Linzer Bars
These linzer bars have a sweet shortbread cookie crust, a jammy raspberry filling, a buttery crumble topping, and a sweet almond icing. Similar to the classic linzer tart but with so much less effort and fuss.
Prep Time40 minutes mins
Cook Time50 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24 bars
Calories: 290
Prep the oven and pan
Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish or two 8-inch baking dishes with parchment paper.
Make the crust
In a bowl, combine the flour, granulated and brown sugars, salt, and lemon zest. Add the butter and, using a food processor, pastry blender, or 2 table knives, quickly cut the butter into the flour mixture until the butter is the size of small peas. Pat about 3/4 of the crust mixture over the bottom and slightly up the sides of the prepared pans, pressing firmly to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is pale golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Cover the remaining 1/4 crust mixture remaining in the bowl and refrigerate it.
Set the crust aside to cool while you make the filling.
Make the filling and assemble the linzer bars
In a saucepan, stir together the raspberries, granulated sugar, and cornstarch. Simmer over medium heat, stirring often, until the sugar dissolves and the berries are juicy but not completely broken down, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
Spread the filling over the partially baked crust. Crumble the remaining chilled crust mixture over the filling. Bake until pale golden and bubbly, about 25 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Make the glaze
In a bowl, combine the confectioners’ sugar, cream, and almond extract. Whisk the ingredients together until combined.
Glaze the linzer bars
Fit a piping bag with a small plain tip and fill it with the glaze or pour the glaze into a large resealable plastic bag and snip off the tip of one of the bottom corners. Pipe or drizzle the glaze over the linzer bars in any fashion that you fancy. Refrigerate until chilled through, at least 1 hour. Cut into bars.
Serving: 1bar | Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 54mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 29g