Valentines Heart Shaped Sandwich Cookies
Rosewater Shortbread Cut Out Sugar Cookies with Raspberry Filling
Jan 20, 2009
Similar to Linzer cookies, a famous Austrian dessert made with ground almonds and raspberry jam, these cookies use a shortbread sugar cookie base flavored with rosewater. The extra effort involved in carefully cutting, layering and decorating the delicate heart shaped Valentine's cookies is sure to be appreciated by the lucky recipient.
Rosewater can be found in the baking section of certain supermarkets as well as middle-eastern and Indian specialty stores. In the event that it is unavailable, vanilla extract can be substituted in its place.
Rosewater Shortbread Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted buttered, room temp
- 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
- 2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 salt
- 2 tsp rose water
Directions:
- Beat butter until soft. Add in confectioners sugar and continue to beat until combined.
- In a separate bowl, toss together flour and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to butter mixture in even increments. Beat in rose water until fully incorporated.
- Knead dough three or four times until mixture comes together. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Roll out dough to 1/4" thick. Cut out cookie hearts using a heart-shaped cookie-cutter. In half of the heart cookies, use a smaller heart shaped cookie cutter to remove an inner section, creating a window.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 8 minutes. Place on a rack to cool before assembling. Dust heart cut out window cookies with confectioners sugar.
Makes approximately 2 dozen sandwich cookies.
Ruby Red Fruit Filling with Raspberries or Strawberries
Ingredients:
- 2 cups frozen raspberries or strawberries
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 Tbsp corn starch
Directions:
- Thaw frozen raspberries or strawberries, reserving liquid. Pulse gently with juice in a food processor and strain to remove seeds.
- In a sauce pan, combine fruit puree, sugar and corn starch. Stir well to evenly distribute starch and break up any clumps.
- Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool.
Assembling Valentine's Heart Shaped Shortbread Cookies with Raspberry Filling
To assemble the sandwich cookies, scoop a spoonful of red fruit filling onto the backside of a heart-shaped cookie, allowing the more presentable top to face outward. Carefully position a sugar-dusted cookie with cut out on top, spooning in more fruit filling in the center if needed.
As a substitute for homemade fruit filling, various fruit jams or jellies can also be used to sandwich the cookies together. Melt the jam over low heat until spreadable and follow the directions above.
For more cookie recipes, see Orange Spice Molasses Cookies or Easy Holiday Cookies. For more Valentine's dessert ideas, see Espresso Chocolate Mousse.
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