Vanillekipferl (Austrian Vanilla Crescent Cookies)

 Crisp and buttery with a nutty, almond flavor, this recipe for delicate Vanillekipferl, or Austrian Vanilla Crescent Cookies, creates cookies that look pretty on a platter and are sure to be a hit at your Christmas party. 

Christmas Traditions In Austria

In Austria, the weeks leading up to Christmas are counted down on an Advent wreath that is made from evergreen boughs and decorated with candles that are typically all the same color (which differs from the pink and purple ones that we find typically in the States).

Austrian children get a visit from St. Nicholas on December 6th, who brings them chocolates, nuts, and oranges.

If they are good, more presents come on Christmas Eve with a visit from Christkind (a cherub angel representing the Christ child).

Christmas Eve is the main day of Christmas celebration in Austria, starting with decorating the Christmas tree with candles and sweets while singing Christmas carols.

(Did you know that the carol Silent Night (Stille Nacht) comes from the early 1800s in Austria?)

The Christmas Eve meal in Austria often includes fried carp because traditionally Christmas Eve was a day of fasting from meat. Roast apples and braised cabbage are other dishes that may be found on the dinner table, along with Christmas cookies and often a special Christmas cake.

Vanillekipferl: Vanilla Crescent

The name Vanillekipferl (pronounced VAN-el-eu-KIP-fuhl) literally means “vanilla crescent” or “vanilla moon.”

These crescent-shaped cookies originate from Vienna, Austria, where they are a much-loved, traditional Christmas cookie. They are also quite common throughout Europe, particularly in Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

Legend has it that their shape was created to resemble the Turkish crescent moon, to celebrate one of the victories of the Hungarian army over the Turkish army.

Working With Ground Almonds

Ground almonds give these cookies a crumbly texture, but they can also make the dough a bit difficult to work with.

We refrigerate the dough to keep the butter firm, and the dough will crumble as you first start to work with it, but when it reaches that magical place where it is just soft enough from the heat of your hands, you know you’re in business and the shaping of the cookies will go quickly and smoothly.

Precise Baking For Our Almond and Vanilla Crescent Cookies

Be careful not to over bake these cookies, or they will be very fragile.

By baking them just until the tips start to turn golden brown, they don’t hit that too-crumbly point.

Leaving them on the baking sheet to cool for a few minutes lets them firm up and cool just enough to be easier to handle as you coat them with powdered sugar.

What is Vanilla Sugar?

Vanilla sugar adds a distinct flavor to these cookies.

As simple as it sounds, vanilla sugar is just sugar that has been flavored with vanilla.

It is common in many European baking recipes, and can be found in little packets in the stores. However, in the States, it isn’t common to find those little packets of vanilla sugar.

The good news is, it is easy to make yourself.

How to make easy Vanilla Sugar

You can make vanilla sugar simply by mixing 1 cup of sugar with the seeds of 1 vanilla pod.

However, if you don’t have a vanilla pod laying around, you can also make vanilla sugar using pure vanilla extract.

To make your own vanilla sugar using vanilla extract, place ½ tsp pure vanilla extract and ¼ c sugar in your food processor. Pulse the two together until the sugar is evenly colored.

The sugar will now be moist, so spread the sugar on a plate to dry.

As it dries, it will clump slightly. So, once dry it needs to be returned to the food processor and pulsed a few more times until you have a fine, vanilla scented sugar.

Store the vanilla sugar in an airtight container in a cool and dry place.  (For your reference, 1 package of vanilla sugar is roughly equal to 1 ½ tsp.)

One you start making vanilla sugar, you might just be addicted to adding the extra flavor to everything from pancakes to coffee, even to sauces.

Get creative!