These delicious Gluten Free Vanilla Crescent Cookies (otherwise known as Vanillekipferl) are a delicious holiday cookie that everyone loves!
They are perfect for gluten free cookie exchanges and holiday parties...but really, why wouldn't we just enjoy these all year long? They melt in your mouth and are my kids' favorite gluten free cookie!!
If you love gluten free cookies as much as we do, definitely check out my family's favorite Gluten Free Cookies. I put them all in one handy place so you can find a fun new cookie recipe to try.
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I love this time of year when it is all about the holiday cookies. This year I have been exploring cookies from other countries and trying to see if I can re-create them in a gluten free version. Sometimes this works out really well, other times it turns into a big flop!
Mr. Fearless Dining's family is all around Europe so I like asking them for their favorite holiday cookie recipes.
What are Vanillekipferl Cookies?
Vanillekipferl cookies originated in Austria, but these crescent-shaped cookies are hugely popular in Austria and Eastern Europe. I knew this was the perfect cookie to remake gluten free because I use nut flour quite a bit in my baking naturally.
What kind of nuts can you use?
You can make this easy vanillekipferl cookie recipe with
- almond flour
- hazelnut flour
- walnut flour
(You may also like these Gluten Free Pfeffernusse Cookies or these Gluten Free Russian Tea Cookies.)
You are going to love how easy these vanillekipferl cookies are to make. Sometimes, simple recipes are the best.
Can you freeze these cookies?
Yes! You can easily make these cookies and freeze them too! I wasn't sure if these cookies would be freezable, but I put a bag full into the freezer to keep from eating them too quickly. They were completely fine. (They even taste great frozen!)
These Austrian Vanillekipferl cookies are also perfect for a cookie exchange party, or any holiday party!
Instructions:
How do you cut butter into flour?
There are two ways I like to cut butter into the flour. The easiest way is to use a food processor.
Add the gluten free flour blend, almond flour (or use a different nut flour of your choice) and butter to a food processor.
If you don't have a food processor, you can use a handy pastry blender to cut the butter into the flour.
Your flour mixture will be grainy with the tiny butter pieces. Add the wet ingredients to this mixture.
Use your hands to mix the dough until it forms a ball.
Shaping the cookies:
Roll long rolls with the dough. I would say make them about 1/2 inch thick. Break them into 3-inch pieces and bend into a crescent shape.
Baking:
Line the cookie dough up on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F.
I bake the gluten free cookies for 8-10 minutes. When they come out of the oven, move them to a cooling rack and allow them to cool. While the cookies are hot, they are a bit fragile. Once they cool they are sturdy and will hold together perfectly for eating (and gift giving :-).)
Next, roll each cookie in powdered sugar.
Do you have to roll these cookies in powdered sugar? You don't, but it definitely adds to the melt in your mouth taste and texture.
Do you have to roll in powdered sugar?
You technically don't have to roll these cookies in powdered sugar, but it definitely is part of the tradition of this cookie...and it adds to the "melt in your mouth" quality of these vanillekipferl cookies.
More Delicious Gluten Free Cookie Recipes To Try:
- Gluten Free Ginger Cookies
- Easy Macarons
- Gluten Free Butterscotch Madeleine Cookies
- Gluten Free Gingerbread Linzer Cookies
If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave me a rating and a comment. I LOVE hearing from you!! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest to see even more delicious recipes!
📋 Recipe
Gluten Free Austrian Vanilla Crescent Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cup gluten free flour blend
- 8 tablespoons cold butter
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- pinch of salt
- 1-2 tablespoon almond milk
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar for coating
Instructions
- In a food processor, add flours and cold butter.
- Pulse until the mixture is grainy.
- Add to a bowl. Mix in the eggs, vanilla, powdered sugar, salt, and almond milk. (Note coconut milk also works well.)
- Hand mix the dough with your hands until you have a stiff dough.
- Refrigerate the dough for 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Break chunks of dough off and roll like making a snake.
- Break off pieces and bend into a crescent shape. Add these crescents to a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
- Bake the cookies for 10 minutes. Remove and allow to cool on a cooling rack.
- When the cookies are cool, roll them in powdered sugar.
Notes
Nutrition
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(*Note this post was updated from a 12/2017 post.)
DebS
These look amazing! My daughter has a severe tree nut and peanut allergy. Can you make these cookies without the almond flour? Can I just sub in more gf flour?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Deb, I am sorry to hear about your daughter's nut allergies. I haven't tried this cookie with subbing more gluten free flour. It should work, I wouldn't add too much additional flour. Nut flours are not as absorbent as regular flours so you would need less of the gluten free flour. Please do let me know how they turn out.
Lucy
Do you have to add xantham gum to the flour blend ?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Lucy, the Xanthan gum helps hold them together. Guar Gum would also work. Some people use psyllium husk but I have never tried using this.
Cecelia worley
Can you use all almond flour?.... I forgot to buy reg GF flour! Can you use regular milk...forgot almond or coconut milk.
Thanks!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Cecelia, I haven't tested this recipe with just almond flour. I think you would want to add arrowroot or tapioca starch to the almond flour to make these lighter, but I haven't tried it. The milk is fine to substitute. If you try it, let me know how it turns out 😉
Alena Brenda
These gluten-free cookies are the best of healthy breakfast with a cup of tea.
Sandi Gaertner
My kids would love to have these for breakfast LOL.
Alena Brenda
LOL! the taste of our kids are similar
Sandi Gaertner
Enjoy 🙂
Debra C.
Ooh this look good! I always end up freezing cookies too because my big kid (Dan.. 🙂 goes thru them so quickly. Can’t wait to try these!
Sandi Gaertner
I love freezing cookies, and often like them frozen too 🙂