When October rolls in and the air turns crisp, my kitchen transforms into a little corner of Halloween heaven. Between the scent of cinnamon candles and the hum of my mixer, I can’t resist baking something that’s equal parts festive and heart-meltingly sweet. These Ghost Linzer Cookies are exactly that—a classic buttery shortbread sandwich cookie turned into adorable little ghosts filled with jewel-bright jam.
Imagine a tray of tiny ghosts, their powdered-sugar faces glowing under the kitchen light, each one layered with tart jam that peeks through like a secret. It’s the kind of bake that makes kids giggle, friends smile, and your Halloween dessert table look straight out of a cozy autumn dream.
Ghost Linzer Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup almond flour
- ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1 lemon zest zest of one lemon
- ½ cup raspberry jam or any seedless jam of your choice
- ½ cup powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, almond flour, and sea salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
- Add the vanilla extract, egg, and lemon zest to the butter mixture and mix until smooth.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until a soft dough forms.
- Shape the dough into a flat disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 30–60 minutes (or overnight).
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to ¼-inch thickness. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter, then slice each heart vertically to create ghost shapes.
- Use piping tips to cut out eyes and mouths on half of the ghost shapes (these will be the tops).
- Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets and bake for 11–13 minutes, or until the edges are just golden. Cool completely on wire racks.
- Dust the top cookies (with faces) with powdered sugar.
- Spread a small amount of jam on the bottom cookies and gently sandwich with the tops, allowing the jam to peek through the cutouts.
Notes
Nutrition
Why You’ll Love These Ghost Linzer Cookies
Every baker needs that one go-to Halloween cookie recipe that’s elegant but easy—and this one delivers every time. Here’s why you’ll love it:
1. Buttery, crisp, and melt-in-your-mouth perfection
The combination of all-purpose and almond flour creates the dreamiest texture—light yet rich, crumbly yet tender.
2. Simple ingredients, endless charm
You likely have everything in your pantry already: flour, sugar, butter, jam, and a bit of lemon zest. Yet, when shaped like ghosts, they become little edible works of art.
3. A sweet project for spooky season
Rolling, cutting, and decorating these cookies feels therapeutic—something between baking and crafting. Perfect for a cozy night in with family or a Halloween cookie swap.
4. Customizable for every mood
Raspberry, apricot, blackberry, or even blood orange jam—each one brings a different color and flavor vibe. You can also drizzle melted white chocolate over them for an extra fancy finish.
Ingredient Breakdown & Substitutions
Let’s talk about what makes these cookies so special and how you can tweak them to your taste:
- All-Purpose Flour: The backbone of your dough. For a gluten-free version, substitute with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour mix.
- Almond Flour: Adds that signature nutty aroma and tenderness. You can swap it for hazelnut flour if you’re after a toasty fall flavor.
- Fine Sea Salt: Balances the sweetness perfectly—don’t skip it.
- Unsalted Butter: Use high-quality butter for the best flavor; European butter gives a richer taste.
- Sugar: White sugar keeps the crumb light and crisp.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the aroma and flavor depth.
- Egg: Binds everything together, keeping the dough tender.
- Lemon Zest: Brightens the buttery dough—optional but highly recommended.
- Jam: The heart of every Linzer cookie! Raspberry gives a spooky red contrast; apricot or strawberry looks festive too.
- Powdered Sugar: A ghostly dusting for that perfect finish.
🕯️ Pro Tip: To elevate flavor, refrigerate the dough overnight—this deepens the buttery notes and makes rolling easier.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Ghost Linzer Cookies
1. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup almond flour, and ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt. Set aside.
2. Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, beat 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature) with ⅔ cup sugar until pale and fluffy—about 2–3 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 egg, and zest of one lemon, mixing until smooth.
3. Combine and Chill
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms. Shape into a flat disk, wrap in plastic, and chill for 30–60 minutes (or overnight).
4. Roll and Cut
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to ¼-inch thickness. Use a heart-shaped cutter, then slice each heart in half vertically—this creates your ghost silhouette.
5. Create the Ghost Faces
Use the small end of a piping tip for the eyes and the larger end for the round mouth. Gently reshape the tops to make the ghosts wavy or tilted—they look even cuter that way!
6. Bake to Perfection
Transfer the cookies to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 11–13 minutes until edges are golden. Cool completely on a wire rack.
7. Assemble
Dust the top (ghost-face) cookies with powdered sugar. Spread a spoonful of your favorite jam on the bottoms and gently sandwich them together. The jam peeking through the eyes gives them that hauntingly adorable look.
Variations, Storage & Serving Ideas
Flavor Twists
- Pumpkin Spice Ghosts: Add ½ teaspoon pumpkin spice to the dough for a fall twist.
- Chocolate-Dipped: Dip half of each ghost in melted dark chocolate and let them set on parchment.
- Ghoulish Glaze: Drizzle a simple sugar glaze for a glossy finish instead of powdered sugar.
Storage
Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Serving Ideas
Serve these cookies on a black or marble platter for that chic Halloween vibe. Pair them with hot apple cider, pumpkin latte, or spiced tea for the perfect cozy night in.
FAQs
Quick answers to common Ghost Linzer Cookies questions. Tap to expand.
1) Can I make Ghost Linzer Cookies ahead of time?
2) What kind of jam works best for Linzer cookies?
3) How do I keep Linzer cookies from getting soggy?
4) Can I freeze Ghost Linzer Cookies?
A Cozy Bite of Halloween Magic
When the kitchen fills with the scent of butter and lemon zest, and a tray of tiny ghost cookies cools on the counter, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped right into your own fall fairytale. They’re whimsical, nostalgic, and impossible not to smile at.
Looking for more cozy fall treats? Explore these favorites from My Flavor Recipes:
Pumpkin Blondies
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