Yugoslavian Christmas Cookies

Yugoslavian Christmas Cookies are 3-layer bar-type cookie baked in a pan with a rich buttery shortbread base, a layer of jam, and a crunchy nutty crumbly meringue topping. They’re elegant, unusual, and surprisingly easy to make. And, they’ll be a great addition to any cookie tray!

I’m always on the lookout for unusual traditional desserts and cookies. I guess they remind me of my childhood and my family. If you share my fondness for the unique, take a look at my Ukrainian Honey Cake, Kolache Cookies, and my family’s Berliner Kranz Cookies.

For another Eastern European Christmas recipe, check out my Ukrainian Cabbage Rolls (Holubtsi).

Pro Tips for making the best Yugoslavian Christmas Cookies

These bar cookies are so much fun, and super easy to make.

Be sure to scroll down to the printable recipe card for detailed ingredient amounts and instructions.

Be sure to get all your ingredients out and at room temperature when you’re ready to bake. Softened room temperature butter will cream or emulsify better than cold butter, and room temperature eggs white will whip better for the meringue.

Chilled eggs are easier to separate than room temperature ones, so start separating the eggs first, and pop the yolks back in the fridge for another use. Make sure no yolks get in your egg whites.

Make the shortbread base

Cream the butter and sugar together thoroughly. Since there’s so much butter in this recipe, I recommend a hand mixer or a stand mixer to help you.

Add the egg yolk and salt and mix well. Add flour and combine. The dough will be crumbly.

Press the dough into a thin, even layer, covering the pan. You can flour your hands to keep them from sticking to the dough. For the pan, it’s your choice, use a jelly roll 11×16-inch pan or a 9×13-inch pan.

Make the meringue layer

You may need to grind your own walnuts. If so, pulse a scant cup of walnut halves in a food processor until they are finely ground. Be sure to keep an eye on them, as you don’t want walnut butter. Then measure out ¾ cup to make sure you have enough.

Time saving tip: if you want to use almond meal in these cookies and not grind your own walnuts, that will work just fine.

Again, make sure your egg whites are at room temperature.

Make the meringue in a large clean, dry glass, ceramic, stainless steel, or copper bowl. Plastic can hold traces of oil, which might affect how your meringue turns out, so don’t use a plastic bowl. Be sure to use a bowl that’s very large to accommodate the expanding egg whites.

Beat egg whites until stiff. Again, I like a hand mixer for this, and use the whisk attachment. Another tip I have, is to place the bowl in the kitchen sink, and that way when the splatters get out, they splatter in the sink, instead of on the kitchen walls.

Start beating the egg whites on medium-low speed, then increase to medium speed until they expand in volume and soft peaks form. Be sure to move the mixer around the bowl to evenly incorporate the sugar into the egg whites to help stabilize the foam.

Once soft peaks form, switch to high speed, and continue to beat until egg whites are glossy and hold a firm peak that doesn’t fall back onto itself.

Gradually add 1 cup of sugar to the stiff beaten egg whites. Continue to beat until you reach a meringue consistency. Gently fold in ground walnuts and lemon extract.

Assemble the cookie

Use a seedless jam or jelly for these cookies. If your jam is particularly thick, mix it with a fork to soften, or you can pop it in the microwave for a few seconds. Then spread evenly on dough. And, if you’d rather use another flavor of jam, say seedless raspberry or strawberry, they’ll work just as well.

Swirl and spread the nutty meringue over the jam. Spread the meringue all the way to the edge of the pan to help weeping when the meringue starts to “melt”. Sprinkle the chopped walnuts over the top of the meringue. Feel free to use more nuts on top if you want.

Bake the assembled bar cookie for 40 minutes in the preheated oven.

Cut the cookies in the pan while they’re still warm. Use a serrated knife and a gentle sawing motion so you don’t crush the cookies. Don’t worry about some broken meringue, it’s inevitable. Just lightly press the broken meringue into the jam layer.  

You can also sprinkle them with powdered sugar if you want.

Can these bars be made ahead?

These bar cookies are great when stored on the counter in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Layer them between pieces of waxed paper or parchment paper so they don’t stick together.

If they’re placed in the fridge or the freezer the meringue topping will not be crispy any longer, so I don’t recommend the fridge or the freezer.

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Recipe

Yugoslavian Christmas Cookies

Debi

Yugoslavian Christmas Cookies are 3-layer bar-type cookie baked in a pan with a rich buttery shortbread base, a layer of jam, and a crunchy nutty crumbly meringue topping. They’re elegant, unusual, and surprisingly easy to make.

4.93 from 14 votes

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Cook ModePrevent your screen from going to sleep.

Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Course cookies, Dessert

Cuisine Yugoslavian

Servings 20 cookies

Calories 288 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Shortbread base

• 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg yolk at room temperature
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 & ½ cups all-purpose flour

Meringue

• 4 large egg whites at room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup ground walnuts
• 1 teaspoon lemon extract or vanilla extract

Filling & topping

• 1 cup seedless blackberry jam
• ¼ cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350 ° F.

Make shortbread base

• Cream the butter and sugar together using a hand mixer or stand mixer; add egg yolk and salt and combine. Add flour and combine. The dough will still be crumbly.
• Press the dough into the bottom of a jelly roll 11×16-inch pan or a 9 x13-inch pan. Flour your hands to keep them from sticking to the dough if desired.

Make meringue

• Using a hand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until stiff. Gradually add 1 cup of sugar. Continue to beat until the meringue is shiny and stiff. Gently fold in ground walnuts and lemon extract.

Assemble and bake

• Mix the jam with fork to soften, then spread it evenly over the dough in the pan.
• Spread and swirl the meringue over the jam, and sprinkle the top with the chopped walnuts.
• Bake for about 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is golden and crispy.
• Cut the cookies in the pan while still warm, using a serrated knife and a gentle sawing motion. Lightly press the broken meringue into the jam layer.

Nutrition

Calories: 288kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 3gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 76mgPotassium: 69mgFiber: 1gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 298IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Keyword Christmas, cookies, meringue, shortbread

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