The best vanilla crescent cookies are wonderfully buttery, super tender and almost melt on the tongue, without becoming dry.

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Vanilla crescent cookies, just like Grandma used to make, are a must for me every Christmas. These little half-moons are wonderfully buttery, delicate, and refined with ground almonds. Right after baking, they get their white coating of vanilla sugar and powdered sugar.

To ensure the crescent cookies retain their shape and don't break when turned, proper chilling time and the timing of decorating are crucial. The dough should be thoroughly chilled. After baking, the vanilla crescent cookies should rest briefly on the baking sheet before being rolled in sugar while still warm.

If you love crescent rolls and nutty Christmas cookies, try my delicate pistachio crescents with chocolate tipsor my Walnut hearts with raspberry jam

Why you'll love this vanilla crescent cookie recipe

• Wonderfully delicate: The crescent rolls almost crumble on the tongue when you bite into them.
• A delicate nutty flavor: Ground almonds give the dough its classic flavor.
• Wonderfully buttery: Adding butter gives the vanilla crescent cookies a particularly delicate aroma.
• Simply prepared: The dough is kneaded, cooled, and then shaped by hand.
• Store well: The crescent-shaped cookies will stay fresh for several weeks in a cookie tin.
• A Christmas classic: Vanilla crescent cookies are simply a must on a traditional cookie plate.

Ingredients for delicate vanilla crescent cookies

• Flour: Wheat flour type 405 is well suited for fine shortcrust pastry.
• Butter: Use cold butter and cut it into small cubes before kneading.
• Ground almonds: They give the crescent rolls their delicate nutty aroma and make them particularly tender.
• Sugar: It ensures the right sweetness in the dough.
• Vanilla sugar: One packet is added to the dough. Two more packets are mixed with powdered sugar for coating.
• Egg yolk: It binds the ingredients together and makes the dough pliable.
• Icing sugar: Together with the vanilla sugar, it forms the typical white sugar coating.

My tips for perfect vanilla crescent cookies

• Knead the dough only until all the ingredients are well combined.
• Flatten the dough slightly before chilling. This will help it cool faster and more evenly.
• Shape the crescent rolls to be as similar in size as possible, so that they are finished at the same time.
• Don't roll the ends out too thinly. Very fine tips will quickly turn dark during baking.
• Bake the crescent rolls only until the tips and undersides get a light color.
• Leave them on the baking sheet for two to three minutes after baking. They are very delicate straight from the oven.
• While still warm, roll them in the vanilla-flavored powdered sugar. This helps the sugar mixture adhere better.
• Use two teaspoons or a small palette knife to turn the warm crescent rolls so they don't break.

Vanilla crescent cookies like Grandma used to make

The best vanilla crescent cookies are wonderfully buttery, super tender and almost melt on the tongue, without becoming dry.

Print

Portions: 40 large

• 300 g All-purpose flour
• 125 g sugar
• 1 parcel vanilla sugar
• 3 large egg yolk
• 125 g grated almonds
• 250 g butter
• 2 parcel vanilla sugar
• 3 EL powdered sugar

Metric – US Customary

Preparation:

• Put some flour in a bowl, make a well in the middle and add sugar, vanilla sugar and egg yolks.
• Mix in the remaining flour to form a thick dough.
• Add almonds and sliced butter and knead everything into a smooth dough, let it rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Oven set to 175 degrees Celsius (top/bottom heat) 350 °F (conventional oven) Preheat oven. Line two baking trays with parchment paper.
• Form small crescent shapes (Kipferl) from the dough and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Bake in a preheated oven for approximately 8-10 minutes.
• While still hot, roll in powdered sugar and vanilla sugar or dust with powdered sugar.

large 1

Calories: 136 kcal

Carbohydrates: 13.6 g

Protein: 2g

Fat: 8.3 g

Sugar: 7.8 g

Have you tried this recipe yet?

I’d love to see how yours turned out! If you share a photo, tag me @sonntagsistkaffeezeit or use #sonntagsistkaffeezeit. Let me know how you liked it in the comments. I’d love to hear what you think. Thank you so much! ❤️

BACK VIDEO COMING SOON

Four frequently asked questions about vanilla crescent cookies

Discover even more Christmas cookies

Fruity filled cookies, spicy cinnamon cookies, and nutty crescents go particularly well with classic vanilla crescent cookies. This makes for a nice variety on the Christmas cookie plate.

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Save the vanilla crescent cookie recipe to your Pinterest board for Christmas cookies. That way you can easily find this classic recipe again when you're planning your Christmas baking.

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