cinnamon logs & linzers

every christmas after the gifts have been opened, and everyone's stuffed themselves with dinner and dessert, the christmas cookie plate gets passed around the table.  totally unnecessary but i always look forward to it.  or rather, i used to look forward to it.  although i've been a vegetarian for 20 years and i've always avoided eggs & dairy in my own baking, this is only my 2nd christmas since adopting a vegan diet.   i missed the cookie plate last year.  and i know m missed the cookie plate last year.

so this year there will be 2 cookie plates.  i'm hoping to take on the traditional classics from my parents & aunts and win.  because winning is what christmas is all about, right?  actually, i'm more focused on winning them over. 

{logs & linzers}

first up are my aunt paula's cinnamon log cookies.  they're buttery and crumbly and messy with cinnamon-sugar everywhere.  they're pretty great.  they're also m's favourite so that gave me my starting point. i made these 2 ways: first just like the original and then i decided to try out some cut-outs.  out came my new linzer cookie cutters and away i went.

cinnamon log cookies based on my aunt paula's recipe
makes 48 logs or 24 linzer cookies
1/2 cup earth balance margarine
1/2 cup earth balance shortening
1/4 cup organic cane sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 cups organic all purpose flour
2 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
   .............................
1/4 cup cinnamon-sugar {1/4 cup organic cane sugar + 1.5 tsp cinnamon}
a few tablespoons of vegan chocolate-hazelnut spread for the linzers

cream together the margarine, shortening & sugars.  once well whipped, . gradually sift in the flour, cinnamon & salt.  mix well with a wooden spoon or you can knead it well if you want to get your hands in there.

{cinnamon logs}

to make cinnamon logs:
take a tablespoons worth at a time and roll it into a ball, then roll it out into a log.  {just squish the ball and shape it into an oval.  there's your log.} bake them at 350f on either parchment-lined cookie sheets or on bare, ungreased cookie sheets for 15-20 minutes.  i found 17 minutes perfect for my oven.  once you remove them from the oven, coat them in cinnamon sugar and then set aside to cool.  i tossed them in a bowl a few cookies at a time.  {the sugar won't stick once they've cooled.}

{cinnamon & chocolate linzers}

to make cinnamon & chocolate linzer cookies:
roll the dough out until it's about 1/8" thick.  {i did this between two pieces of wax paper because i hate washing my rolling pin.  it just doesn't fit well in my sink!}  cut out tops and bottoms for the linzers and transfer them to either parchment-lined cookie sheets or on bare, ungreased cookie sheets and bake these at 350f for 13-18 minutes.  these ones will bake up a little faster than the logs.  15 minutes was perfect for me this time.   once you remove them from the oven, sprinkle them in cinnamon sugar and then set aside to cool.  {the sugar won't stick once they've cooled.}

once they've cooled, spread some vegan chocolate hazelnut spread on the underside of the bottom {whole} cookies and the create a delicious little cookie sandwich by fitting with a top {cut-out} cookies.  aren't they dainty?

{pure daintiness}

{two ways}

i really can't decide which way i like them best.  the logs end up being almost more like a shortbread and sugar cookie hybrid {awesome} but i'm slightly obsesses with linzers lately {i can't wait to try these}. so i'll probably always end up making a double batch and having both.


have you started your holiday baking yet?  what's going on in your holiday kitchen?