**Indulge in the Delights of Almond Crescents: A Culinary Journey through Sweet Traditions**
Embark on a delectable expedition into the world of Almond Crescents, also known as Kourabiedes, a traditional Greek confection that captivates taste buds with its exquisite flavors and captivating textures. These bite-sized crescents, often adorned with powdered sugar, are a ubiquitous presence during festive occasions, weddings, and celebrations, symbolizing love, prosperity, and good fortune. With a myriad of variations and adaptations across different cultures, Almond Crescents offer a symphony of culinary experiences, each with its unique nuances and charm. From classic Greek Kourabiedes to Italian Ricciarelli and Austrian Vanillekipferl, these melt-in-your-mouth treats are a testament to the boundless creativity and diversity of the baking world. Join us as we delve into the realm of Almond Crescents, exploring various recipes that showcase the versatility and allure of this timeless delicacy.
ALMOND CRESCENTS (KOURABIEDES)
Posted for the Zaar World Tour-Greece. From the "International Vegetarian Cookbook". I have had cookies similar to these, but not this exact recipe.
Provided by Bayhill
Categories Dessert
Time 1h15m
Yield 30 cookies
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Spread ground almonds in a shallow pan and toast in a 350F degrees oven for 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned.
- In a bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy. Add the 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar and egg yolk, mixing well. Stir in brandy or vanilla and almonds.
- In another bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, blending until smooth.
- Pinch off walnut-size pieces of dough and shape into crescents. Place on ungreased baking sheets, spacing cookies about 1 inch apart.
- Bake in a 325F degree oven for 30 minutes or until very lightly browned. Place baking sheets on racks and let cookies cool for 5 minutes.
- Sift about half the 1-1/2 to 2 cups powdered sugar over wax paper and transfer cookies to it. Sift the remaining 3/4 to 1 cup powdered sugar over top to cover cookies. Let stand until cool, then store in a tightly covered container.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 122.2, Fat 7.1, SaturatedFat 4, Cholesterol 21.8, Sodium 7.5, Carbohydrate 13.3, Fiber 0.4, Sugar 6.5, Protein 1.3
KOURABIEDES I
Buttery Greek crescent shaped cookie.
Provided by Ceil Wallace
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Yield 18
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Sift flour with baking powder. Set aside.
- Cream butter and gradually add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add egg yolk, brandy and vanilla. Beat again until very light. Stir in almonds.
- Blend in flour mixture, mix to form a soft, smooth dough. Chill 30 minutes or until it can be handled easily.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (170 degrees C).
- Shape level tablespoonfuls of dough into crescent-shapes. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Insert whole clove into center of each. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until light...do not brown. Cool on rack. Dust generously with confectioners' sugar.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 193.8 calories, Carbohydrate 16.5 g, Cholesterol 38.5 mg, Fat 12.8 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 2.7 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Sodium 93.4 mg, Sugar 4.1 g
KOURABIEDES (GREEK BUTTER COOKIES)
I had to bake something from my heritage for school. So, I made this heavenly kourabiedes recipe. -Rebecca Sprague, St. Louis, Missouri
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 1h
Yield about 5 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, beat butter and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar until blended. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and baking powder; gradually stir into butter mixture until blended (mixture will be crumbly). , Shape heaping tablespoons of dough into crescents. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 12-15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool 15 minutes., Place remaining sugar in a small bowl. Toss slightly cooled cookies in sugar; return cookies to wire rack to cool completely. , Toss cookies in sugar once more before serving. Store in an airtight container, adding any remaining confectioners' sugar to cover cookies.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 128 calories, Fat 6g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 19mg cholesterol, Sodium 3mg sodium, Carbohydrate 17g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.
ALMOND CRESCENT COOKIES
Steps:
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 135 kcal, Carbohydrate 14 g, Cholesterol 16 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 2 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 49 mg, Sugar 6 g, Fat 8 g, ServingSize Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
ALMOND CRESCENTS
Provided by Richard Flaste
Categories dessert
Time 2h45m
Yield About 5 dozen cookies
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a food processor, process the almonds and sugar until the almonds are ground very finely. Cut the butter into a few pieces and add it with the motor running. Process until smooth and creamy.
- Scrape the sides of the bowl. Add the flour and sprinkle the salt on top. Pulse it just until the flour is incorporated.
- Scrape the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap, press it into a thick disk and wrap it tightly. Refrigerate until the dough is firm, about 2 hours.
- For the topping, stir together the sugar and cinnamon until uniform in color.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- Divide the dough into 8 portions. Work with 1 section at a time, keeping the remainder of the dough refrigerated. Knead the dough between floured hands until malleable. Pinch off a portion of the dough and roll it into a 1-inch-round ball.
- On a lightly floured counter, roll each ball into a cylinder with tapered ends, about 3 inches long by 1/2 inch thick. Form each cylinder into a crescent shape and place on an ungreased cookie sheet 1 inch apart. The cookies will require two cookie sheets, one for the middle rack in the oven and one for the lower one.
- Bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until set but not brown. For even baking, rotate the cookie sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through the baking period.
- Cool the cookies on the sheets for 10 minutes. While they are still warm, use a small angled metal spatula or pancake turner to lift them from the sheets and dip them, one at a time, in the cinnamon sugar, turning gently to coat all over. Finish cooling the cookies on wire racks.
- To store, place the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month or freeze for as many as several months.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 60, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 6 grams, Fat 4 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 10 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
ALMOND CRESCENT COOKIES
To me, it isn't Christmas until my kitchen is filled with these almond crescent cookies baking by the dozens. My husband, children and grandchildren all heartily agree!
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 40m
Yield about 10 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. In a small bowl, combine the flour, almonds and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture until blended. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle. , Divide dough into fourths. Roll out each portion into a long rope, about 1/4 in. diameter. Cut into 2-in. lengths. Place 2 in. apart on lightly greased baking sheets; form each into a crescent. , Bake at 325° for 14-16 minutes or until set. Cool for 2 minutes. In a shallow bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and cinnamon; roll warm cookies in sugar mixture. Place on wire racks to cool completely.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 55 calories, Fat 4g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 8mg cholesterol, Sodium 41mg sodium, Carbohydrate 5g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.
Tips:
- Use cold butter: Cold butter is easier to work with and will help the cookies hold their shape better.
- Chill the dough before baking: Chilling the dough will help the cookies keep their shape and prevent them from spreading too much.
- Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing the dough will make the cookies tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Use a light touch when shaping the cookies: Be gentle when shaping the cookies so that they don't crack.
- Bake the cookies until they are just set: Overbaking the cookies will make them dry and crumbly. Bake just until the edges are golden brown.
- Let the cookies cool completely before storing them: The cookies will continue to crisp up as they cool.
Conclusion:
Almond crescents are a delicious and festive cookie that is perfect for any occasion. They are easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste. With a little planning, you can have these delightful cookies ready to enjoy in no time. So next time you're looking for a special treat, give almond crescents a try!
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