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Melania's Vanillekipferl Recipe - Austrian Vanilla Crescent Cookies

Vanillekipferl are an almond cookie which is very similar to a shortbread cookie, but made with ground almonds. This is one that I had at my friend Melania's house at Christmas. Her recipe starts with one from her old Dr. Oetker cookbook. 

However, Melania loves to adapt recipes to her own liking, often making them easier than the original.

Ingredients:

For The Dough:

• 1¾ cups (228 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (120 grams) ground almonds
• ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons (8 grams) vanilla sugar
• 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, cold

For The Topping:

• 1 cup (125 grams) powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons (26 grams) vanilla sugar

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Prepare two cookie sheets, either by greasing or lining with parchment paper, and set aside.
2. Mix the flour, ground almonds, granulated sugar, and 2 teaspoons (8 grams) vanilla sugar together in a large bowl.
3. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry blender and then quickly knead it all together with your hands to make a smooth dough.
4. Roll the dough into a ½-inch thick log. Cut the log into 2-inch pieces and roll each piece slightly with your hands.
5. Place them onto the prepared cookie sheets and form into crescents.
6. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly golden.
7. Meanwhile, prepare the topping by mixing together the powdered sugar and remaining 2 tablespoons (26 grams) vanilla sugar.
8. As soon as the cookies are removed from the oven, carefully roll them in the sugar mixture. Place the coated cookies on a wire rack to finish cooling.
9. Once they are completely cooled, you can dust them with more of the sugar mixture.

Notes/Hints:

• Store in an airtight container or in cookie tins at room temperature for up to one week, or keep in the freezer.
• These cookies store very well, actually getting better the longer they stand.
• This is normally considered a difficult cookie to make! The dough can be very fragile and can be difficult to form into the crescent shape.
• You can make these with other ground nuts instead, such as ground walnuts or hazelnuts.

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Updated on November 24, 2025