Ischler – Austrian Shortbread, Chocolate & Apricot

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These Ischler Törtchen, as they are called in Austria, are a chocolate covered almond shortbread with apricot filling! The chocolate and apricot pair beautifully together!

Another cookie Mom and I have been making for eons are Ischler Tortelettes. They have such a gorgeous flavor and texture.

I literally have to threaten my teenagers with a swift death, if they steal any out of the freezer! There is a really good reason for that! Read on!

I recall one year when my eldest son was in high school, I made a triple batch. Now keep in mind this took 8-10 hours to accomplish such a feat.

I was running out of freezer space and being that it was very cold that year, I was using the front porch for added freezer space!

On Christmas Eve I was making cookie plates for friends and family. I grabbed the cookie tin marked Ischlers and it was amazingly light!

I think he probably left 5 in a tin that had once held about 50 cookies. That’s one small indication of just how addictive these cookies are! (Lucky for him I had another tin!)

History of the Ischler

As with many vintage recipes, there is some debate over it’s origins, depending on who you read. Most agree that it is named after the small Austrian village of Bad Ischl.

It is said that the proprietor of a bakery in the spa town, Johann Zauner, developed the recipe for Franz Joseph I, Austrian emperor in the mid 1800’s.

Debate over fillings

Again, as with many vintage recipes, there is debate over what these confections were filled with.

Some maintain they should be filled with a chocolate cream. Others are of the thought they should have jam filling, such as sour cherry, raspberry, or apricot. Then dipped in, or frosted with chocolate.

The recipe we originally found was filled with apricot and frosted with semi-sweet chocolate, so that is the recipe we still use today.

What you need

For cookie

• ground almonds
• flour
• sugar
• baking powder
• butter
• lemon zest
• lemon juice
• salt

For filling and glaze

• apricot jam
• semisweet chocolate, baking chocolate melts better than chips
• butter
• almond slices, for garnish

How to make them

1. Place all ingredients in large mixing bowl.
2. Mix with hands to incorporate all ingredients.
3. Form a smooth dough. Wrap in plastic or waxed paper. Refrigerate overnight.
4. Roll dough to 1/8″ thick on floured board.
5. Cut out 1.5″ or 2″ rounds, between waxed paper. See recipe notes for important tips.
6. Place cookies on parchment lined baking sheet. They can be placed close, since they don’t rise too much.
7. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes until very lightly browned. Don’t over brown, or they will taste burned. <h3>To assemble cookies</h3>
8. Match up tops and bottoms.
9. Fill with a bit of apricot jam. Top with another cookie.
10. Melt chocolate and butter in double boiler, or in microwave in 15 second bursts, stirring between bursts. Don’t get chocolate too hot ot it will seize up.

Frost top of cookie with a layer of chocolate. Decorate with slivered almonds. Allow cookies to dry on cooling rack for at least a couple hours.

Pro tips

• Dough is best made by hand. The mixer over mixes the dough, and it may end up tough.
• Dough should be really cold. Then let a small piece sit out of the refrigerator, and then roll.
• Roll dough between pieces of waxed paper.
• Before cutting, loosen both of the dough from the waxed paper. To do this, gently peel off the paper from one side of the dough. Then replace the paper and gently flip over. Loosen the other piece of waxed paper, then cut out shapes.
• Bake cookies on silpat, parchment paper, or greased and floured baking sheet.
• Let cool just a few minutes, before removing from sheet, after baking.
• Cool on wire racks.
• Since the dough is so short, you usually end up with a few random shapes. Match a top cookie to a bottom before filling and icing.
• Thin cookies are quite fragile, handle gently.
• Don’t overfill with jam, or it spills out the sides.
• Do not overheat chocolate, because it can seize.
• If chocolate becomes seized, add a little more butter, or better yet, warm water, a few drops at a time.

How to store

Store between pieces of waxed paper in an air tight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week. Can be stored in freezer for about 1 month, longer, if they are tightly wrapped (and last that long).

Tools I Use

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• Marble rolling pin
• marble board
• baking sheets
• cutters

What are your favorite Christmas, or holiday cookies?

In our family, everyone has a different favorite cookie! These Ischlers, Jam Filled Cookies, Christmas Cut Out Cookies and Hildabrötchen are a few, we are obligated to make, to keep the family happy.

These are by no means difficult but they do take quite a bit while to make. For a single batch, about 2-3 hours, with drying time, depending on how big your cutter is. 2″ cookies are made much faster.

I hope you enjoyed the post today for these delicious Ischler Tortelettes! Give them a try and let me know what you think!

Enjoy! And have fun cooking!

Originally Published 12/14/2014

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