Keep the marzipan pieces narrow and fully enclosed so almond paste does not leak onto the pan.
Small buttery squares conceal a slender almond-paste center, with citrus peel and a light confectioners’ sugar finish.
The recipe card lists measured ingredients, numbered steps, storage guidance, and a nutrition estimate when available. Total time includes the listed preparation, rest, baking, and cooling periods for this recipe.
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Stollen Marzipan Shortbread Bites Recipe
Follow the tray sizes, portions and baking intervals in the instructions below.
Total time includes hands-on preparation, required chilling or resting, whole-batch cooking, cooling and finishing.
Kitchen tools you’ll need
- mixer
- scale
- two baking sheets
- parchment
- fine sieve
Ingredients
US measures are approximate. Gram weights help keep portions consistent; spice weights vary with density.
Instructions
Prepare the ingredients
- Prepare the ingredients: Mix butter, sugar, zest, salt and flour to a soft dough.
Shape the cookies
- Shape the cookies: Divide into 48 pieces; flatten each, enclose one marzipan piece, and seal the seam underneath.
Chill the dough
- Chill the dough: Chill the balls 20 minutes.
Bake and set
- Bake and set: Bake on lined sheets at 325°F (165°C) for 18–21 minutes until set but still pale.
Cool and finish
- Cool and finish: Cool completely, then dust with the measured finishing sugar.
Chef’s Science & Pro Tips
Ingredient science
A small center-to-shell ratio keeps the cookie shortbread-like rather than candy-sweet.
Technique & texture
Seal each seam by pinching the dough gently, then roll once between your palms.
Finishing & serving
Dust only after cooling so the sugar remains white and dry.
Storage and make-ahead
| Method | How long | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Room temperature | up to 5 days | Airtight at room temperature up to 5 days. |
| Refrigeration | As described | Refrigerate only in a warm room. bring to room temperature before serving. |
| Raw freezing | up to 1 month | Freeze shaped, unbaked bites up to 1 month. bake from frozen, adding 2 minutes. |
| Baked freezing | up to 1 month | Freeze baked bites without dusting up to 1 month. dust after thawing. |
| Restoring | As described | Thaw sealed at room temperature, then apply fresh sugar if desired. |
Notes
- Scale ingredients, including US measures, without changing cookie size or oven temperature. Extra trays increase whole-batch time.
Nutrition
Approximate values per portion from the listed ingredient weights divided into 24 equal portions. Includes required fillings and finishes. Brands, unused coatings and actual portion size affect the estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is almond paste the same as marzipan?
They are related but differ in sweetness and texture; this recipe is written for firm marzipan.
Why did filling escape?
A seam or overly large center can open as the dough warms; seal the base carefully.
Can I omit the dusting?
Yes; the baked bites remain sweet from their marzipan center.
Browse more cookie ideas in the Christmas Shortbread Cookies collection.
