Cookie of the Day: Ischl Tarts

For as long as I can remember, each Christmas, my mother has made Ischl Tarts. Ischl Tarts originated in Germany and part of Austria, centuries ago, and were often baked during Christmastime.


These delicate cookies are labor-instensive, but well worth the trouble of assembly. It’s easy for me to say that since I’m not the one who makes them, but, rather the one who eats them. The cookies begin with a dough of cream cheese and ground almonds. The dough is then rolled out and cut into a rosette shape, half of which are cut with a central hole. These form the tops of the cookies. Once baked, the bottom layers are spread with a layer of raspberry jam, and the tops are dusted with confectioner’s sugar.

Once assembled, these gorgeous cookies are not only delicious, but beautiful. The contrast of the snowy white confectioner’s sugar and the bright red jam immediately put one in mind of Christmas.