German Terrace Cookies for Christmas

The German terrace cookies for Christmas are layered cookies hence the name, like a “terrace”. It’s a simple short crust dough and you need 3 different matching sizes of cookie cutters. They stick together by using jam. It’s a classic German Christmas cookies – Happy Baking!

Ingredients Terrace Cookies

For about 25 cookies
300 g flour
1.5 tsp baking powder, preferably Dr Oetker
100 g sugar
1 sachet vanilla sugar, 8g – Find it here –
150 g butter
1 egg
jam such as red currant jelly or grape jelly – any jam without seeds or fruit pieces works well
powdered sugar
cookie cutters in 3 sizes of the same design such as stars or hearts, size of 5cm, 4cm and 2.5cm, recommended are cutters with a serrated edge, called fluted cookie cutters

SEE A COOKIE CUTTER EXAMPLE HERE

Baking Instructions Terrace Cookies

– Combine flour with baking powder, add sugar, vanilla sugar, softened butter and the egg.
– Knead until you get a smooth dough that is not falling apart.
– Roll to a ball, wrap in plastic foil.
– Place for 20 min. into the fridge.
– Pre-heat oven to 175 C or 375 F.

– On a smooth surface that is dusted with flour roll the dough and cut out cookies, each cookie needs to have 3 different layers.

– Place all cookies on a tray that is layered with a piece of parchment paper.
– Bake them for about 10 min, check that they won’t getting brown.
– When done remove from oven and place on a cooling rack.
– Spread the jam starting with the biggest size, place the smaller on top, spread again jam and place the smallest on top.
– Dust with powdered sugar.

Tips
Instead of jam use Nutella or a hazelnut spread.
Top cookie could be a little star.
Instead of 3 layers make 4.
Decorate with melted chocolate lines.