Hausfreunde Friends of the House Cookies
Discover the sweet charm of Hausfreunde, or "Friends of the House," cookies—an irresistible German classic perfect for special occasions or everyday indulgence. These delightful sandwich cookies feature a buttery shortbread base filled with a luscious layer of apricot jam and marzipan, delivering a harmonious blend of tart, nutty, and rich flavors. Each cookie is elegantly dipped in velvety dark chocolate and sprinkled with crunchy chopped almonds, adding a satisfying texture and an indulgent finish. With simple ingredients and a touch of European flair, these elegant treats are perfect for gifting, sharing, or savoring alongside a steaming cup of coffee or tea. Effortlessly impressive yet easy to make, Hausfreunde cookies are a timeless addition to your homemade dessert repertoire.
Log this recipe in SnapCalorie
Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 250 grams All-purpose flour
- 125 grams Unsalted butter
- 70 grams Granulated sugar
- 1 large Egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 150 grams Apricot jam
- 150 grams Marzipan
- 150 grams Dark chocolate
- 50 grams Chopped almonds
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and granulated sugar.
Cut the unsalted butter into small cubes and add it to the flour and sugar mixture. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract to the mixture. Mix until the dough starts to come together. If needed, add 1-2 teaspoons of cold water to bind the dough.
Shape the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
On a floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to a thickness of about 3-4 mm. Use a cookie cutter (round or square, approximately 6 cm in diameter) to cut out shapes, re-rolling the scraps as needed.
Place the cutout cookies onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving a small gap between them, and bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly golden at the edges. Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack.
Once cooled, spread a thin layer of apricot jam over half of the cookies. Roll out the marzipan to about 2-3 mm thick and cut out shapes matching the cookies. Place the marzipan pieces onto the jam-covered cookies. Top each with another plain cookie to form a sandwich.
Melt the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water or in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth.
Dip half of each cookie sandwich into the melted chocolate and place them on a sheet of parchment paper. While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle the dipped side with chopped almonds.
Allow the chocolate to set completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator before serving. Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to a week.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3886 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 200.1 g | 257% | |
| Saturated Fat | 94.1 g | 470% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 472 mg | 157% | |
| Sodium | 64 mg | 3% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 487.9 g | 177% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25.4 g | 91% | |
| Total Sugars | 268.9 g | ||
| Protein | 56.0 g | 112% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.5 mcg | 2% | |
| Calcium | 338 mg | 26% | |
| Iron | 32.9 mg | 183% | |
| Potassium | 1940 mg | 41% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
