hazelnut linzer cookie~ the third cookie

The third cookie for the baby shower was a Hazelnut Linzer Cookie.

Linzer Cookies are based on the Linzer Torte, which originated in Linz, Austria in the early 1700's.  The torte consisted of flour, ground nuts (usually almonds), sugar, egg yolks, spices and lemon zest that was filled with preserves (usually black currant) and then topped with a lattice crust.

These have ground hazelnuts and a raspberry jam filling sandwiched between two cookies.

I bought the unshelled nuts way back in December, hoping to make Linzer Christmas Trees.  Four months later...

The Husband likes to say I'm penny-wise pound-foolish and in this instance, I'd have to agree.  It certainly was not worth the money saved to spend an hour cracking nuts.  At least I worked out my vise grip.