Jolly Christmas Crescent Cookies Recipe for Holiday Magic
Soft, buttery, and dusted with powdery sweetness, these Christmas crescent cookies dance with nostalgic holiday memories.
Winter’s favorite treat comes alive with delicate almond notes and melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Generations of bakers have cherished this simple yet elegant recipe passed down through festive kitchens.
These delightful crescents burst with rich, nutty flavor that signals the magic of the season.
Each tender bite connects you to warm traditions and cozy celebrations.
The gentle curve of these cookies mirrors the gentle arc of holiday joy.
Bake a batch and watch smiles spread as deliciously as the cookie’s delicate sugar coating.
Christmas Crescent Cookies Ingredient Rundown
For The Base:
Unsalted Butter: Provides rich, creamy foundation with smooth texture and helps bind ingredients together; choose high-quality butter for best flavor.
All-Purpose Flour: Creates tender cookie structure and provides necessary binding; select unbleached flour for optimal results.
Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness; use fine sea salt for even distribution.
For The Sweeteners:
Confectioners' Sugar, Sugar: Create delicate sweetness and contribute to cookie's melt-in-your-mouth texture; opt for pure cane sugar with fine granulation.
For The Flavor Enhancers:
Blanched Almonds: Adds nutty crunch and sophisticated depth; select fresh, uniform almonds without discoloration.
Vanilla Bean: Infuses luxurious, complex aromatic notes; choose plump, flexible beans with visible seeds for intense flavor.
Egg Yolk: Provides richness, helps bind ingredients, and contributes to golden color; use fresh, room-temperature egg for best integration.
Tools for Baking Christmas Crescent Cookies
Food Processor: Essential for grinding almonds and mixing dough ingredients quickly and evenly.
Large Mixing Bowl: Perfect for creaming butter and combining other ingredients smoothly.
Electric Mixer or Stand Mixer: Helps beat butter and create light, fluffy cookie dough.
Plastic Wrap: Needed to wrap and chill dough before shaping.
Parchment Paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and makes clean-up easy.
Cookie Sheets: Provides flat surface for baking crescent-shaped cookies.
Wire Cooling Rack: Allows cookies to cool evenly without getting soggy.
Small Bowl: Used for preparing vanilla sugar topping.
Measuring Cups and Spoons: For accurate ingredient quantities.
Palms or Lightly Floured Surface: Helps shape dough into crescent logs.
How to Make Buttery Crescent Cookies Easily
Nutty Foundation Carefully pulse almonds, flour, and salt in a food processor until creating a fine, even mixture.
Creamy Base Whip softened butter until smooth and airy. Blend in vanilla and powdered sugar, creating a luxurious cream. Gently fold in egg yolk and processed flour mixture until just combined.
Dough Preparation Shape dough into a compact disc, wrap securely, and chill in refrigerator for minimum one hour to develop rich flavors and texture.
Oven Preparation Warm oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cookie removal.
Shaping Magic Roll chilled dough into delicate logs, gently curving each into elegant crescent shapes. Place crescents slightly apart on prepared baking sheets.
Baking Moment Bake cookies until edges turn golden and bottoms are lightly bronzed, approximately 15 minutes. Transfer immediately to cooling rack.
Finishing Touch While cookies are still warm, roll them in fragrant vanilla-infused sugar, creating a sparkling, sweet coating that transforms these treats into irresistible holiday treasures.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Calories: 150 kcal
Servings: 25
Tips for Holiday Crescent Cookies Success
Nutty Texture Booster: Toasting almonds before grinding intensifies their rich, deep flavor and adds a delightful crunch to your cookies.
When shaping the dough, keep your hands lightly dusted with flour to prevent sticking and create smooth, elegant crescents.
For an extra luxurious touch, scrape fresh vanilla beans directly from the pod instead of using extract – the intense flavor will elevate these cookies to gourmet status.
Cookie dough can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator, making holiday baking less stressful and more enjoyable.
Experiment with different sugars like sparkling white sugar or adding a hint of ground cinnamon to the topping for a personalized holiday twist that will wow your guests.
Serving Christmas Crescent Cookies with Style
Festive Cookie Platter: Arrange these delicate crescent cookies on a beautiful holiday-themed platter, surrounded by sprigs of fresh pine and sparkling sugar crystals for a stunning presentation that captures the Christmas spirit.
Gifting Delights: Package these cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with red or green ribbons, creating charming homemade gifts that friends and family will treasure during the holiday season.
Dessert Pairing Magic: Serve alongside a warm cup of spiced chai tea or rich hot chocolate, allowing the delicate almond and vanilla flavors to complement the cozy winter beverage perfectly.
Elegant Brunch Addition: Include these cookies as a sophisticated sweet treat on a Christmas morning brunch spread, offering a delicate touch of sweetness that pairs beautifully with coffee or morning pastries.
Storing Holiday Crescent Cookies Properly
Smart Storage Solutions
Fridge Freshness: Store cookies in an airtight container layered with parchment paper between each row, keeping them crisp for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Freezer Friendly: Wrap unbaked dough tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil to freeze for 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before shaping and baking.
Cookie Care Package: Pack cooled cookies in cushioned gift tins with wax paper separators to prevent crumbling during transportation or gifting.
Temperature Tricks: Keep vanilla sugar topping separate from cookies until serving to maintain optimal crunch and prevent moisture absorption.
Holiday cheer shines through these Christmas crescent cookies, delicate Russian-inspired pastries dusted with powdered sugar. Delightful treats bring warmth and nostalgia to seasonal celebrations you’ll cherish.
Ingredients
Scale
1 cup (16 tbsps) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups all-purpose flour
⅔ cup blanched almonds
¾ cup confectioners’ sugar
¼ cup sugar
1 large egg yolk
½ moist vanilla bean
1 moist vanilla bean
1 pinch of salt
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
Preparation: Pulverize flour, almonds, and salt in food processor until nuts are finely ground with a coarse texture.
Butter Mixture: Cream butter for 2 minutes until smooth, incorporating vanilla beans and mixing thoroughly for an additional minute. Gradually add confectioner’s sugar, beating until light and airy. Mix in egg yolk, then gently fold flour mixture incrementally to ensure even distribution.
Chilling Dough: Form dough into a compact disc, wrap securely in plastic, and refrigerate for minimum 1 hour to enhance flavor and texture.
Sugar Preparation: Pulse sugars with vanilla in food processor, transferring aromatic mixture to a small bowl.
Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Shaping Cookies: Remove chilled dough and roll into slender logs, gently curving each into a crescent shape. Position logs on prepared sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
Baking Process: Bake cookies 15-17 minutes until edges and bottoms turn light golden-brown. Transfer parchment with cookies to wire rack for brief cooling.
Final Touch: While cookies remain warm, delicately roll each in prepared vanilla sugar coating. Allow complete cooling before serving.
Notes
Chill Dough Strategically: Refrigeration isn’t just waiting time; it allows gluten to relax and flavors to develop, creating a more tender, flavorful cookie.
Shape with Precision: Use consistent gentle pressure when forming logs to ensure uniform cookies that bake evenly and look professionally crafted.
Coating Technique Matters: Roll warm cookies in vanilla sugar immediately after baking for optimal sugar adherence and maximum flavor infusion.
Handle with Care: Use parchment paper when transferring delicate crescents to prevent breaking and maintain their elegant crescent shape.
Founder, Head Recipe Developer & Cuisine Specialist
Expertise
Recipe Development and Testing, Modern American and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education and Workshops
Education
Johnson & Wales University
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts
Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and global cuisines.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Program: Diploma in Pastry Arts
Focus: Specialized education in baking and pastry, emphasizing artisanal bread, confections, and plated desserts.
Michael Reynolds is the founder and head recipe creator at wd-50.com. With over 15 years of experience in the kitchen, he’s spent time working in top restaurants and now focuses on making great food easy for everyone at home.
Michael studied culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University and later trained in pastry at the Auguste Escoffier School. He knows his way around both savory meals and sweet treats.
At wd-50.com, his goal is to help you feel confident in the kitchen, whether you’re trying something new or cooking a favorite dish. He loves using fresh ingredients and simple steps that still bring out big flavors.
Michael Reynolds
Founder, Head Recipe Developer & Cuisine Specialist
Expertise
Recipe Development and Testing, Modern American and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education and Workshops
Education
Johnson & Wales University
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Michael Reynolds is the founder and head recipe creator at wd-50.com. With over 15 years of experience in the kitchen, he’s spent time working in top restaurants and now focuses on making great food easy for everyone at home.
Michael studied culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University and later trained in pastry at the Auguste Escoffier School. He knows his way around both savory meals and sweet treats.
At wd-50.com, his goal is to help you feel confident in the kitchen, whether you’re trying something new or cooking a favorite dish. He loves using fresh ingredients and simple steps that still bring out big flavors.