Description
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.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg