Christmas Tree Shortbread Cookies, tree-shaped filled cookies made using simple cookie cutters of two different sizes.
The process is the same as for the famous Linzer cookies.
Start with a shortbread base and fill with soft creams, but the most commonly used filling remains jam. To make the filled cookie, prepare two identical shapes and cut out the inside of one with another cookie cutter of the same shape but smaller.
The bases are baked together, then the cut-out is dusted with powdered sugar and the other is spread with the filling. Finally, assemble them, and our cookies are ready.
With Christmas approaching, I added a pinch of cinnamon and chose the tree shape, but you can use other shapes as well. Just make sure to have different sizes for the same shape to easily make the cut.
For the filling, you can use any creams you like; for example, camy cream is perfect. Anyway, the filling should not be cooked. If you want to stick to the classic, like me, and use jam, it should not be too runny.
Baking the cookies takes about 10 minutes, so they are also quick to prepare.
For more ideas on cookies to prepare during this festive season, perhaps even to give as gifts, I remind you
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economic
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 12 complete cookies
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Christmas
- Energy 191.68 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 25.56 (g) of which sugars 10.76 (g)
- Proteins 2.97 (g)
- Fat 9.24 (g) of which saturated 5.83 (g)of which unsaturated 3.28 (g)
- Fibers 0.68 (g)
- Sodium 8.23 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 48 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
The main ingredients are those to prepare the shortbread dough. I suggest jam for the filling, but you can choose what you prefer.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 10 teaspoons jam
Tools
To prepare these cookies, it’s important to have themed cookie cutters in different sizes.
- 2 Cookie Cutters
Preparation
The preparation is the same as the shortbread for pies, you just need to roll it out well to cut it.
To prepare the shortbread dough, you can choose whether to knead by hand or, as I do, with a stand mixer. If kneading by hand, make a well with the flour on the work surface and put all the ingredients in the center, starting with the eggs and sugar. Let them be partially absorbed by the flour with a fork, then proceed to add all the others and knead by hand.
If using a stand mixer, put all the ingredients together, attach the paddle attachment, and start at low/medium speed until a dough forms.
Once the shortbread dough is prepared, divide it into two parts to roll it out more easily and start rolling it out on a sheet of parchment paper until it reaches a thickness of a few millimeters.
Cut out your trees, remembering that to make one cookie you need a pair of tree shapes, and one of the two should be further cut out in the center with the smaller cutter.
Bake the cookies in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for 8/10 minutes until they are golden. Let them cool and fill them as you see in the photo, the filling should not be too much and should mainly be in the center because when you stack them, it will spread itself over the rest of the cookie.
Before stacking the cut-out part, dust it with powdered sugar, then place it on the half of the filled cookie, and your tree cookies are ready.
NOTES
Shortbread trees filled with jam keep very well if stored covered, so you can also decide to give them as a sweet thought for the holidays. Just pack them in cookie bags or boxes with a lid.
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If you liked the recipe or have any questions, feel free to comment here or on social media Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.
If you liked the recipe or have any questions, feel free to comment here or on social media Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use almond flour in the dough?
Yes, you can replace a part of the flour, like 50g, with almond flour for an even more Christmas-like flavor.
Can I use hazelnut cream as a filling?
Of course, hazelnut cream, pistachio cream, etc. have the right consistency to fill these cookies.
