Vanillekipferl - Vanilla crescent

Here comes another typical recipe from the wide range of options for Christmas cookies that are baked in almost every home in Germany during this festive days. Vanillakipferl, or Vanilla Crescent have to be my favorite ones... just LOVE THEM!

They are crunchy and at the same time dissolve in the mouth. Not that sweet in this recipe, and the taste of nuts with vanilla makes them a delight no-one should miss. And they are SO easy to make! -one of the easiest cookies I've ever made!

Ingredients:

• 100 gr Flour (I used whole grain)
• 150 gr Corn Starch (Maizena)
• 1/4 tsp Baking powder
• 110 gr Confectioners sugar
• 3 egg yolk
• 200 gr Soft butter or Margarine
• 125 gr Grounded Hazelnuts or Almonds (I made them with Hazelnuts)
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract (liquid or powder)

Preparation:

Preheat the oven in 180-200°C (356°F - 392°F). Mix the flour with the corn starch and the baking powder. Sieve and pour in a bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix first with your mixer using the kneading hook in slow speed first then on the highest speed.

Once all is mix and you have a consistent dough, place it in your working table and knead with your hands until you have a soft dough, like if you were making bread. If your dough is too sticky, add some flour to your working area and to your hands and continue kneading until it is soft and not sticky anymore. You can also place it in the freezer for some minutes.

Take a very small portion of the dough and form the crescent form (or half moon) and place them in your baking plate, previously prepared with baking paper.

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes (check constantly as every oven is different).

When ready, let them cool down (I just had to get them out to our balcony for about 5 minutes, it is so cold, snowy and windy over here right now!) and then sieve some confectioners sugar over them.

Munch them and enjoy!

Bratapfel - German Baked Apple

Christmas is in the air... so here I have another delicious, easy and light recipe to add a sweet and warm note to your dinner on a special night. Even better for these cold days! (but don't hesitate, it can be made and enjoy in any time of the year!)

Bratapfel (German for Baked Apple), it is a traditional Christmas dessert in all Germany. I must confess that when I made it, it was the first time I enjoyed it! and for sure there will come many more times to do so! It is so easy to make! You only need your apples, some Christmas spices (traditionally cinnamon, cloves, ginger), raisins and walnut, hazelnuts or almonds. Needs only around 5 minutes to prepare plus 30 minutes to bake. And to accompany you can add a delicious (and also easy to make) hot Vanilla Sauce.

I changed a bit the traditional ingredients and used only almonds and not walnuts that are the most common nut for this recipe.

One more line: this time I took the photos, under strong inspiration of the new cook book from Ikea "Homemade is best". I hope you all like them and the recipe!

Ingredients:
(for 3 servings)

• 3 medium size Apples
• Some lemon juice
• 3 Tbsp margarine or butter (1 Tbsp for each apple)
• 3 tsp Cinnamon powder (1 tsp for each apple)
• 3 tsp Ginger powder (1 tsp for each apple)
• 1 tsp Cloves powder (distributed in all 3 apples)
• 3 Tbsp Roughly grounded Almonds (1 Tbsp for each apple)
• Sliced Almonds to decorate

For Vanilla Sauce:

• 400 ml Milk
• 2 Tbsp Corn starch
• Vanilla (liquid extract or powder, much better taste if you can use 1 vanilla bean). The amount you consider if you want it more or less strong the taste. For powder Bourbon Vanilla extract, I used 1 tsp.
• 2 Tbsp sugar

Preparation:

Wash your apples and dry them well. Remove the core of the Apple and make a tunnel around 2 fingers wide.

Remove one line of the skin of the apple all around its middle circumference.

Place the apples in your baking form and bathe them with the lemon juice (to avoid oxidation and brown spots in your apple). Melt the margarine/butter and bathe each apple with it. Be sure if falls on the center hole.

Stuff the apples with the grounded almonds until the half, then add the spices, cinnamon, cloves, ginger. Fill the rest of the hole with the rest of the grounded almonds.

Spread a bit more of cinnamon and ginger over the apples.

Decorate with the sliced almonds adding some on the top of each apple.

Bake in your oven at 190°C (374°F) for about 30 minutes.

Vanilla Sauce:

Mix around 6 Tbsp of cold milk with the Corn Starch. Place the rest of the milk, sugar and vanilla in a sauce pan until milk boils. Remove from fire and while removing constantly, add the milk with the Corn starch. Remove thoroughly. It will start to get thick. Go back to the fire and always moving the sauce, cook for about one more minute.

Serve the sauce and add the apple above. Decorate your apple with some more sauce above it.

Eat slowly and enjoy every second of this delicious Christmas traditional dessert!