Where Can I Find Cutters In Christmas Shapes For The Linzer Cookies?

Our answer

Nigella's Linzer Cookies (from COOK, EAT, REPEAT) are almond cookies that are sandwiched with a mixture of redcurrant jelly and raspberry jam. The top cookies have small shapes cut out, so that the filling shows through.

You can get two types of Linzer cookie cutters. One type cuts out the round cookie and the shape at the same time. The other type are just the small shape that you use to cut out the centre of the top cookie and these may be called Linzer cookie cutters or aspic cutters. Nigella's cookies show a combination of star, heart and bell shapes and came from a Christmas Linzer cookie cutter set. Nigella tends to collect items such as cookie cutters on her travels and we don't know the exact brand she used. However, in the UK you can buy a similar set online (look for Dr Oetker brand). In the US there are also sets available online (look for R&M brand) which has the bell and star shapes, but you would need to buy also a regular set of cutters for the heart shape.