Linzer Torte, the Pride of Austria

With a shortbread crust filled with fruit preserves and nuts. Topped with a lattice crust, it is the oldest pie in the world named after a city and a popular holiday treat in Austria.

Its origination is unknown however there are legends that the recipe was created by a Viennese baker named Linzer who mass-produced it in the late 1800’s in the city of Linz.

An original recipe from 1656 was actually found in 2005 in a library in Upper Austria. 

Where or whenever it originated, the dish became a popular enjoyment in the late 1600s when Linz was at the center of trade along the Danube River. 

Following is our version of the famed Linzer Torte pie.

Ingredients

  • 2 sticks butter
  • 2 cups flour
  • 4 oz icing sugar
  • 1 1/3 cup of ground hazelnuts (or almonds)
  • 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • Lots of ground cinnamon
  • A pinch of ground cloves
  • A pinch of salt
  • Grated lemon rind or lemon juice
  • Wafers for layering, to taste
  • Egg for coating
  • Redcurrant jam for coating
  • Butter for the mold
  • Flaked almonds, to taste
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Grease a suitably sized spring form cake tin
  3. In a bowl place the flour and slice the butter into cubes, and rub between the fingers into the flour to create a light crumb.
  4. Flavor with the cinnamon, a pinch of ground cloves and a little salt, together with the lemon rind or lemon juice and ground nuts.
  5. Form until a smooth pastry, and shape into a ball.
  6. Cover with plastic wrap, and leave to rest in a cool place for approx. 30 minutes.
  7.  Dust the cake tin with breadcrumbs to prevent the dough from sticking.
  8. Press a little over half of the dough onto the base of the tin using your knuckles.
  9. Shape the remaining dough into several small rolls (for the lattice) and one thicker roll (for the edge).
  10. Coat with smoothly stirred jam, leaving about half an inch all around for the edge.
  11. Place the thicker roll into the tin as the border and press down gently. Use the thinner rolls to create a lattice. Sprinkle with flaked almonds to taste.
  12. Coat the dough with a beaten egg and bake in the preheated oven for 50 – 60 minutes.
  13. Take out the tart, and leave to cool.
  14. Dust with powdered sugar.

If you prefer to sample the famous dish while visiting Linz. The k.u.k. Hofbäckerei Café is known for having the oldest recipe and one of the best Tortes in Linz. 

Linz can be visited on an Upper Danube river cruise itinerary. Discover more about cruising the Danube from the BucketList website.