Christmas Bakery: Vanilla Kipferl
A German classic!
Christmas is around the corner and I am happy to share one of my favorite holiday cookie recipes - a true classic in my family, and a dear childhood memory of mine.
Yes, there are so many recipes out there and everyone loves their special cookie, but let me tell you: you don’t need to bake 100 different cookies. This is recipe is a keeper and so delicious.
This cookie is literally fingerlicking good, because afterwards your fingers will be covered and taste like rich vanilla sugar - so good! In Germany we call this Christmas Cookie "Vanille Kipferl" - basically a vanilla flavored shaped moon. Since your girl is very lazy this year, I decided to shape round Kipferl, which saves a lot of time and also I can make sure they all look more alike.
Nuts and velvety vanilla powdered sugar, what else do we need to feel merry?
Let's get busy!
VANILLA KIPFERL
YOU NEED 200g soft butter + 75g powdered sugar + 2 packages vanilla sugar + 1 egg + 180g flour + 200g grounded almonds
for the allround topping 2 packages of vanilla sugar (16g) + 50g sugar + 125g powdered sugar
1. Mix the butter and the powdered sugar + vanilla sugar to a creamy consistency and then add the egg. Keep on stirring.
2. In a second bowl mix the flour with the grounded almonds (you can surely use hazelnuts or other favorite nuts). Then, add the dry ingredients to your wet ingredients!
3. Now when everything is blended well (dough shouldn't be too wet), kneed the dough to a 3cm thick sausage and put it in the fridge to let it cool down, which is better for the preparation later.
4. After 1-2 hours, you can get the cookie dough out of the fridge and put flour on your working surface. Yes, it's time to get dirty.
5. Take a knife and cut 1cm thick bits off your sausage.
6. Prepare a baking sheet and start shaping your cookie bits to moons - place them on your baking sheet with a little space in between. If you feel lazy like me, shape your Kipferl like little balls by rolling the dough between your hands.
7. Bake the Vanille Kipferl for 12 minutes at 180°C. Cookies are done when they get a slight brown and golden color at the edges.
8. While the cookies are baking, prepare a bowl mixed with vanilla sugar, sugar, and powdered sugar. As soon as the cookies are done, dip them into the sugar mixture and cover the whole cookie with a sugar cloud. It has to be done while the cookies are hot, because that's when the sugar sticks the best.
I love this recipe not only because you can be very creative here when shaping the cookie, but you can also play with the flavors! One of my favorite little secrets on how to upgrade this cookie is by adding 1-2 teaspoons of matcha powder to the dough, depending on how strong you like the matcha taste. They will slightly be light green then and with the vanilla dust around, the cookie’s flavor will be enhanced. A matcha latte in a cookie form. Try it!
If you are team coffee, then just one simple tip for the coffee lovers: either way add a bit of coffee to the dough or when eating the cookie, dip it into your cup of coffee. The cookie is so good for soaking up the coffee flavor and I promise that your mouth will fall in love with this sensation.
All in all, a big win!
Happy baking and if you feel extra fancy, gift them to your loved ones.
They will love this gift!
*Boys and girls, write down the new vocabulary you have learned today: Vanille — vanilla. GERMAN LESSON #87