Almond Crescent Cookies
Almond Crescent Cookies, a must make melt in your mouth, shortbread type Christmas Cookie. Fast, easy and the perfect addition to your Cookie Tray. They will be the first to go!
It’s already October and that means, you can start baking Christmas Cookies! I like to get my cookies made and in the freezer. And yes these Almond Crescent Cookies which she always called Viennese Crescents, are another Delicious Christmas Cookie Recipe thanks to my Mom.
Every year without fail she would bake up Whipped Shortbread (sometimes she would add chopped nuts instead of chocolate chips), Classic Shortbread, Hello Dollies (or also known as 7 layer bars).
And my own personal favourite, Coconut Jam Squares, these are an amazing bar cookie. I could eat a whole pan of those ! And of course these yummy melt in your mouth Crescent Cookies.
Recipe Ingredients
- Butter – softened, I use salted butter
- Sugar – granulated or fine sugar
- Salt
- Nuts – almonds, cashews, walnuts or even hazelnuts, toasting the nuts first makes them more flavorful
- Flour – all purpose flour
- Powdered sugar – also known as icing or confectioners sugar
How to Roast Nuts
Place the nuts in a single layer on an ungreased baking / cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated 350F/180C oven for 5 to 8 minutes or until they are golden brown, remove immediately from pan to cool.
How to make Almond Crescent Cookies
In a large bowl beat butter until fluffy, add sugar and beat again until fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add nuts, flour and salt. Beat on low until combined.
Bring dough together with your fingers. Break off small pieces and form into a crescent shape. Place on un-greased or parchment paper lined cookie sheets.
Bake for approximately 15 minutes . While cookies are still warm roll in icing/powdered sugar or let cool and dust with icing sugar.
How to keep cookies from spreading
To keep the cookies from spreading it is best to beat the butter and sugar just until combined and not creamed (of course this also depends on the type of cookie), for some cookies including some icing sugar in the mixture also keeps the cookies from spreading.
And probably most important of all, is to use a higher protein flour with at least 11.5- 12% protein count.
And don’t forget to chill the dough for at least 1 hour and again the cut out cookies before baking while the oven is pre-heating. Using most of these will help produce the perfect Christmas Cookies.
Tips for making the best Crescent Cookies
- Remember do not ground the nuts to a powder, they should be chopped into very small bits. Place the nuts in a plastic bag and smash them with a rolling pin, this works well.
- Please note the amount of flour – 2 1/2 cups worked for me but it seems to be too much for most. So please start with 2 – 2 1/4 cups and if the dough seems too wet add a tablespoon (up to 4-8) at a time if needed. If you do find the dough dry work some soft butter into the dough to soften it up.
- If you prefer you can make these cookies into Pecan crescent cookies, substitute almonds with pecans or even hazelnuts or walnuts.
How to store the cookies
The cookies should be stored in an airtight container, they will keep for up to 3-4 days at room temperature or for up to 7-10 days in the fridge.
How to freeze Almond Crescent Cookies
To freeze the baked cookies, place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Freeze the cookies until completely firm approximately 1-2 hours.
Once the cookies are frozen, then place them in a freezer safe bag or container. They will keep in the freezer for up to 1-2 months. They can be thawed on the counter.
You can also freeze the cookie dough, form the dough into a log or round ball, wrap well in plastic, place in a freezer safe bag. The dough will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer.
If you wish you can form the crescents, place on a cookie sheet and freeze until firm then move them to a freezer safe container, in a single layer separated with parchment paper. They will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer, and they can be baked from frozen. They may take a minute or 2 longer to bake.
If you can keep from eating them all, you can also freeze them until Christmas. They make a delicious Cookie gift idea. And if you can’t wait for Christmas that’s ok too!
If you have never tried Almond Viennese Cookies then I am telling you these are a must try. Happy Baking. Enjoy!
More Christmas Cookies
- Split Second Cookies
- Easy Chocolate Chip Whipped Shortbread
- White Chocolate Almond Bars
- Easy Cut Out Sugar Cookies
Almond Crescent Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter* softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 3/4 cup finely chopped fresh almonds, walnuts or pecans
- 2 -2 1/2 cups all purpose flour ** (if you are in Italy substitute all purpose with Manitoba Flour)
*I use salted butter, if you use unsalted then add 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Be sure to use a good quality butter, apparently this year 2022, store brand butter quality is not what it used to be. Less fat could mean a dry not so tasty cookie.
**If you are in Italy then substitute 00 with Manitoba Flour. Flour should have at least 11.5% protein.
EXTRAS
- ¼-⅓ cup powdered/icing sugar
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C). Line 1-2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl beat the butter until fluffy approximately 2 minutes, add the sugar and beat again for 1-2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the nuts, salt and the flour, start with 2 cups and add a tablespoon at a time if needed up to 8 tablespoons. Beat on low until combined.
- Bring the dough together with your fingers. Dough should not be dry or wet, but should hold together firmly when formed. Break off small pieces and form into a crescent shape. Place on the prepared baking sheets and bake for approximately 13-15 minutes . While the cookies are still warm roll in icing/powdered sugar or let cool and dust with icing sugar. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Updated November 16, 2016.
This made 20 cookies for me. May add almond extract next time for more of an almond flavor.
Quick question on the almonds – do you measure the almonds then then grind/chop them OR grind/chop the almonds and measure out til you get 3/4 cup? It seems like there is too many almonds if I measure after chopping and causes the dough to be dry.
Hi Amy, grind and chop then measure the almonds to 3/4 of a cup. If you find it too dry then add a bit more butter. Different flours absorb differently which could cause dryness. I hope that helps. Take care!
Everyone loved these. Great recipe. Very nostalgic. Brings me back to my childhood. I make cookie variety gifts for the holidays. These are on my must have list
Hi Jeff, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed them. Take care!
Everyone loved the taste of the cookies. My question is can you make them in a ball or will they not spread. I have a sugar cookie recipe and you roll them in a ball and they will turn out to be the perfect round cookie.
Thank you
Hi Ginny, thanks, glad everyone enjoyed them. I think they might spread a bit but not much, if you do want them flatter, maybe gently flatten but just a bit with a fork or bottom of a glass. Hope that helps. Take care and Happy New Year!
Thank you for responding so quickly. Wanted to make them tonight so I may try a few flattened see how they work.
This recipe it absolutely wonderful you start eating them and you don’t want to quit.
You take care also and Happy New Year
Ginny
Hi Ginny, you’re welcome, glad you like them. Take care!
I just to make these over 30 yrs ago. The last few years I search every Christmas for the recipe for the perfect almond crescent cookie for me and my mom and this is it. Easy and delicious. Can’t stop eating them.
Hi Dorri, thanks so much, so glad you both enjoy them. Take care!
Would it be alright to use almond flour instead of all purpose flour?
Hi Kathy, I really don’t think so I tried it once with it and they really spread. 🙂
Needs 1/4 tsp almond extract
About how many does this make? I am doing a cookie exchange and want to make sure I have enough to share.
Hi Joanne, the recipe card shows approximately 40 but that also depends on how big you make them. Take care!
they expanded a lot and looked terrible – not crescent shaped at alll 🙁 tasted very nice but i suggest making normal round cookies or some other shape
Hi Juu, if they didn’t hold the shape then it was your flour, it didn’t have enough protein content in it. 🙂
Hello! These cookies are a staple on my cookie trays for Christmas. I’ve used your recipe for the last 4 years, and they always turn out great. My friends and family love them. Thank you:)
Hi Lauren, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed them. Take care!
it so crumbly the sought that normal
Hi Mary, if you find the dough too crumbly, had more butter, it’s probably your butter doesn’t have enough fat content.
Do you think they can be frozen
Hi Suzanne, yes they can be, there is are further instructions in the post and also in the recipe card. 🙂 Take care!
Can you use almond flour instead of grinding fresh almonds?
Hi Shari, unfortunately you can’t you need to have finely chopped fresh almonds, flour will make them spread too much. Hope that helps. Take care!