Nut Crescents Recipes

NUT CRESCENTS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread walnuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast until light golden and fragrant, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate, and let cool completely. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• 2. In a food processor, combine ½ cup flour with the toasted nuts, and pulse until the nuts are finely ground. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour-nut mixture and the remaining 1 cup flour and the salt; set aside.
• 3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and ½ cup sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in two batches, and beat until combined.
• 4. Roll 1 tablespoon of dough into a 3-inch log. Using your fingers, shape log into a crescent, tapering the ends slightly so that the center is the widest part. Repeat with remaining dough, placing crescents about 1 inch apart on prepared sheets. Freeze or refrigerate until crescents are very firm, about 30 minutes.
• 5. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until the edges of the cookies begin to turn golden, 16 to 18 minutes. Transfer sheets to a wire rack to cool, 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to the rack to cool completely. Place the remaining 1 cup sugar in a shallow bowl and roll cookies in it to coat completely. Cookies can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

HUNGARIAN NUT CRESCENTS

Steps:

• In a bowl, cut the butter and shortening into the flour until the mixture is crumbly.
• In a separate bowl, mix the yeast into sour cream, then add egg yolks and salt.
• Combine with the flour mixture.
• Mix until smooth and the sides of the bowl are clean.
• Form into a large ball and chill, covered, overnight.
• To make filling, mix walnuts, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and stiffly beaten egg whites together in a bowl.
• To make egg wash mix egg yolk and few drops of water in a small bowl.
• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Sprinkle granulated sugar onto a pastry board.
• Divide the dough into six portions.
• Work with one portion at a time, refrigerating the dough you are not using.
• Roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thick and sprinkle with more sugar.
• Cut into 2 x 2-inch squares.
• Place a bit of the nut filling along one end of the square and roll up.
• Form into a crescent.
• Place seam side down on a greased cookie sheet.
• Paint with egg wash.
• Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes.
• Remove from oven and cool on wire racks.

VANILLA WALNUT CRESCENTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk, sour cream and vanilla; add to crumb mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight., Divide dough into thirds. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a 10-in. circle. Combine the walnuts, sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle 1/4 cup over each circle. Cut each circle into 12 wedges., Roll up each wedge from the wide end and place point side down 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Curve ends to form crescents. Whisk egg white until foamy; brush over crescents. Sprinkle with remaining nut mixture., Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. Store in an airtight container.

PECAN CRESCENTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (170 degrees C).
• Cream butter or margarine, gradually adding confectioners' sugar and salt. Cream until light and fluffy.
• Stir in pecans and vanilla. Add flour gradually. Mix well. Shape dough into crescents using a teaspoon full for each crescent. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 15-30 minutes. Do not brown. Let cool slightly, then roll cookies in additional confectioners' sugar.

PECAN CRESCENT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour. Stir in pecans., Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into 2-1/2-in. logs and shape into crescents. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. , Bake at 325° for 20-22 minutes or until set and bottoms are lightly browned. Let stand for 2-3 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

NUSSKIPFERL (NUT CRESCENTS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Mix yeast, flour, butter, sour cream and egg yolks thoroughly until dough is formed.
• Cover and let dough rest 1 hour.
• For filling beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Fold in nuts, sugar, and vanilla.
• Roll dough 1/8-inch thick.
• Cut out rectangles about 2 X 3-inches.
• Spread with 1 t of filling.
• Roll up jelly roll fashion.
• Place on greased baking sheets and curve to form crescents.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned.
• Cool on wire racks and store in airtight tins.

PINE NUT CRESCENTS

Steps:

• Butter and lightly flour heavy large baking sheet. Finely grind almonds in processor. Add sugar, powdered sugar, flour and salt; process until well blended. Add egg whites; process until smooth dough forms (dough will be very sticky).
• Spread pine nuts on floured surface. Using floured hands, form dough into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in pine nuts, pressing slightly to adhere. Form balls into crescents. Transfer to prepared baking sheet, spacing 1 inch apart. Let cookies stand at room temperature at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours before baking.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake cookies until golden brown, about 18 minutes. Transfer cookies to rack and cool completely. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Store in airtight container.)

BUTTER CRESCENTS

Steps:

• Warm the milk in a small saucepan until bubbles form at the edges; remove from heat. Mix in the butter, sugar, and salt. Let cool until lukewarm. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine milk and yeast mixtures. Stir in 1 egg. Beat in flour 1 cup at a time until dough pulls together. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat. Cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Deflate the dough, and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces, and form into rounds. Cover, and let rest 10 minutes.
• Using a floured rolling pin, roll each dough half into a 12 inch circle. Cut each circle into 6 wedges. Roll each wedge up towards the point. Bend ends inward to form crescents, and place point side down on lightly greased baking sheets. Cover, and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Brush rolls with beaten egg, and bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.