answer:I looked at five different sources all of which say the cookie originated in Austria (the city of Linz). The traditional Austrian cookie was made with black currant jam. ” Linzer cookies employ the same recipe as the Linzertorte but instead the dough is cut into cookies and two of them form a sandwich around the preserves. Moreover, the top cookie has a small cutout in its center (known as Linzer eyes), thus exposing the underlying jam and adding to the visual appeal. While the traditional cutout is circular, all sorts of shapes, such as hearts, are also popular. ” Food Reference