And we have just celebrated the 2. Advent. Today we decorated a “mini Christmas” tree. We ate some Mincepies and we listened to more Christmas Music. Advent is a great time to get together as a family, to read stories and play games. Today we share another festive Christmas biscuit – The Husarenkrapfen!
I think in many parts of the world these are called “Thumbprint Cookies“.
Husaren Krapfen
Another little “Austrian” classic, the Husren Krapfen, this in essence is a ” Butter cookie” with jam. When I think of a plate of Christmas cookies, I always think “you need at least one if not two sorts of jam”.
Baking With Kids
What I like about this cookie is that children can help – as you form little balls and the squish a dimple in it for the jam.
Young kids: get them them forming the dough balls and thumbprints. My kids did this from about 3yrs old.
Middle aged kids: get them crumbling the butter and flour.. then take over and mix the rest to make a smooth dough.
Older kids (11yrs+) : can make the whole cookie by themselves. Though I do usually help with adding the jam!
Here we go:
Husarenkraphen Ingredients:
- 250g plain flour
- 180g unsalted butter – at room tempature
- a pinch of salt (you can use salted butter instead, but to me salted butter always has too much salt in it.. so I prefer to unsalted for all our bakes)
- 50g of ground almonds
- 2 egg yolks (save the egg whites for chocolate meringues)
- 100g icing sugar
- Apricot or strawberry jam for filling
Method
Crumble flour and butter (+salt), add almonds, add yolks and sugar and knead until you have a smooth dough.
Cool in fridge for 20-30min – this really is key if you which to have a nice “ball shaped” cookie. I confess, we frequently don’t bother.. but it does mean that our cookies “spread” a little. We don’t mind, as they still taste nice! Whilst the dough is setting a little in the fridge, preheat the oven 180C.
Form little balls*, place on baking tray. With finger make an indent. Fill with a little jam.
Bale at 180C until the edges brown.
Enjoy.
*Red Ted enjoyed making the balls or sausages.. I did find however that once he had the “dough in his hands”, he wouldn’t hand it back and at least half had to be tasted! But hey, what is childhood for?!
Remember – for the egg whites hop over to our Double Chocolate Meringue Cookies!
You may also like this Edible Ornaments post:

Tammy says
Thanks for this one too!! I may just have to make a batch of each and take them to Christmas to celebrate so Mike, my BF, his brother and sister and dad can all have some. I am sure they will like them!!! Mike and his siblings were all adopted from Germany – Mike’s biological mom is Austrian and his biological dad is German. He doesn’t know them at all, never met them, but his parents have always kept German traditions up so I bet they will know these cookies!! 🙂 Thank you for sharing!! It will be a great surprise for them!
Red Ted Art says
Aaah, that is soooo lovely to hear! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know!!! 🙂
Much appreciated! Lovely to go back to your roots and heritage!
Maggy x
JDaniel4's Mom says
The cookies look great! The rhyming game sounds like such fun.
Amy says
Those cookies look amazing.. Thanks again for linking up..
Michelle says
Sounds like a good book.
I like that it has a happy ending.
Merry Christmas!
Jingle says
lovely cookies.
yummy post.
Jingle says
yummy.
Local Fun for Kids MOM says
Yum! You should add these to my *Holiday Cookie Blog Hop*
http://www.localfunforkids.com/home/2010/12/13/virtual-cookie-exchange.html
Kristin says
Mmmmmm. Those cookies look most delish!
angie says
love how you tied all three together in one post The cookies look lovely