Crescent Almond Flavored Cookies

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Crescent Almond Flavored Cookies are an almond flavored Italian treat that’s a staple for the holidays and weddings. These freshly baked homemade gems are the perfect bite of almond flavor, butter and sugar.

These wonderful cookies are nutty and buttery and a great addition to any holiday party, bridal shower or family dinner.

A close up on the almond flavored crescent cookies.

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Crescent Cookies

These Italian Almond Crescent Cookies are crispy, tender and look so elegant on a tray. Plus, they really are super easy to make. To find out more about types of Italian cookies, check out all the Italian bakery cookie variations.

If you want more Christmas Ideas to make your holiday season a little easier, check It is a Keeper for this helpful guide.

Many nationalities have there own special version of this buttery melt-in your mouth moon cookie. In Austria they are know as vanillekipferl cookies, but Italy, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, etc., all have their own version. They are usually served with tea or coffee and are a staple around the Christmas holidays.

  • 20 Minutes: Quick cookies with amazing texture and flavor.
  • Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or fridge. If you love almond you will love these cookies
  • Adaptable: Can make it low-carb or vegan versions of this sinful cookie.
  • Gift: These are great for cookie trays or cookie tins and make a wonderful hostess gift.

If you’re looking for more Christmas Cookie inspired recipes, try these Christmas Norwegian Cookies (Brune Pinner), Italian Pizzelle Cookies and Twix Cookie Bars.

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Why do you use Shortening in this recipe?

Crescent cookie on a tray.

Shortening has a higher melting point then butter does and it traps more air bubbles. Therefore shortening tend to produce a higher, cookie which holds its shape during baking. Additionally, they have an interior texture that is softer and lighter.

Ingredient Notes for Soft Almond Sugar Cookies

  • All-Purpose Flour: When measuring flour, make sure to spoon it in and do not pack the flour in, lightly scrap off the excess from the top.
  • Shortening: This in place of unsalted butter for this cookie recipe.
  • Vanilla Extract and Almond Extract: The blend makes the perfect crescent cookie.

See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

You can add more almond extract if you love almond flavored homemade sugar cookies.

  • Vanilla Crescent – Make this Vienna Austrian cookies by adding just the vanilla extract and skip the almond extract for these chewy cookies. Make sugar cookies with a wonderful cookie that look soft and tender.
  • Sugar Substitute – Use a low calorie, granulated sugar alternative that will swap out in a one to one ratio.
  • Sanding Sugar: You can use beautiful colors of sanding sugar to decorate the cookies.
  • Almond Frosting: Bake the Cookies and then cool, then create an almond frosting with pure almond extract and mix together the powdered sugar and a little milk to ice the cookies.

How to Make Almond Extract Cookies

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These are the basic steps for making almond Christmas cookies. Refer to the full, printable recipe card at the bottom for detailed recipe instructions. We love reader interaction, let us know if you try this recipe.

Mixing the cookie dough.

STEP 1: Prep

First, preheat oven to 400F and then line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.

STEP 2: Mix the Batter for Chewy Sugar Cookies

Second, in a small bowl, whisk together the dry ingredient of flour, baking soda and salt. Next in a large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or with a hand mixer beat together the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Then beat in the wet ingredients of eggs and almond extracts for 30 seconds, then add half of the flour mixture and beat until fully incorporated, then add remaining half of the flour mixture.

STEP 3: Scoop the Cookie Dough Balls

Use a cookie scoop to portion out the cookies, then roll each scoop of dough into balls and form a 3.5″ log and curve the log to form a crescent shape. Place each rolled cookie onto the prepared baking mats.

Shaping the almond flavored cookies and baking.

STEP 4: Bake Cookies and Place on Rack to Cool Completely

Finally, bake for 8-10 minutes, until just lightly golden and cookies start to crack on top and the edges of the cookies start to slightly brown. Remove baking sheet and allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before dusting with confectioners’ sugar.

Recipe FAQs about these Almond Meltaway Cookies

You can make the almond extract cookies up to three days in advance and keep the dough wrapped well in the refrigerator or in an airtight container.

Of course, however it really does change the consistency of the finished cookie. They will be flatter and drier.

Primarily these cookies are the same basic recipe and are all beloved. A soft and chewy sugar cookie are delicious

To get powdered sugar to stick to cookies, wait until they have cooled completely before dusting them with powdered sugar. Also try lightly brushing the cookies with a thin layer of corn syrup or milk before sprinkling powdered sugar.

One cookie next to a platter.

Expert Tips To Love this Recipe

These melt in your mouth soft sugar cookies are an easy cookie and a crowd pleasing recipe.

  • Toast Nuts: Toast the almonds to have an amazing flavor. You can use walnuts, pecans or other nut for this recipe. Top with a sliced almonds or slivered almond.
  • Variation tip: Chocolate. Dip in almond icing, white or dark chocolate or drizzle on top.
  • Alternate ingredient: A little orange zest adds a nice surprise. Or try adding a little spice like cinnamon to the Crescent soft cookies recipe.
  • Cool: Make sure the cookies are completely cooled before dusting with the powdered sugar or it will just melt in.
  • Frost or Almond glaze: Make a vanilla or almond extract glaze with powdered sugar for the top of the best almond cookies.
  • Chill: Chill the dough before baking so they keep their shape.

What to Serve with Crescent Almond Flavored Cookies

A wicker tray of almond crescent cookies.
5 from 16 votes

Crescent Almond Flavored Cookies

Yield: 30 cookies
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Crescent Almond Flavored Cookies are an almond flavored Italian treat that’s a staple for the holidays and weddings. These freshly baked homemade gems are the perfect bite of almond flavor, butter and sugar.
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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

Ingredients

  • 3 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 3 teaspoons Baking Powder
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • ¾ cup Vegetable Shortening
  • ¾ cup White Sugar
  • 3 Eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • ½ teaspoon Almond Extract
  • 1 cup Powdered Icing Sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F.
  • Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, beat together the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  • Beat in eggs and extracts for 30 seconds, then add half of the flour mixture. Beat until fully incorporated, then add remaining half of the flour mixture.
  • Use a cookie scoop to portion out the cookies, then roll each scoop of cookie dough to form a 3.5″ log and curve the log to form a crescent shape. Place each rolled cookie onto the prepared baking mats.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes, until just lightly golden and cookies start to crack on top.
  • Allow cookies to cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar.

Expert Tips

  • Toast Nuts: Toast the almonds to have an amazing flavor. You can use walnuts, pecans or other nut for this recipe.
  • Variation tip: Chocolate. Dip in white or dark chocolate or drizzle on top.
  • Alternate ingredient: A little orange zest adds a nice surprise. Or try adding a little spice like cinnamon to the Crescent cookies recipe.
  • Cool: Make sure the cookies are completely cooled before dusting with the powdered sugar or it will just melt in.
  • Glaze: Make a vanilla or almond glaze for the top of the cookies.

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 46mg | Potassium: 60mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 24IU | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Italian

6 thoughts on “Crescent Almond Flavored Cookies”

  1. One of the Expert Tips is to toast the almonds first. Also mentioned is that other nuts can be substituted. I don’t see any nuts used in the actual recipe. Am I missing something?

    Reply

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