Chocolate-Grand Marnier Linzer Cookies

I thought it would be delicious to mix up traditional linzer cookie flavors.  I added in orange zest and walnuts to a traditional batter.  Instead of a standard jam filling, I decided to use a chocolate ganache enhanced with Grand Marnier.  The results were scrumptious! These will definitely be on our Christmas Cookie tray this year!

For the Cookie Dough:
1 cup walnuts
1/4 cup cornstarch
Zest of 1 orange
3 sticks butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar (plus extra for dusting cookies)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 tsp. salt
1 egg
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

For the Ganache Filling:
6 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup whipping cream
1 tsp. orange zest
1 Tbs. Grand Marnier

Grind the nuts along with the cornstarch in a food processor until fine. Set aside.  With a mixer, beat the butter with the powdered sugar and orange zest at low speed for 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium high and beat for 2-3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and add in the vanilla, salt, and egg. Mix in the flour and walnut mixture. Shape the dough into a flat circle.  Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 2-3 hours. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Sprinkle flour over your work surface. Divide the dough into two equal halves. Roll out the first half of dough to 1/4" thickness. Cut cookies with a 2" cookie cutter.  Space cookies 1" apart on a baking sheet. Roll out the second half of the dough. Cut the cookies with a cookie cutter fitted with a linzer insert or cut out with a 2" cookie cutter and remove the centers with a smaller cookie cutter. Bake at 325 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until light brown. Cool the cookies. Sprinkle the cooled cutout center cookies with powdered sugar. Spread the cooled base cookies with a teaspoon of chocolate ganache. Top with the cutout cookie. Makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.

To make the ganache:
Heat the cream until hot, but not boiling. Place the chocolate chips in a bowl. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate.  Whisk until the chocolate has melted. Stir in the zest and Grand Marnier.

Notes:
Feel free to substitute pecans or almonds for the walnuts.
You can substitute 1/2-1 tsp. orange flavoring for the Grand Marnier.

Come join the fun at the My Baking Addiction and GoodLife Eats Holiday Recipe Swap sponsored by OXO.