Recipes, Sweet

Vegan vanilla crescents: a classic with a twist

18 December

Vanilla crescents – they are as much a part of the Christmas season as the first snow. But did you know that the main ingredient, vanilla, has a fascinating history? Let’s not only share a delicious recipe, but also explore the magic of this special spice.

Vanilla: the queen of spices

Vanilla originally comes from Mexico, where it was revered by the Aztecs as the “black flower”. Today, it is mainly cultivated in Madagascar, Indonesia and the Comoros. The plant itself is an orchid, and the vanilla pods are its fermented fruit capsules. The process from pollination to the finished pod takes several months and requires a lot of manual labour – which is why vanilla is so expensive. But the effort is worth it: its incomparable fragrance has a calming effect, lifts the mood and can even help regulate the appetite. The vanilla I used in this recipe came from Mauritius. We brought it back from our holiday and were eager to see how it would taste in these vanilla crescents.

Recipe

Ingredients

125 g wheat flour
1 pinch of salt
½ tbsp cornflour or cornstarch
75 g ground almonds
50 g icing sugar + more for dusting
5 g ground vanilla
115 g vegan butter or margarine (room temperature)

Instructions

Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the butter and knead into a smooth dough with your hands. Shape the dough into a roll approx. 3–4 cm thick and cut in half. Wrap the rolls tightly in cling film and chill in the fridge for about 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 180 °C top/bottom heat (160 °C fan) and line a baking tray with baking paper.
Remove the rolls from the fridge and cut into slices about 1 cm thick. Roll each slice into a small log, tapering the ends slightly. Bend both ends towards each other to form a crescent shape.
Place the crescents on the prepared tray and bake in the preheated oven for about 12 minutes, until the ends are lightly golden.
Leave to cool completely on the tray.
Dust with icing sugar – and they’re ready!

Why these vanilla crescents are so special

Thanks to the real vanilla and their delicate texture, every bite is pure indulgence. And the best part: they are completely vegan – perfect for anyone who loves mindful festive baking. Give them a try – your loved ones will be delighted!