Description
Delightful Christmas crescent cookies bring festive cheer with their powdery sugar coating and delicate almond flavor. Rich German traditions inspire these melt-in-your-mouth treats that will charm holiday guests and create sweet memories.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup blanched almonds
Sweeteners:
- ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar (for dusting)
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 large egg yolk
- ½ moist vanilla bean
- 1 moist vanilla bean
- 1 pinch of salt
Instructions
- Grind flour, almonds, and salt in a food processor until nuts are finely pulverized with a coarse initial texture.
- Cream butter in a large mixing bowl for 2 minutes until smooth and soft. Incorporate vanilla beans and mix thoroughly for an additional minute.
- Gradually add confectioner’s sugar, beating until the mixture becomes light and airy, approximately 3 minutes. Mix in egg yolk, then gently fold in flour mixture incrementally, ensuring even distribution without overmixing.
- Flatten dough into a compact disc, wrap securely in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for minimum 1 hour or overnight to enhance flavor and texture.
- Pulse sugars with vanilla in food processor, transferring the aromatic mixture to a separate small bowl for later use.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove chilled dough and roll into slender logs measuring 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeters) wide and 2 1/2 inches (6.35 centimeters) long. Use gentle hand pressure or a lightly floured surface to shape.
- Position logs on prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) apart. Carefully curve each log into a delicate crescent shape.
- Bake cookies for 15-17 minutes until edges and bottoms achieve a light golden-brown color. Transfer parchment with cookies to wire cooling rack for brief 1-2 minute rest.
- While cookies remain warm, delicately roll each in prepared vanilla sugar coating. Return to parchment paper and allow complete cooling before serving.
Notes
- Customize cookie shapes by gently rolling and tapering dough logs to create elegant crescent silhouettes.
- Chilling dough helps prevent spreading and maintains intricate cookie shapes during baking.
- Pulse nuts and flour together for a fine, uniform texture that ensures consistent crumbly cookie consistency.
- Vanilla sugar topping transforms simple cookies into delightful winter treats with subtle sweetness and aromatic flavor.
- Cool cookies briefly on wire racks to prevent overcooking while maintaining delicate golden-brown edges.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 204 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 75 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg