite thin, about a ¼ inch thick – since you will need to layer them, and cut. Bake for 5-7 minutes, until the cookies are just barely golden brown. Let the cookies stay on the hot sheet for a minute longer, and then transfer to a cooling rack. Let them cool completely.

In a separate bowl, spoon out the jam and mix it with a fork until it gains a smooth consistency. With a knife, spoon a dollop of jam in the center of a bottom cookie and spread it so that there is more jam in the center (where the cutout of the top cookie will be) than the edges. Sandwich a top and bottom cookie, and allow it to harden overnight in open air. (If you choose to cover them with plastic wrap, the cookies will take longer to “set.”)