Linzer cookies with plum jam

   I wonder how you choose the recipes that intrigue you the most and make you say "Yes! I want to try this!" In my case, it's very easy. Do they have my favorite ingredients? Check! I don't even care very much how easy or difficult the recipe is, if the picture looks promising, I'll definitely try it! :D This is also the case with this recipe from Teo's Kitchen. 

    I noticed that ever since I'm pregnant I have a soft spot for plum jam and I want to try lots of recipes with it:)) This dessert is definitely worth it! I have to warn you though: while making the dough is not difficult at all (although beware of its consistency, I had to add more flour afterwards), making the cookies and putting them together was a long, tedious process because the upper cookie has a "window" and the nuts on top have to only go on the edge of the cookie, not cover the jam. Mmmmyeah, if you want to make this recipe make sure you don't have anything else planned for the day and just take it slow and enjoy the process :) You'll surely enjoy the result, too! ;)

Ingredients for about 20 cookies:

- 200g flour (you might need more if the dough ends up too soft like mine)⠀

- 100g powdered sugar ⠀

- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence⠀

- 100g almond flour ⠀

- 150g soft butter (room temperature) ⠀

- 2 eggs (1 whole egg + 1 egg yolk) ⠀

- a pinch of cinnamon powder ⠀

- 200g plum jam

- coarsely chopped hazelnuts, almonds or walnuts (I used walnuts)⠀

⠀

Steps:

1. Using a stand mixer, mix butter + powdered sugar + vanilla until you have a foam. 

2. Put the egg + the yolk. Mix some more. 

3. Add the white flour and the almond flour and mix until you form the dough. 

4. Put the dough in the fridge for 1 hour. ⠀

5. Take the dough out of the fridge and cut it into 2 pieces. You will have to make two sheets: one for the "full" cookie and one for the "window" cookie.

6. Roll both sheets of dough for about 1/2 cm. Make sure your dough is not breaking apart. I used more flour than the recipe requested to make the dough easy to work with, otherwise I couldn't unstick the cookies from the table. So play around and see which consistency works best for you. 

7. Make the cookies using a bigger round shape and then a smaller one for the "window" of the cookie on top. 

8. Preheat the oven at 180°C, then put the cookies together. Make sure you can easily "transport" the cookies in the baking tray without breaking, then add the plum jam (be generous) and the "window" cookie on top. 

9. Brush all the cookies with the remaining egg white, then sprinkle the nuts on the edge of each cookie.

10. Bake them for 20-25 min et voila! Bon appetit! :)

Plum jam brownie muffins

 

You know that moment when you scroll aimlessly on Instagram and you suddenly see a recipe that leaves your mouth watering and you know you have all the ingredients at home? That happened to me with this recipe I found on Corina Ureche's Instagram account. It was originally posted as a brownie recipe, but since I decided to half the recipe I realized it would look better in the shape of muffins and I really like the result! It's such an easy and great looking recipe! You must try it! :)

Ingredients for 6 muffins:

- 100g dark chocolate

- 50g butter, diced

- 2 eggs

- 60g whole wheat flour

- 45g (brown) sugar

- plum jam

Steps:

1. Break the chocolate into pieces and melt it on low heat in Bain Marie (Double boiler), stirring often. Add the diced butter.  Let it cool down.

2. Mix the sugar and eggs on high speed for a few minutes.

3. Add the chocolate and butter mix.

4. Add the flour and mix everything.

5. Preheat the oven at 180°C. 

6. Pour the dough into the muffin papers in the muffin tray.

7. Level and put some teaspoons of jam on top. Mix lightly enough to add a little sweetness to the dough.

8. Bake for 18 minutes (maximum). Bon appetit! :)