Valentine Cookie – Giant Heart Torte
Take Valentine’s Day baking to the next level! Create a heart-shaped Giant Linzer Torte for your special someone, a Linzer cookie twist created with buttery, almond-flavored cookie dough & fruity jam.
Many moons ago, when my husband (then boyfriend) and I were dating, I made him this Heart Linzer Torte for Valentine’s Day. It looked so beautiful that everyone thought I had spent days working on it, but the truth? I chose it because it was the easiest thing to make! A quick shortcrust dough, store-bought jam, a heart-shaped mold, and a dusting of powdered sugar—simple, yet stunning. Of course, it earned me plenty of bonus points because a handmade gift is always twice as meaningful as a store-bought one—don’t you think?
Today, I want to share this recipe with you so you can make it for your special someone as well! ❤️
Why You’ll Love This Giant Linzer Heart Cookie
- Perfect for sharing. One giant heart-shaped cookie makes a beautiful Valentine’s Day dessert for two.
- Classic Linzer flavors. Buttery almond cookie layers filled with sweet raspberry jam.
- Easy to customize. Use your favorite jam or preserves to make it your own.
- A stunning homemade gift. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays, or special occasions.
- Simple but impressive. A dusting of powdered sugar and a heart-shaped window create an elegant bakery-style finish.
Ingredients and Substitutes
- All-purpose flour – Gives the cookies structure. Use a good-quality 1:1 gluten-free flour blend if needed.
- Granulated sugar – Sweetens the dough without overpowering the jam filling.
- Butter – Cold butter creates a tender, buttery cookie.
- Almond flour – Adds a delicate nutty flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Hazelnut flour is a delicious substitute.
- Egg yolk – Binds the dough and adds richness.
- Vanilla extract – Adds warmth and enhances the buttery flavor. Almond extract is a lovely alternative.
- Jam – Raspberry is traditional, but strawberry, apricot, cherry, or your favorite preserves work just as well.
- Powdered sugar – A light dusting gives the giant Linzer heart its classic finish.
Step-by-step: Heart Giant Linzer Torte
- Prepare the Dough:
- Combine all-purpose flour, almond flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl or food processor.
- Next, add the cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Pulse in the food processor; use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Then, add the vanilla extract, egg yolk, and cold water to the mixture. Mix everything until a dough forms. If the dough is too dry, add more water, one teaspoon at a time.
- Next, form the dough into a ball, flatten it into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F / 175°C Gas Mark 4.
- Roll Out the Dough:
- Roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
- Using a 7—or 8-inch heart-shaped cake ring (or cookie cutter), cut out two heart-shaped pieces. One will be the bottom crust, and the other will be the top with a smaller heart-shaped cutout in the center. You can reroll the scraps to make more cookies if desired.
- Bake the Cookies: Place the heart-shaped cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes or until they turn golden around the edges. Then, remove them from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
- Assemble the Linzer Torte:
- Once the cookies are completely cooled, spread a generous layer of strawberry jam on the bottom cookie (the one without the cutout).
- Dust the top cookie with powdered sugar for a decorative touch.
- Carefully place the top cookie with the heart-shaped cutout on top of the jam-covered cookie. Optionally, you can add a few small candy hearts for Valentine’s Day.
- Serve and Enjoy: Slice and serve your Giant Heart-shaped Linzer Torte with Strawberry Jam. It’s a beautiful and delicious treat for any occasion!
Heart Giant Linzer Torte
Take Valentine's Day baking to the next level! Create a heart-shaped Giant Linzer Torte for your special someone, a Linzer cookie twist created with buttery, almond-flavored cookie dough & fruity jam.
Video
Ingredients
- 1½ cups (190 g) All-purpose flour
- ½ cup (55 g) Almond flour
- ½ cup (60 g) Powdered sugar
- ¼ tsp Salt
- ½ cup (113.5 g) Cold Butter unsalted, cubed
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 large Egg yolk
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) Cold water
- ½ cup (170 g) strawberry jam (or your preferred jam)
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Method
- Prepare the Dough: – Combine all-purpose flour, almond flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl or food processor. – Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Pulse in the food processor; use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. – Add the vanilla extract, egg yolk, and cold water to the mixture. Mix everything until a dough forms. If the dough is too dry, add more water, one teaspoon at a time. Form the dough into a ball, flatten it into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.1½ cups All-purpose flour, ½ cup Almond flour, ½ cup Powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp Salt, 1 tsp Vanilla extract, 1 large Egg yolk, 2 tbsp Cold water, ½ cup Cold Butter
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F / 175°C Gas Mark 4.
- Roll Out the Dough: Roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out two heart-shaped pieces. One will be the bottom crust, and the other will be the top with a smaller heart-shaped cutout in the center. You can reroll the scraps to make more cookies if desired.
- Bake the Cookies: Place the heart-shaped cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until they turn golden around the edges. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
- Assemble the Linzer Torte: Once the cookies are completely cooled, spread a generous layer of strawberry jam on the bottom cookie (the one without the cutout). Dust the top cookie with powdered sugar for a decorative touch. Carefully place the top cookie with the heart-shaped cutout on top of the jam-covered cookie. Optionally, you can add a few small candy hearts for Valentine's Day.½ cup strawberry jam, Powdered sugar
- Serve and Enjoy: Slice and serve your Giant Heart-shaped Linzer Torte with Strawberry Jam. It's a beautiful and delicious treat for any occasion!
Notes
- Chilling the assembled Linzer torte for 30–60 minutes before serving makes it easier to slice.
- Raspberry jam is traditional, but strawberry, apricot, or cherry jam are delicious alternatives.
- Store the torte in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Dust with powdered sugar just before serving for the freshest appearance.
- This recipe can also be made as individual Linzer heart cookies instead of one giant heart.
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Mention @veenaazmanov_kitchen or tag #veenaazmanovkitchen!more Heart shaped treats
- Buttercream Frosted Valentine’s Day Cookies
- Chocolate Heart Cookies with Ganache
- Heart Alfajores Recipe
- Valentine Heart Cookies
- Heart Chocolate Terrine
- Heart French Toast
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Mousse
Tips for the Best Giant Linzer Heart Torte
- Keep the butter cold. Cold butter gives the cookie its tender, crumbly texture.
- Chill the dough. Refrigerate the dough before rolling to make it easier to handle and help it keep its shape.
- Roll evenly. An even thickness ensures both cookie layers bake at the same rate.
- Don’t overfill the jam. Spread the jam evenly, leaving a small border around the edge to prevent it from oozing out.
- Handle with care. The large cookie is delicate, so use a wide spatula when transferring it.
- Dust after cooling. Let the cookie cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar for the prettiest finish.
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely! While the recipe suggests using raspberry jam, feel free to experiment with other fruit flavors like strawberry, blackberry, or even apricot. The key is to choose a jam that pairs well with the almond flavor of the torte.
Yes, you can! In fact, making the torte a day in advance can improve the flavor as the jam has time to soak into the almond layers. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Absolutely! To make this delicious gluten-free treat, you can replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend. Just check the labels and choose a blend that works well for baking. Additionally, ensure that all other ingredients, including baking powder and almond meal, are also gluten-free.
Certainly! Dusting the torte with powdered sugar adds a touch of elegance, and you can get creative with your decorations. Consider topping it with fresh raspberries, sliced almonds, or even edible flowers for an extra special touch.
Of course! If you prefer individual-sized treats, you can use heart-shaped baking molds or even mini tart pans to create smaller versions of the torte. Just adjust the baking time accordingly and keep an eye on them, as they may cook faster than the larger torte.
more Valentines day desserts
- Strawberry Mousse for Two
- French Toast with Crème Anglaise
- Raspberry Jam Tartlets
- Berry Frangipani Tarts (Hearts)
- Tiramisu in a Cup
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Linzers are my favorite! This torte looks amazing. Can’t wait to try it for Valentine’s Day.
Such a lovely dessert and will be a fun treat to make with my 12 year old daughter. Can’t wait to try it!
This is beautiful! I’ll have to try to make this and surprise my husband.
I think a giant torte is a wonderful idea for a Valentine’s treat – great recipe!
Holy cannoli Veena, this is gorgeous! And such a great idea. Absolutely making this for my kiddo next week!