Monday, February 4, 2013

Tate’s Linzer Heart Cookie Recipe & Giveaway

Did you watch the Super Bowl? We had a few friends over to celebrate the big game and had an absolute blast! I made a few from scratch items for the party, and relied on Trader Joe’s for the rest! Our guests also brought awesome dishes. For dessert, I made Tate’s Linzer Heart Cookies (recipe at end of post):

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These are sooo yummy! Sort of like a short bread with flair:

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I made chocolate chip cookies (Josh likes them flat like pancakes ;)):

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I cooked up Trader Joe’s turkey meatballs (un-pictured) and made breadsticks with pizza dough:IMG_3093

I put together a big veggie platter with hummus and Trader Joe’s guacamole hummus (this stuff is DELICIOUS):

IMG_3095 Our guests brought very creative dishes, bacon roses:

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DARK chocolate brownies:

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Jalapeno bacon poppers and puffs (our guests are clearly bacon fanatics):

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Asian noodle salad:

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A light Mexican dip:

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and sausage balls:

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I think everyone enjoyed all the treats! Now for the recipe & giveaway!

TATE'S BAKE SHOP LINZER HEART COOKIES

Itzy’s Kitchen notes: I used almonds instead of hazelnuts. Also, my food processor is on its way out…so my chocolate and nuts weren’t SUPER fine. I didn’t use the jelly and powdered sugar, although these cookies would be amazing with both!! These are the perfect Valentine’s day cookies!

These decorative cookies make beautiful and tasty gifts. 

An important tip: be sure to chop the nuts and chocolate very fine in a food processor (pulse to chop so the friction doesn’t warm them), or the dough will be too rough-textured to roll out smoothly. You need a graduated set of heart-shaped cookie cutters to make these. Yield: 20 sandwich cookies

Cookies 

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 

1 cup cornstarch 

¼ teaspoon salt 

¾ pound (3 sticks) salted butter, at room temperature

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

1 large egg, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

2 cups toasted, skinned and very finely chopped hazelnuts

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, very finely chopped 

-plus-

½ cup seedless raspberry jam 

½ cup confectioners’ sugar for sifting 

1. Sift the flour, cornstarch, and salt into a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat the butter and confectioners’ sugar with an electric mixer set on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Beat in the egg and vanilla, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. With the mixer on low speed, mix in the flour mixture, just until combined. Mix in the hazelnuts and chocolate.

2. Gather up the dough and shape it into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours. (The dough can be refrigerated for up to 1 day. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes to soften slightly before rolling.) 

3. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough to a round about ¼-inch thick. Use a 3 ½-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the cookies as close as possible to avoid excess scraps. Arrange the hearts about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Gather up the dough scraps and gently knead together, and cut out more cookies. If the dough becomes too soft to roll out, refrigerate until chilled. You should have 40 cookies. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour. 

4. Position the oven racks in the top third and center of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F. 

5. Use a 1-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the centers of 20 cookies. These will be the cookie tops. (You can bake the mini hearts to nibble on later! Don’t throw away or re-roll.) Bake, switching the position of the baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through baking, until the cookies begin to brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Sift some of the ½ cup of confectioners’ sugar over the hot cut-out cookies Let cool completely on the baking sheets. 

6. Spread the jam on the cookie bottoms, leaving an 1/8-inch border around the edges. Add the tops, sugared sides up, and press together gently. Just before serving, sift the remaining confectioners’ sugar over the cookies.

Giveaway: The wonderful people at Tate’s are giving away a Valentine's Cookie Cube & Cookbook combo to one lucky Itzy’s Kitchen reader (disclaimer: Tate’s is providing the above for free)!! You DO NOT need to have a blog to enter! All you need to do is leave me a link to your favorite cookie recipe in the comments section of this post by Friday, February 8 at noon (EST). The winner will be randomly selected and contacted via email (make sure you either leave your email address or have it linked via the comment form). Good luck!!

45 comments:

sarah k @ thepajamachef.com said...

bacon roses? wow. looks like you had some great food! my favorite cookies are these triple chip coconut cookies. http://thepajamachef.com/2012/05/23/triple-chip-coconut-cookies/

Kerr said...

Those bacon roses are so neat!

Jenn (eating bender) said...

Yum! What a delicious spread for the Super Bowl -- loving all of the bacon-themed eats. :) Your Linzer heart cookies are gorgeous. Thanks for the recipe! I'm sure you've heard it from me before but I can't get enough of crinkle cookies, especially at Christmas: http://www.eatingbender.com/2010/12/21/crinkle-crinkle-cookie-star/. :)

Averie Cooks said...

fave cookies - hard call but probably these

http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2013/01/peanut-butter-chocolate-chunk-cookies.html

Katie said...

You always have the best party food!

I LOVE Tate's. It used to be called Kathleen's, and I grew up eating the cookies in Southampton, NY! My favorite crispy cookie is their chocolate chip, and my favorite soft cookie is Levain's chocolate chip walnut. Now I want one!

Maureen said...

My husband and I love these cookies. We have made them for many events that we have attended and everyone gobbles them up.

http://www.food.com/recipe/foothills-house-sweet-dreams-cookies-361044

Taylor Ryan said...

Yum! I think I might see if I can turn this recipe into a vegan cookie option! I can't do it until next week because it's the new challenge for boot camp (no sweets this week)! But I will let you know how it goes.

Taylor Ryan said...

Oh and my fav cookie recipe is an everything cookie: http://www.liftingrevolution.com/ultimate-healthy-holiday/

Lauren Podolsky said...

What a fantastic party! The Superbowl is always a perfect reason to overincludge in yummy treats. Glad you had a great party and a wonderful weekend!

auntie j said...

LOOK AT ALL OF THAT BACON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahah for valentines day i need my future husband to send me bacon roses. that's it.

anyways what a fun party! the football party we had was my mom, sister dad & brother WOO HOO and i went to bed at halftime hahahah and i didn't win any money but thats fine.

also shortbread cookies are AMAZING. thats all on that.

my fav cookies are forever rainbow cookies, the green/pink leaf cookies or cannolis (those arent cookies but still)

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/rainbow-cookies/

Renee@Mykitchenadventures said...

What a yummmmy spread. I watched the game with hubby, but only had a few tortilla chips and some of the pantry salsa I made. :) I've made Linzer cookies in the past, hard to get past all the butter that goes into them...but they are just so delicious. My current fav cookie is one I made over the holidays this past year..http://mykitchenadventures1.blogspot.com/2012/12/salted-caramel-shortbread-cookies.html What a fun giveaway! Mykitchenadventures (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Jo Anna Leuck said...

What a great giveaway! I love the oatmeal-toffee cookies linked here: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/oatmeal-toffee-cookies-10000001023641/

Faith said...

Now that is a gorgeous spread! The cookies are super cute - I love the flavors and the fact they're they're heart-shaped! Your guests are pretty fantastic too - those bacon roses really look like flowers!!

I don't have a link to my favorite cookie recipe yet (it'll be going on the blog soon), but I've been working on a chocolate chip cookie recipe that's grain-free and naturally-sweetened and I think I have it where I want it! I'm in love with the recipe - made it 3 times in the last 3 weeks, lol! ;)

Brittany Dahn said...

Such a tough choice but the first cookies that came to mind were Picky Palate's Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies! Yum. http://picky-palate.com/2011/01/06/oreo-stuffed-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Realia Mazing said...

these are my favorite- http://agoodappetite.blogspot.com/2008/12/8-weeks-of-cookies-chocolate-covered.html

itzyskitchen said...

Checking out your recipe now!!

itzyskitchen said...

I've been meaning to make those cookies!!

itzyskitchen said...

Thank you! You're the sweetest! If I ever make it up to NY, Im forcing you to take me around to the best spots!

delia said...

I just posted this on my pinterest.
http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2013/01/08/oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookies-recipe/

Madeline said...

I love this snickerdoodle recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/mrs-siggs-snickerdoodles/

Cellabella said...

I made these bar cookies recently and they were a hit! http://www.eatliverun.com/whiskey-walnut-blondies/

natalie@thesweetslife said...

those bacon roses are crazy! and that noodle salad looks delish!

these are my new fave cookie:http://www.thesweetslife.com/2013/01/salty-chocolate-chunk-cookies.html I'm obsessed!

Ally said...

Okay, the pizza dough breadsticks look awesome!

With a few modifications, these are one of my favourite cookies (I have a LOT of favourites): http://allrecipes.com/recipe/bake-sale-lemon-bars/detail.aspx

Kitchen Belleicious said...

oh girl- the food the food! Wow, it all looks great- especially those cookies! YUM!

Elizabeth said...

So hard to pick just one, but I absolutely love sandwich cookies, so I'd pick these http://freefoodboston.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/homemade-oreos/

Cindy Brickley said...

I have made these and they are so good, all my favorites in one cookie. I also made those Bacon Roses for a few parties and my guests were at awe! Thanks for the post and giveaway!

http://www.thespiffycookie.com/2012/06/27/dark-chocolate-peanut-butter-banana-cookies/

Singerinkitchen said...

Yummy cookie recipe and what a delicious food spread!! Wish I could partake. These are my new fav cookie recipe: http://www.singerskitchen.com/2013/01/cherry-chocolate-kiss-cookies.html

Kelly said...

awww the heart cookies are SO cute! And I want the dark chocolate brownies. I'm SUCH a sweets person right now!! We didn't watch the super bowl. Actually, I don't even know who won - eek!! So in my own world!

Meryl said...

My favorite is Chocolate chip cookies by Thomas Keller:
http://www.foodgal.com/2009/06/tantalizing-preview-ad-hoc-chocolate-chip-cookie-recipe-by-thomas-keller/

Louis said...

Ina Garten's Jam Thumbprints
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/jam-thumbprint-cookies-recipe/index.html

Blond Duck said...

We just got a Trader Joe's here. I'm so on the hunt for guacamole hummus.

Amy Tong said...

What a feast! I love these heart shape shortbread cookies and those bacon roses are just so creative.

What a nice giveaway for V-day! My favorite cookies are Almond Cookie Crisps. Here's a link to the recipe: http://utry.it/2011/09/almond-cookie-crisps.html

amy [at] utry [dot] it

Stephanie @cookinfanatic.com said...

Those bacon roses are so legit!!! Love it. My fave cookie recipe is for my Nanny's Christmas cookies w Reese's PB cups in middle - no link to a handwritten recipe card though - old school! :)

Candice said...

bacon roses?! yum!!!!

Lets see favorite cookie recipe? White Chocolate cranberrry cookies!!!

http://www.bodyofamother.com/2011/12/white-chocolate-cranberry-cookies.html

Joelle (onapinktypewriter.com) said...

Those brownies and cookies look yummy! My fav cookies would have to be chocolate chip (traditional!). Here's a link for the recipe I always use: http://onapinktypewriter.com/2011/10/25/the-best-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Autumn @ Good Eats Girl said...

Looks like you guys had some GREAT eats!

My favorite cookie recipe is for monster cookies!

http://goodeatsgirl.com/2011/06/14/cookies-cookies-cookies-2/

Katie said...

Yum! I love Tates! Their chocolate chip cookies make me really happy!

This recipe looks really good:

http://www.missinthekitchen.com/2013/02/07/cream-cheese-peanut-butter-cookies/

itzyskitchen said...

Totally! Amazing amount of butter!

Bridget said...

That's quite the spread!! We actually stayed home this year for the superbowl. Kind of sad it was our first superbowl without any plans, but it worked out for the better. It was snowing and we didn't feel like going to our friends place and then with the power outage, I'm glad we weren't out late. I fell asleep through most of the 4th quarter anyways haha!

itzyskitchen said...

Totally checking out the recipe- thank you!

itzyskitchen said...

owww! Trying these!

AnnaZed said...

I love David Lebovitz's Salted Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe: http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2010/08/salted-butter-chocolate-chip-cookies-recipe/

Katie M said...

This Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups recipe is amazing!
http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2013/01/browned-butter-chocolate-chip-cookie-cups.html

Susan Christy said...

Reese's Temptations! https://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipe-details.aspx?id=4500&name=REESE%27S-Peanut-Butter-Temptations

Lea said...

I love your weekend parties, so much good food. I love Trader Joe's food selection too, perfect for get togethers.

I love coconut and chocolate in my cookies, so one of my favorite cookie recipes is the Toasted Coconut chocolate chunk cookies -->http://healthycoconutblog.com/2010/12/13/toasted-coconut-chocolate-chunk-cookies/