Sweet Jam Sandwich Cookies (Linzer-Style Holiday Cookies)

Some days just turn into baking days—whether you planned them or not. Today was one of those days. It started innocently enough with a batch of homemade hamburger buns, then a loaf of bread, a small batch of cinnamon rolls… and before I knew it, the kitchen was dusted in flour and the oven had barely had a chance to cool. As the kids worked on their fun-shaped sugar cookie cutouts, I spotted my dainty little round cookie cutter tucked away in the drawer and suddenly knew exactly what needed to happen next.

These sweet little sandwich cookies weren’t on the plan—but I couldn’t help myself. They’re soft, delicate, lightly dusted with powdered sugar, and filled with a simple layer of jam. Honestly, they’re almost too pretty to eat. Almost. I made them with someone special in mind—an elderly friend who recently returned home after a brief hospital stay. Being in the hospital over the holidays is such a hard thing, and something homemade feels like the gentlest way to say you were missed and you’re loved.

If you want to make these cookies even easier (and more fun), a couple of simple tools make a big difference. A ¼-inch fixed-depth rolling pin, like the Ann Clark Perfect Cookie Rolling Pin, takes all the guesswork out of rolling dough evenly—no worrying about cookies baking unevenly or coming out too thick or too thin. And if you want to give your sandwich cookies a festive upgrade, swap the simple round cutouts for holiday shapes using the R&M International Christmas Linzer Cookie Cutter Set. The angel, candy cane, Bethlehem star, bell, Christmas tree, and ornament cutouts add instant Christmas charm to each cookie and make them feel extra special for gifting. These little upgrades are especially helpful when baking with kids or prepping cookies for sharing, and they turn an already sweet treat into something truly holiday-worthy.

🍓 Holiday Jam Sandwich Cookies

These cookies are perfect for gifting, sharing, or serving alongside a warm cup of coffee or tea. They look fancy, but they’re surprisingly simple to make—especially if you already have sugar cookie dough on hand.

Ingredients

For the Cookies

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• ¾ cup granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• ½ teaspoon baking powder

• ¼ teaspoon salt

For Filling & Finishing

• ½ cup seedless jam

• Powdered sugar, for dusting

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Instructions

1. Make the Dough

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla until smooth.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until a soft dough forms.

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30–45 minutes until firm.

2. Roll & Cut

Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Roll the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Cut cookies using a small round or scalloped cookie cutter. For half of the cookies, use a smaller cutter to cut a center hole (these will be the tops).

Place cookies on prepared baking sheets.

3. Bake

Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are just set and the bottoms are lightly golden. Do not overbake—these cookies should stay soft and delicate.

Cool completely on a wire rack.

4. Assemble the Sandwich Cookies

Once cooled:

• Dust the top cookies (with the cutout) generously with powdered sugar

• Spread about 1 teaspoon of jam on the flat side of each bottom cookie

• Gently place the powdered cookie on top to create a sandwich