Name: Grandma's Žerbo rounds – traditional nut cookies with apricot jam and chocolate glaze
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 300 g plain flour; 200 g butter; 100 g powdered sugar; 100 g ground walnuts; 2 egg yolks; 1 packet vanilla sugar; a pinch of cinnamon; a pinch of salt; a few drops of lemon juice; apricot jam for spreading; 100 g high-quality cooking chocolate; 1 tablespoon of hardened fat (e.g., Omega); whole walnuts

Preparation procedure

Preparing the dough: In a bowl mix the flour, powdered sugar, ground walnuts, cinnamon, salt and vanilla sugar. Add butter cut into pieces, the egg yolks and a few drops of lemon juice. Work into a smooth dough, wrap it in cling film and let rest in the fridge for about 1 hour.
Shaping and baking: Roll out the rested dough on a floured surface to a thickness of about 3 mm. Cut out circles approximately 4 cm in diameter and transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in an oven preheated to 180 °C for 9–12 minutes, until lightly golden.
Filling and decorating: Join the cooled rounds in pairs with apricot jam. Melt the chocolate together with the hardened fat in a double boiler and stir until smooth. Coat each round with the chocolate glaze and decorate with half a walnut.
Resting: Let the finished Žerbo rounds rest in a cool place for at least 12 hours so the flavors meld and the cookies soften.

Preparation time and number of servings

Total preparation time: 1 hour 45 minutes (including chilling)
Active preparation: 45 minutes
Number of servings: approx. 25–30 rounds

Conclusion

Grandma’s Žerbo rounds are a symbol of traditional homemade cookies – crisp, fragrant and with a perfectly balanced taste of nuts, jam and chocolate. With proper storage they will keep for several weeks, and they never last long on the festive table. If you enjoy honest recipes with soul, this one certainly belongs in your cookbook.