Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
In a spacious mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar. Beat on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined, which should take about 3-4 minutes.
Incorporate the egg yolk, vanilla extract, and almond extract into the butter mixture. Mix on low speed until fully combined and smooth.
Gradually sift in the all-purpose flour, almond meal, and fine salt. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together and forms a cohesive ball, being careful not to overmix.
Divide the dough in half, shape each piece into a flat disk, and wrap each disk in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes to firm up the dough, which will make it easier to roll out.
After chilling, remove one disk of dough from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured surface, roll it out to a thickness of about 1/8 inch, ensuring that the dough doesn’t stick to the surface.
Using a cookie cutter, cut out various shapes for your cookies. For half of these shapes, utilize a smaller cookie cutter to carefully create a window in the center, giving a visually appealing look to the finished cookies.
Carefully transfer the cut-out cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, ensuring there is space between them. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
Once baked, allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before assembling.
To assemble, take the solid cookies and spread about 1 teaspoon of raspberry jam evenly on top. Gently place the cookies with the cut-out centers on top of the jam-covered cookies, creating a pretty sandwich effect.
For a final touch, dust the tops of the assembled cookies with powdered sugar just before serving for an elegant finish.
Notes
Serve on a decorative platter and garnish with fresh raspberries or mint leaves.