Leckerbissen zu Weihnachten / Christmas Treats: Vanillekipferl

Leckerbissen is a German word meaning treat, tidbit, or delicacy.  

Lecker means yummy or delicious; ein Bissen is a bite.  

These yummy bites are perfect for the holidays!

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Vanillekipferl originated in Austria but are a popular treat on most German Christmas cookie plates.  The dough typically has ground almonds (or hazelnuts) in it, and the cookies are dusted with vanilla sugar (recipe below- make your own vanilla sugar NOW for baking needs over the holidays - it needs to sit 2 weeks!!).  By the way, Kipferl refers to the crescent shape of the cookie.

To watch and hear a German baker make these cookies, you can watch this clip from the famous cooking and baking supplier, Dr. Oetker's kitchen. (Dr. Oetker is the Betty Crocker of Germany!):

chefkoch.de - Vanillekipferl

 picture source

Melania's Vanillekipferl - 

Almond Cookie Recipe 

recipe source

Ingredients:

• 1¾ cups flour, all-purpose
• 1 cup ground almonds
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla sugar
• 1 cup butter, cold
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 6 tsp vanilla sugar

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 300 ° F.
• Mix flour, ground almonds, sugar and 2 tsp vanilla sugar together in a large bowl.
• Cut in cold butter. 
• Quickly mix all ingredients together to make a smooth dough.
• Roll a small amount of dough into a thin roll. Cut into 2" rolls.
• Place onto greased baking sheet and form into crescents.
• Bake for 10 - 15 minutes or until lightly golden.
• Remove from oven and roll warm cookies in the powdered sugar that has been mixed with 6 tsp vanilla sugar.
• Makes about 4 dozen.

Hints:

• These cookies store very well, actually getting better the longer they stand.          

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Vanilla Sugar Recipe

recipe source

Ingredients:

• about 2 cups of granulated white sugar
• 1 vanilla bean

Instructions:

• Put sugar into seal-able glass/ceramic jar.
• Cut vanilla bean in half (not lengthwise or the seeds will come out)
• Place bean sections in sugar.
• Close jar and place in cool, dark place.
• Let sit at least 2 weeks before using.
• You can keep refilling the jar with sugar because the beans stay potent for quite some time.

Hints:

• If you wish, you can cut the beans lengthwise ... and you'll get more aroma into the sugar. You may also get the seeds in there, but if you don't mind that, it works great.

Oma's German Recipes is a GREAT resource for the best German recipes, converted into American measurements.  You can find other recipes like these there.

Don't have 2 weeks to make Vanilla Sugar? 

Order some from AMAZON:

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