I can only concentrate on one thing today.
“What’s that?” you ask? (Can you have two question marks in the same sentence? I’m thinking no.)
Anyway.
I’ll tell you. These.
Oh my heavens. My attempt at making vegan linzer tart cookies worked! It was a resounding success!
Have to say, it was a messy process, but it was worth it. So worth it that I’ll probably bake a batch to take over to The Boy’s house on Christmas. This will be in addition to baking the annual Christmas Coffee Cake on Christmas Eve.
One of these guys is missing some confectioner’s sugar due to what looks suspiciously like my finger getting in the way. We each had one last night and promptly reached Nirvana.
Next time, I’ll make them with a smaller-sized cookie cutter. These are almost too big. That way, I’ll get more cookies. I also know now how thick to roll the dough; first couple of cookies were too thin.
This has always been one of my favorite cookies. In fact, when I used to work part-time at my friend Heidi’s now defunct shop, I would consistently trot across the street to the bakery and buy one of these.
I’m chuffed.
The recipe is courtesy of Chef Linda who works with the Catskill Animal Sanctuary, an organization we support. In fact, I just renewed our membership. Here’s the link. They have a whole list of Christmas cookies that have been ‘veganized.’ And let me tell you, no one would have the slightest inkling that these are vegan. I guarantee it.
We are due for some snow and ice tonight, so I’m going to go out and buy the ingredients for the coffee cake so I have them on hand. I might take a run to my favorite antique shop. Just because.
And it just might snow on Christmas Eve night. At least, that’s what yesterday’s weather report predicted.
I call this “Early Morning Glow of the Lights from the Christmas Tree and the iPhone.”
Happy Friday.
They look fabulous!
Have a wonderful day!
Thank you, Debbie!
The cookies look fabulous! I’m not sure I’ve ever had a Linzer Tort but should remedy that don’t you think?? (2 questions marks) Busy weekend as Blake and Sara celebrate 11 years of marriage and I get to play with the Grands! I’m counting the days until Ashleigh is home. I feel so blessed this year. Have a fun day and yes the antique store just because! Hugs!
You should definitely remedy that. They are incredible! So glad your family will be together for the holidays, Linda! xo
Why not two question marks?? Those cookies/tarts look wonderful. I made a big batch of sour cream cookies last night…they are our families favorite. And, yes to the antique mall…always yes! I bought myself a vintage brass Reindeer and sled…it’s only about 8” long, but what a treasure. I figured I deserved it… just because. We didn’t get the snow we were promised…so it looks like a green Christmas for us, sigh. Enjoy your day! ;)
Just because, indeed. I may find a ‘just because’ today. Fingers crossed!
Fingers crossed for you! ;)
xo
those cookies look wonderful! and it’s equally wonderful that those cookies are vegan!
good luck getting around with the snow and ice. we had a little bit of snow last night and there are slick spots on the streets this morning. that’s enough “winter” for me! and though i wish it would stay lighter out later in the evenings, in winter i do enjoy sitting in the dark looking at lights from decorations.
hope you have a great weekend and merry Christmas!
kathy in iowa
I try to avoid slippery roads, which is easier, I know, because I don’t have work 9-5. My favorite time to look at the lights is in the early morning when we first get up. I really love that time because it’s usually a quiet time for us. Merry Christmas, Kathy!
oh YUM!
and I love that last picture of don and the tree.
and to think! maybe snow on Christmas Eve.
it just doesn’t get much cozier or better.
we’ve been told we just might get some ourselves!
it usually comes as a layer of ice first though… so holding our breath and prayers
for just the good fluffy stuff.
Hopefully just the fluffy, picture-perfect stuff, Tammy.
Those pictures of the cookies could be in a food magazine! They look wonderful. Glad that the veganizing worked!
Trying to wrap up all the last minute details seems to now take days and not minutes. My husband just ran to do a few errands and I am sitting here with my feet up next to the tree getting ready to get at the next things to check off of the never-ending To Do list.
The snow they were predicting never came. It is supposed to be quite cold by Christmas Day, but we will likely have a greenish-brown Christmas this year. I truly cannot remember the last time that happened!! I hope you have a good Friday and maybe find something special for you!
We were both out today running errands. Buying food to prepare for our share of Christmas dinner at Rick and Doug’s. Buying ingredients for the coffee cake, etc., etc.!
It’s very cold and damp here today, Chris!
Ummmm. Cookies and coffee cake! Hope the snowfall is beautiful and not messy…..enjoy in that cozy cottage of yours.
I hope so, too!
Oh, if you had snow on Christmas Eve, wouldn’t it be magical…
We had frost here in SoCalif last night; birdbaths (and water in the garden hoses) frozen this morning; my feet crunched on icy grass/lawn. Yet we’re supposed to be 80 degrees on Christmas Day. Yuck. I wish the drop to ‘cold’ could help with the wildfires but they say it doesn’t make much diff. (We’re at 65% containment on the fire; yay.)
The only linzer cookies I know come from Pepperidge Farm; pretty-darn good but yours look bigger and better.
Trust me, though I like Pepperidge Farm stuff, it doesn’t come close to these!
I’d say job well done on the cookies! They are beautiful. I was a bit surprised that they contained no hazelnuts, though, as that’s what’s traditional. But who is a stickler for tradition? Certainly not moi. Your whole place looks pretty cozy and festive! Fingers crossed for Christmas snow.
I’ve never, ever had a linzer tart cookie with hazelnuts! I would know, because I don’t like hazelnuts. I don’t think they make them that way around here. This recipe has almond extract which, to me, is just perfect.
Yes, well they are ground into a meal, so unless you are very persnickety about them you probably wouldn’t notice. Some versions do use almond meal, though.
Well, I am persnickety about them!! xo
Merry Christmas Claudia and Don! May your day be filled with love, hope, and peace.
I have always wanted to try making Linzer cookies. However, I am the world’s worst cookie baker.
We had rain the other day, and snow that night. By Sunday our temps will be in the single digits with wind chills at -25 to -40. I am staying home this year with company coming here. I am thankful for that. My car is plugged in, and hopefully I won’t be going anywhere til after the New Year.
Why not 2 question marks? People use more exclamation marks than that at one time. It is probably the most over used punctuation mark ever.
Stay home and stay warm, Trudy!
Those cookies look delicious. You did a great job. Enjoy your coffee cake baking.
Marilyn
Thank you, Marilyn!
Your cookies are beautiful and look yummy, too! Have a very Merry Christmas, Claudia!
Thank you, Judy! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
I hope that the cookies taste as good as they look!!!..How about extra exclamation points??…lol….I am trying to not go out for these last few days before Christmas…Shopping is a nightmare….looking for a parking spot is a nightmare too!…Love the picture of Don in the early morning glow of the Christmas tree…
I do, too. I love having him here as we only have three weeks left before he heads to NYC.