Traditional Poppy Seed Marzipan Cookies Recipe with Jammy Middle

Sweet German poppy seed marzipan cookies blend traditional baking artistry with delightful flavor combinations.

These delicate treats showcase a rich culinary heritage rooted in central European dessert traditions.

Almond-infused marzipan provides a luxurious texture that melts effortlessly on your tongue.

Delicate poppy seeds sprinkled throughout offer a subtle nutty crunch that elevates the cookie’s complexity.

Vibrant jam centers add a burst of fruity sweetness, creating a perfect balance between richness and brightness.

Each carefully crafted cookie represents a loving connection to generations of home bakers who perfected this delectable recipe.

You’ll fall in love with these elegant, irresistible confections that capture the essence of German baking.

Why German Poppy Seed Cookies Deserve a Spot on Your Tray

• Craft Unique Texture Layers: These German cookies blend delicate shortbread with soft marzipan, creating a luxurious multi-textured treat that crumbles and melts in your mouth with surprising complexity.
• Elevate Flavor Complexity: The combination of ground poppy seeds, almond essence, rum, and jam delivers a sophisticated flavor profile that dances between nutty, sweet, and slightly boozy notes, making each bite an elegant taste experience.
• Master Artistic Baking Technique: The intricate process of creating two different cookie components- a shortbread base and a piped decorative top- transforms baking into a creative culinary art form, allowing home bakers to feel like professional pastry chefs with beautiful, restaurant-quality results.

Ingredients for Poppy Seed Jam Cookies

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy base and helps bind the dough together.
• Marzipan: Adds sweet almond flavor and unique texture to the cookie base.
• Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth sweetness and helps in achieving delicate texture.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor balance in the cookie.
• Almond Essence: Delivers intense almond flavor complementing marzipan.
• Flour: Standard base for creating cookie structure.
• Cornstarch: Helps achieve tender, delicate shortbread texture.
• Ground Poppy Seeds: Adds nutty flavor and distinctive visual texture.
• Egg: Binds ingredients and provides structural support.

• Butter: Creates rich, smooth piping consistency.
• Marzipan: Continues almond flavor profile.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps stabilize piping mixture.
• Salt: Balances overall sweetness.
• Almond Essence: Reinforces almond flavor.
• Vanilla: Adds depth and complexity to flavor.
• Flour: Provides structure for piped cookie.
• Ground Poppy Seeds: Adds visual and flavor interest.
• Egg: Helps bind and provide structure.
• Milk: Adjusts piping batter consistency.
• Rum: Adds subtle depth of flavor.

• Jam: Provides sweet, fruity center between cookie layers.
• Rum: Enhances jam's flavor complexity.

Follow These Steps for Marzipan Cookie Magic

Step 1: Prepare Shortbread Base Mixture

• Butter
• Grated marzipan

• Powdered sugar
• Salt
• Half the almond essence

Whip for two minutes. Mix in flour, cornstarch, and ground poppy seeds. Add an egg and blend until combined.

Step 2: Chill Dough

Shape dough into a disk using cling film. Refrigerate for two hours to set and develop flavor.

Step 3: Create Piped Cookie Topping

• Remaining butter
• Remaining marzipan
• Powdered sugar
• Salt
• Remaining almond essence
• Vanilla extract

Add second egg and mix. Incorporate remaining flour and poppy seeds. Stir in milk and rum until smooth.

Step 4: Pipe Cookie Tops

Transfer batter to a piping bag with a star nozzle. Pipe circular shapes onto parchment-lined baking sheets.

Step 5: Freeze and Bake Piped Cookies

Place cookie trays in freezer for eight minutes. Bake at 375°F for ten minutes, ensuring minimal browning.

Step 6: Bake Shortbread Base

Roll out chilled dough and cut rounds using a cookie cutter. Bake at 350°F for eight minutes on lined trays.

Step 7: Assemble Cookies

Cool both cookie types completely. Mix jam with remaining rum. Spread a small amount on shortbread base. Gently press piped cookie on top.

Serve and enjoy these delightful German-inspired treats!

Cookie Tips That Work with Poppy and Jam

• Select Premium Marzipan: Choose high-quality, soft marzipan for the most luxurious texture and rich almond flavor in your cookies.
• Chill Dough Thoroughly: Refrigerate both dough bases for at least 2 hours to ensure firm, precise cutting and prevent spreading during baking.
• Master Precise Piping: Use a steady hand and consistent pressure when piping the star-topped cookies to create uniform, elegant shapes.
• Control Baking Temperature: Watch cookies closely to prevent over-browning, aiming for a delicate, pale golden finish that preserves their delicate texture.
• Handle Jam Carefully: Whisk jam until smooth and apply sparingly to prevent overwhelming the subtle marzipan and poppy seed flavors.

Store and Serve German Marzipan Cookies Well

• Refrigerate: Place cookies in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers. Store up to 5 days in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and prevent crumbling.
• Freeze: Wrap individual cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 weeks without jam filling to preserve texture and prevent sogginess.
• Restore Crispness: Warm refrigerated or thawed cookies in oven at 150°C (300°F) for 3-4 minutes before serving to revive their original crisp shortbread texture and enhance flavor.

Pairing German Cookies with Drinks or Desserts

• Sip Sweet Almond Liqueur: Pair these delicate German poppy seed marzipan cookies with an almond-based liqueur like Disaronno to enhance the nutty marzipan and almond essence flavors.
• Brew Delicate Earl Grey: Complement the cookies' subtle sweetness and poppy seed texture with a light, fragrant Earl Grey tea that offers bergamot notes and gentle tannins.
• Create Coffee Contrast: Serve alongside a smooth cappuccino or mild espresso, which will cut through the cookie's richness and highlight its delicate shortbread base and jam filling.
• Match Fruity Prosecco: A light, sparkling Italian prosecco with hints of apple and pear works beautifully with the jam's sweetness and the cookie's complex flavor profile.

Variations to Try on Classic German Cookies

• Nutty Crunch Upgrade: Replace ground poppy seeds with finely chopped almonds or hazelnuts for added texture and rich, nutty flavor. Adjust dry ingredient ratios to maintain cookie consistency.
• Chocolate Raspberry Remix: Swap jam with melted dark chocolate mixed with raspberry puree. Drizzle chocolate between cookie layers for a decadent, intense taste experience.
• Citrus Zest Spin: Incorporate orange or lemon zest into both shortbread and piped layers. Add a splash of corresponding liqueur to enhance the bright, fresh citrus notes throughout the cookie.
• Spiced Winter Edition: Mix warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger into the dough. Use a spiced plum or apple butter instead of traditional jam for a cozy, seasonal variation.

German Poppy Seed Marzipan Cookies with Jam Filling Recipe

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4.6 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 48 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Festive German cookies blend almond marzipan with sweet jam in a delightful holiday treat. Delicate poppy seed edges and rich marzipan create a perfect balance of texture and flavor that will transport you to a charming European bakery.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 500 g (17.6 ounces) flour
• 350 g (12.3 ounces) softened butter
• 150 g (5.3 ounces) marzipan
• 150 g (5.3 ounces) finely ground poppy seeds

Sweeteners and Binding Ingredients:

• 155 g (5.5 ounces) powdered sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons rum (optional)
• 1–2 tablespoons milk

Flavor Enhancers and Filling:

• 50 g (1.8 ounces) cornstarch
• 1 pinch salt
• 12 drops almond essence
• 200 g (7 ounces) jam (your favorite flavor)

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Instructions

1. Craft the poppy seed shortbread foundation by grating marzipan and blending it with softened butter until silky and uniform.
2. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, salt, and half the almond essence, whipping the mixture to achieve a light, creamy consistency.
3. Sift together flour, cornstarch, and ground poppy seeds, creating a delicate dry ingredient blend.
4. Introduce an egg into the butter mixture, then fold in the dry ingredients until a cohesive dough forms.
5. Wrap the dough in cling film, shape into a compact disk, and allow to rest in the refrigerator for two hours for optimal texture.
6. Preheat the oven to 190°C and prepare parchment-lined baking sheets.
7. For the piped topping, cream the remaining butter and marzipan until smooth and fluffy.
8. Blend in powdered sugar, a hint of salt, remaining almond essence, and vanilla extract.
9. Whisk in the second egg, ensuring a uniform, glossy mixture.
10. Fold in the remaining flour and ground poppy seeds, then incorporate milk and rum to create a silky piping batter.
11. Transfer the batter to a star-tipped piping bag and delicately pipe elegant circular shapes onto the prepared parchment.
12. Freeze each tray briefly for 8 minutes to stabilize the piped designs.
13. Bake the piped cookies for 10 minutes, maintaining their pale, tender appearance.
14. Roll out the chilled shortbread dough and cut matching rounds using the same cookie cutter.
15. Bake the shortbread bases at 175°C for 8 minutes until lightly set.
16. Allow all cookies to cool completely.
17. Whisk jam with remaining rum to create a glossy, spreadable filling.
18. Spread a small amount of rum-infused jam on each shortbread base.
19. Gently position the piped cookie on top, pressing lightly to secure the delicate sandwich.

Notes

• Chill the dough thoroughly to ensure a firm, easy-to-handle texture that prevents spreading during baking.
• Use high-quality marzipan and fresh ground poppy seeds for the most authentic and rich German cookie flavor.
• Freezing the piped cookie tops before baking helps maintain their delicate star-shaped pattern and prevents excessive spreading.
• Select a smooth, seedless jam with complementary flavors like raspberry or apricot to enhance the cookie’s delicate marzipan taste.
• Work quickly when assembling the cookies to keep the jam and cookie layers clean and precise.
• Store these delicate cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain their crisp texture and flavor.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 18 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: German

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 192
• Sugar: 7 g
• Sodium: 0.3 g
• Fat: 10.5 g
• Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 1.2 g
• Protein: 2.8 g
• Cholesterol: 35 mg