Name: Rudolph Reindeer Linzer Cookies
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 2 h 40 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: Austrian
Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour (140g); 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter (90g), cubed; 2/3 cup powdered sugar (75g), plus extra for dusting; 1/2 cup almond flour (50g); 1/4 tsp fine salt; 1 egg yolk; 2 tablespoons heavy cream (30ml); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3 tablespoons caramel sauce or cookie butter; Mini chocolate chips or chocolate sprinkles (for Rudolph's eyes); Red sprinkles or nonpareils (for Rudolph's nose); Mini pretzels (for Rudolph's horns)

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You’ll impress your friends and family with this fun twist on a classic cookie that embodies the spirit of the season!

7 Rudolph Reindeer Linzer Cookies on wooden cutting board with Christmas decorations around

I’ve made peanut butter cookies in the shape of reindeer before, but nothing is as cute as these Rudolph linzer cookies!

Linzer cookies are a traditional sandwich cookie that is a smaller version of the classic linzer torte. They have a nutty flavored dough with different options for filling, and in this case we use caramel sauce!

spreading caramel sauce on the linzer cookie which is on a wire rack

You can see in the picture that top half of the cookie sandwich has a circle cut out and dusted with powdered sugar, and the bottom half of the cookie sandwich is where you’ll spread the filling.

Any kind of sweet spread can be used, like cookie butter (this homemade version looks amazing!), or jam is often used for linzer cookies as well!

If you want to use jam, I’d personally want to make the circle cut-out smaller and make that the “red-nose” using a red colored jam, and put bigger eyes above the cut-out.

Whichever way you make them, these would be an absolute hit for a cookie exchange or holiday party. Not only perfectly on-theme but delicious, too.

Powdered sugar is not only used for dusting the top cookie layer, but also as the cookie sweetener instead of regular granulated sugar. This gives a more cake-like texture to the cookie, and also makes for a smoother dough.

landscape photo of 6 reindeer linzer cookies on wooden board with candy canes and holiday decorations

Other holiday dessert recipes: pecan pie bars, raspberry chocolate crinkle cookies, nanaimo bars, snowman dessert dip board.

Yield: 12 cookies

Rudolph Reindeer Linzer Cookies

Bring some holiday cheer to your baking with these charming Linzer cookies shaped like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! Delicate and buttery, these festive treats are filled with sweet caramel and adorned with a playful design that will delight both kids and adults alike. You'll impress your friends and family with this fun twist on a classic cookie that embodies the spirit of the season!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour (140g)
3/4 cup cold unsalted butter (90g), cubed
2/3 cup powdered sugar (75g), plus extra for dusting
1/2 cup almond flour (50g)
1/4 tsp fine salt
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons heavy cream (30ml)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons caramel sauce or cookie butter
Mini chocolate chips or chocolate sprinkles (for Rudolph's eyes)
Red sprinkles or nonpareils (for Rudolph's nose)
Mini pretzels (for Rudolph's horns)

Instructions

Sift the cup of flour into a mixing bowl. Add the cubed cold butter.
Flatten, stretch, press, and rub the butter cubes into the flour until integrated, forming a moist sand-like texture.
Sift powdered sugar, almond flour, and salt, and add to the butter mixture. Combine well.
Add the egg yolk, cream, and vanilla vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly.
Roll out the dough between two sheets of plastic paper until it's about 1/8 inch (3mm) thick.
Place the dough on a baking sheet and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours until firm.
Preheat the oven to 320°F (160°C).
Cut out cookies using a circular cutter and place them on a baking sheet.
On half of the dough circles, use a small circular cutter to remove where the "face" window will be. (Slightly off-center, see picture.)
Bake the cookies for 10 minutes or until the edges are barely golden. Rotate halfway through baking for even cooking.
Allow the cookies to cool completely.
Dust the cookies that have the cutout with powdered sugar.
On the whole cookies, spread a thin layer of caramel sauce or cookie butter. Then complete the sandwich by adding the cut out cookie on top of the filling.
To decorate: For Rudolph's eyes: mini chocolate chips or chocolate sprinkles.
Place a red sprinkle for his nose and use a pretzel broken in half for his horns. You may need a touch of extra caramel or filling to attach the horns and keep them in place. You could also draw on antlers with melted chocolate and a toothpick!