Walnut Crescents
In Croatia, Christmas is a time of rich culinary traditions, and walnut crescents, or vanilla crescents as they’re often called, hold a special place in festive baking. These delicate cookies are particularly popular during the holiday season, where their distinctive crescent shape embodies the spirit of celebration and are not only a delicious treat, but also a source of nostalgia for many Croatian families, evoking memories of festive gatherings and shared moments.
The preparation of walnut crescents always begins with a simple yet effective dough, typically made with a blend of ground walnuts, flour, one egg, butter and sugar. The use of finely ground walnuts is essential, as it provides a rich flavour and texture that defines these cookies. Additionally, some recipes incorporate vanilla and/or citrus zest, such as this one, to enhance the taste, giving them a delightful aroma that fills the kitchen. Kneading the dough gently ensures that the pastries maintain their tender, crumbly consistency, which is a hallmark of an authentic crescent cookie.
Since baking is a communal activity during the Christmas season in Croatia, you will always have families gathering to create batches of these delectable cookies. The act of shaping the dough into crescents is not just a culinary process, it is a tradition that brings together the older with younger generations, passing the culinary love from one to another. Each shaped piece is placed on baking sheets, and as they transform in the oven, the sweet scent of baking wafts through homes, signalling that festive celebrations are just around the corner.
Once baked, the walnut crescents are typically coated in a mix of icing and vanilla sugar, adding a touch of elegance and a wintery appearance. This final flourish not only enhances their visual appeal but also complements the rich, nutty flavour of the pastry.
Their melt-in-the-mouth quality makes them a crowd favourite, enjoyed by both children and adults alike.
Mix sugar, a tablespoon of vanilla sugar, flour and ground walnuts, then add in diced room temperature butter, one egg and lemon peel, and knead into a dough.
Shape into crescents and spread them over a lined baking sheet, then bake in a preheated oven at 180°C/356°F for 10 minutes.
Allow them to cool down to room temperature, them coat them in a mixture of icing sugar and 4 tablespoons of vanilla sugar.
Walnut Crescents
Ingredients
Instructions
- Mix sugar, a tablespoon of vanilla sugar, flour and ground walnuts, then add in diced room temperature butter, one egg and lemon peel, and knead into a dough.
- Shape into crescents and spread them over a lined baking sheet, then bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 10 minutes.
- Allow them to cool down to room temperature, them coat them in a mixture of icing sugar and 4 tablespoons of vanilla sugar.
