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The dessert, From around the world

Linzer torte

A Linzer torte is an Austrian tart made of hazelnut shortcrust filled with raspberry jam and topped with a lattice of pastry strips. For 6 people, it takes 40 minutes of active work and is made entirely the day before, which makes it ideal for entertaining. It's a moderate difficulty dessert at €1.80 per person, and success depends on keeping the dough cold and barely touching it.

I'm making a Linzer torte, the classic Austrian hazelnut and raspberry tart with its pretty lattice top.

Linzer torte
For
6 people
Work
40 min
Total time
2 h 30
Prep
Prepared the day before
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€1.80
Calories per person
480 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach

A Linzer torte is that thick, golden tart you recognize right away by its crisscross lattice top. The hazelnut shortcrust has a rounded, slightly spiced flavor from the cinnamon and lemon zest, and it plays nicely against the tartness of the raspberry jam. The texture is crumbly, closer to a shortbread cookie than a classic pie crust.

It's a dessert that belongs on a holiday table, for a family meal or a dinner party any time in fall or winter. It slices into neat wedges, travels well, and fits easily into a menu that's already generous, since it's made completely the day before and simply waits in a cool spot until it's time to serve.

The schedule

What happens when, so you can be with your guests instead of in the kitchen.

  1. The day before 4 steps, 2 h 15
  2. The same day Nothing to do
  3. Before the guests arrive Nothing to do
  4. When it's time to serve 1 step

Make the whole tart the day before, from the dough through baking, it only gets better once the flavors settle overnight. On the day itself, there's nothing left to do for this dessert. Just before your guests arrive, let the tart sit at room temperature, then unmold it, dust with powdered sugar and slice right before serving.

The ingredients

6 people

Pantry

  • Flouroften in the pantry 200 g
  • Ground hazelnuts 150 g
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 120 g
  • Ground cinnamonoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Raspberry jam 300 g
  • Powdered sugaroften in the pantry 2 tbsp

Dairy

  • Cold butter 180 g
  • Egg 1
  • Egg yolk 1
  • Milk 1 tbsp

Fruits and vegetables

  • Untreated lemon 1

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Eggs, Tree nuts

The recipe, moment by moment

The day beforeWhat's better after resting overnight in the fridge.

  1. Rub the flour and cold butter together into a sandy texture, add the ground hazelnuts, sugar, cinnamon, lemon zest, egg and egg yolk, then bring it together into a ball without overworking it. 15 min

    This dough needs very little handling, overwork it and it turns elastic instead of short.

  2. Let the dough rest in the fridge for an hour, then roll out two thirds to line a 24 cm tart pan. 1 h

    If the dough cracks, just patch it with your fingers in the pan, baking hides everything.

  3. Spread the jam, cut the remaining dough into strips and arrange them in a lattice, then brush with a little milk. 20 min

    Lay the strips on a cold baking sheet first, they move without breaking.

  4. Bake at 180°C until golden, then let cool completely in the pan. 40 min

    A Linzer torte tastes better the next day, once the hazelnut and jam flavors have settled.

When it's time to serveThe final touches, right in front of your guests.

  1. Unmold the tart, dust with powdered sugar and cut into slices.

    Lay a diamond-cut paper stencil on top before dusting with sugar for a neat pattern.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use butter straight from the fridge, taken out at the very last moment, so the dough stays short and doesn't stick while rolling.
  • Toast the ground hazelnuts lightly in a dry pan before mixing them in, it deepens the flavor without changing anything else in the recipe.
  • If the lattice tears a little, don't worry about it, baking and the final dusting of powdered sugar cover up small imperfections.

The variations

  • Swap the raspberry jam for red currant or apricot jam for a tangier or milder version.
  • Use ground almonds instead of hazelnuts if that's what you have on hand, the result stays very close to the original.
  • For kids, skip the lattice and simply cover the whole tart with one sheet of dough, it's faster and just as good.

What to serve it with

  • Coffee or black tea
  • Lightly whipped cream on the side
  • A sweet dessert wine

Storage

The Linzer torte keeps 3 to 4 days at room temperature in an airtight container, or up to a week in the fridge. It freezes well, whole or sliced, wrapped in plastic wrap, and should thaw at room temperature before you dust it with powdered sugar.

Questions about this recipe

Can you make a Linzer torte without hazelnuts for an allergy?

Yes, replace the ground hazelnuts with the same amount of ground almonds. The flavor shifts slightly but the crumbly texture stays the same.

Why is Linzer torte dough so delicate to work with?

It has a high proportion of butter and ground hazelnuts compared to flour, which makes it crumbly like a shortbread cookie. That's normal, just keep it cold and work it quickly.

How do you make a neat lattice if you've never done one before?

Cut even strips with a pizza wheel, lay down one direction first, then weave the other direction by lifting every other strip. An uneven lattice still looks appealing once it's baked.

How many slices does this tart yield?

A 24 cm pan cuts easily into 8 to 10 thin slices, since the tart is rich in butter and hazelnuts. For 6 people, generous slices work out perfectly.

Can a Linzer torte be made ahead?

Yes, it's even recommended. The recipe needs 40 min of work in total, split up like this, the day before, 4 steps, when it's time to serve, 1 step.

How long does it take to make a Linzer torte?

Allow 2 h 30 in total, including resting and cooking time, of which 40 min is actual work. The recipe is rated "medium".

How many calories are in a Linzer torte?

About 480 kcal per person, for a recipe meant for 6 people. The calories are calculated by Kiloach, your kilo coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Linzer torte cost?

About €1.80 per person, that's €10.80 for 6 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, eggs, tree nuts. Remember to ask your guests about their allergies before putting your menu together.

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