Grandma’s vanilla crescent biscuits are crumbly, tender and melt on the tongue. With this Thermomix® recipe they turn out perfectly every time!
Vanilla Crescent Biscuits with the Thermomix®
Ingredients 0 / 7 ✓
- 70 g blanched almonds
- 250 g butter softened
- 300 g flour + extra for the work surface
- 70 g sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 200 g icing sugar
- 2 sachets vanilla sugar
Instructions 0 / 6
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1
Grind the almonds.
Place the almonds in the mixing bowl and grind for 8 seconds / speed 7.
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2
Mix the dough.
Cut the butter into pieces, add to the mixing bowl along with the flour, sugar and egg yolk, and mix for 20 seconds / speed 3. Transfer the dough to a bowl and chill for 30 minutes.
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3
Preheat the oven.
Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan 160°C, gas mark 2 to 3). Line a baking tray with baking paper.
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4
Shape the crescents.
Divide the dough into four portions and roll each into a finger-thick log on a lightly floured surface. Cut into pieces about 3 cm long, shape into crescents and place on the prepared baking tray.
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5
Bake the biscuits.
Bake the crescents on the middle shelf of the oven for 6 to 8 minutes. They should stay pale. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 10 minutes.
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6
Roll the crescents.
Meanwhile, mix the icing sugar and vanilla sugar together in a bowl. Roll the crescents in the mixture while still warm.
Tip: Want to try your vanilla crescent biscuits in a completely new variation? Roll them in poppy seed sugar instead of vanilla sugar.
Video
Nutrition per serving
What makes vanilla crescents truly melt-in-the-mouth
Three things decide whether the crescents melt on the tongue or crumble apart. First, the butter: we use it straight from the fridge, never at room temperature. Cold butter coats the flour rather than binding it, and that is exactly what creates the short, crumbly bite. Second, the nuts: the classic choice is finely ground blanched almonds, which taste mild and stay pale. Hazelnuts give the crescents a slightly toastier, more robust flavour. Both work beautifully in the Thermomix® at 30 seconds on speed 10. Third, rolling in vanilla sugar: not when they are hot (the sugar melts and soaks in) and not when they are cold (it will not stick), but while still warm after two minutes of cooling.
Our recipe compared to the Vorwerk version
Goes well with: Lebkuchen and Stollen.
Also worth trying: Vanilla Crescent Biscuits with Spelt, Thermomix®.
The Cookidoo template from Vorwerk uses almonds and rolls the crescents in vanilla sugar while they are still hot. We do two things deliberately differently. First, we leave the choice between almonds (mild, pale, classic) and hazelnuts (toastier, more robust). Either way, 30 seconds on speed 10 in the mixing bowl produces the right fineness. Second, we roll while warm rather than hot. On a still-hot crescent the icing sugar melts and soaks in. After two minutes of cooling it clings as a fine snowy coat and stays visible. The crescent shape is not mere decoration: it ensures even baking and gives you that familiar look everyone knows from the Christmas biscuit tin.
Tips for perfect vanilla crescents
Keep these points in mind to get the best results from your vanilla crescent biscuits:
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before shaping
- The crescents should stay pale and must not turn brown
- Roll the crescents in the icing sugar while they are still slightly warm so it adheres well
Storing leftovers
In an airtight tin the vanilla crescent biscuits keep for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage you can also freeze them:
- Prepare the dough ahead: The dough can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months
- Baked crescents: Keep in freezer bags for up to 3 months
Frequently asked questions about vanilla crescent biscuits
Vanilla crescent variations
Try these variations to add some variety to your Christmas baking:
- Hazelnut crescents: Replace the almonds with finely ground hazelnuts
- Lemon crescents: Add a little lemon zest to the dough for a fresh note
- Chocolate crescents: Mix 2 tbsp cocoa powder into the dough for a chocolatey version
Looking for more festive Thermomix® recipes? Here are some of our most popular Christmas recipes:
- Classic Cinnamon Stars
- Chocolate Biscuits
- Baked Apple Cake
