Monday, February 4, 2008

Viennese Crescent Holiday Cookies


This is another one taken from AllRecipes (submitted by Debby Hawkins). I’ve always thought these cookies look really dainty and festive. I’m not sure my finished product were very attractive but they were fun to make anyway.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup butter
1 cup hazelnuts, ground (I used almonds instead and ground them in my coffee grinder)
1/2 cup icing sugar, sifted
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups icing sugar, sifted
1 vanilla bean

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, butter, nuts, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, salt, and vanilla. Hand mix until thoroughly blended. Shape dough into a ball. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, place sugar in a bowl or small container. With sharp chef's knife, split vanilla bean lengthwise. Scrape out seeds, and mix them into the sugar. Cut pod into 2 inch pieces and mix into sugar.

Remove dough from refrigerator and form into 1 inch balls. Roll each ball into a small roll, 3 inches long. Place rolls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet, and bend each one to make a crescent shape.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until set but not brown.

Let stand 1 minute, then remove from cookie sheets. Place hot cookies on a large sheet of aluminum foil. Sprinkle with prepared sugar mixture. Turn gently to coat on both sides. Cool completely and store in an airtight container at room temperature. Just before serving, coat with more vanilla flavored sugar.

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