German Raspberry Spitzbuben Christmas Cookies Recipe Is So Merry & Bright (5 Ingredients) Cookies Desserts Snacks Holidays European Recipes German Recipes Low Sodium Recipes Gluten-free

My friend Karen gifted us the most beautiful German Christmas cookies this holiday season. The raspberry Spitzbuben cookies are similar to German Linzer cookies, with a lovely layer of raspberry jam sandwiched between two layers of delicious dough. Spitzbuben, roughly translated as "little devils" or “mischievous boys," can also be found in Austria and Switzerland, among other places, making this an old-fashioned European dessert. These easy raspberry Spitzbuben cookies make holidays so merry and bright!

Karen originally found this German cookie bars recipe when it was awarded second place in a Chicago Tribune Holiday Cookie Bake-Off. The author, Sarah Tuohy, a self-taught home baker, said she originally got the recipe from a friend's mom after Sarah became the "treat-maker" for the Chicago Bears. "This became a team and staff favorite from the first day I made them for the Bears!" Sarah said. "Without the help of Mrs. Lloyd's kind gesture of sharing some of her recipes, I would have been lost that first season. So that is the No. 1 reason this recipe is so special to me."

Here are the five simple ingredients you need in order to make these irresistible holiday cookies: butter, sugar, egg yolks, flour and raspberry preserves. That's it! You make the dough then cut it in half. You lay half the dough out, spread the jam across it, then lay the other half of the dough on top of the jam. Bake it until golden then sprinkle with powdered sugar before slicing into tender bars or festive holiday shapes.

Serve these delicate cookie bars as a sweet holiday snack with a cup of hot tea or coffee, or a glass of cold milk for dessert. They just may become the new favorite on your Christmas cookie tray. They can help you ring in the New Year, too!

Cuisine: European
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 to 45 minutes (ovens vary)
Total Time: 55 to 60 minutes
Servings: 24

Ingredients

• 2 cups (4 sticks) butter, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 4 cups flour (all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour)
• 1 1/2 cups raspberry preserves

Here's how to make it:

1. In a large mixing bowl, add the butter and sugar. Beat together until light and fluffy.
2. Blend in the egg yolks, then gradually stir in the flour until thoroughly mixed and a dough forms. (You can use all-purpose or gluten-free flour for these cookies.)
3. Cut the dough in two equal halves. Spread half of the dough evenly in a jelly roll pan that measures 10x15 inches.
4. Spread the raspberry preserves over the first layer of dough, then place the other half of the dough on top of the layer of raspberry preserves.
5. Bake in an oven that's been preheated to 325 degrees F until light brown, about 40 to 45 minutes. Because ovens vary, this could take up to an hour, so keep checking on them.
6. Allow to cool completely, then sprinkle with powdered sugar and cut into bars or holiday shapes. Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
    
7. For gifting, you can put them into holiday cupcake liners and/or festive tissue-paper-lined cookie tins.

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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