Vanillekipferl (Austrian Vanilla Crescent Cookies)

Step 1

Place all of the ingredients in a large bowl and knead until thoroughly combined.  Unless you're using the egg yolks the dough will be pretty dry and flaky, like shortbread cookie dough.  Shape the dough into a log and wrap with plastic wrap.  Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 3

Cut off small pieces of the dough and shape them into crescents.  Place the crescents onto a non-stick or parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake on the middle rack for 12-15 minutes (depending on the size of the crescents) or until the edges begin to turn golden.

Step 4

Combine the powdered sugar and vanilla sugar.  Let the cookies sit for one minute and then use a sifter to dust them with the vanilla-powdered sugar while they're still hot. Let the cookies cool completely and then give them a second dusting.

Step 5

Stored in an airtight container in a cool place, these cookies will keep for several weeks.