As it was the 1st of Advent yesterday, I thought it was fitting to bring you this post today. I am going to stick “Monday Reviews” on it’s head and show you a Christmassy CD, as well as share one of our Christmas Cookie recipes.
Advent is a very special time for us. In Austria (and Germany) it is a key part of the Christmas celebrations – whether you are religious or not. Many families have their Advent Kranz – a Christmas Wreath for the table with four candles, that you light on each of the 4 preceding Sundays to Christmas Eve. On these Sundays, the family come together for some coziness. Read stories, listen to music and indulge in Christmas Cookies. Well, we do!!! I am sure traditions vary from family to family! (btw, there is a lovely Advent “Kranz” that Mum At The Madhouse showed us how to make on Christmas Get Crafty).
Review: Snowflake CD & The Night Before Christmas
Snowflake, The Rainbow Collection (Sony Music UK)
I was sent this CD for review earlier last week. I only bring you reviews of what I actually like. Well… and we like this CD. It has all the classics (Jingle Bells, Let it Snow, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer) as well as some more American Christmas songs (Frosty the Snowman, Santa’s Little Helpers). It is jolly, it is happy and well Christmassy, can’t say fairer than that. You may say it is slightly jazzier version of the favourites, but I am not a music expert, so not sure if that is a fair description. The Englishman seems to like it and he is usually the one to reject things. We played this CD whilst making our Christmas cookies and we played it again yesterday, when we decorated the living room and had our first nibble at said cookies. And it worked. I think it’s lovely.
Our Christmas Story
We then also read this lovely traditional Christmas book look at the Night Before Christmas, which I reviewed here.I should really have found a book about Advent, but the one we had was at Opapa’s house and we read it yesterday. I thought it no harm to start talking “Christmas” now!
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Our Christmas Countdown Printable
Christams Countdown DIY – free Countdown Snowman – make it into a bookmark, greeting card or ornament! So cute.
Recipe – Vanille Kipferl
I have been wanting to share our Christmas Cookie recipes for a long time now, but as this is a craft blog and not a cooking blog, it doesn’t always fit… but hey, here is a sneaky way of adding it!
I have chosen Vanille Kipferl first, as a) they are VERY Austrian and b) if I only make ONE sort of biscuit, it has to be these – my family would be very disappointed if I didn’t! They are surprisingly simple.
Ingredients*:
- 300g plain flour
- 215g unsalted butter (+ pinch of salt) or slightly salted butter
- 100g ground almonds
- 75g icing sugar
- (vanilla essence)**
For coating:
- 150g icing sugar, 2 packets of vanilla sugar**
*as these are our FAVOURITE cookies, I make double quantities – i.e. use half the amount and you will still have a nice portion of cookies
**Ok, vanilla sugar is something you don’t necessarily get in the UK, so to replace this fact, you could add a couple of drops of essence or some real vanilla into the dough. It isn’t “quite” right, but you can’t have Vanille Kipferl without vanilla!!
Preheat oven to 140-160C
Method:
- Crumble butter & flour & salt
- Add almonds & sugar
- Knead to a dough
- Form little crescents (make a sausage with thinner ends and bend)
- Place in hot oven (140-160C) – bake until they JUST start to turn golden (prob 10-15min)
- Roll Kipferl still hot in icing sugar
I find the icing sugar gets “sticky” from the heat towards the last batch, so what I tend to do is split the icing sugar into two bowls, so that it’s nice and light and fresh for all the cookies.
So… What are YOUR Christmas Traditions?
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I love Vanille kipferl. I will make some this year.
The Bavarian Christmas linky party is now open-won’t you come and join us at http://dobermans-by-the-sea.blogspot.com/2010/11/1st-christmas-linky-party-at-dobermans.html
Yum! My husband’s aunt also makes the one with chocolate on the end…to die for! We just can’t get enough of them 🙂
OOh TIffay, I think that those are “Spritzgebaeck” – DELICIOUS!!!!
Ooh, these sound wonderful! I love traditional European cookies! By the way, I make my own vanilla sugar – it’s really easy. Just fill a jar or canister with white sugar (caster or granulated) and put a few cut vanilla pods in it. Let it ‘steep’ for a couple of days and it’s ready. It also lasts for ages – you can just keep topping up the sugar 🙂
April – to anAustrian living in the UK, that is a FABULOUS top tip! Thank you so much for sharing that “How to” with me!! Yummy!
Yum! I’m planning on making mine this week too! I just finished my batch of Elisenlebkuchen! Vanillekipferl are next!
Mmmh Elisenlebkuchen! I “cheat” and make Gingerbread men instead of Lebkuchen, as we are an Austiran/ English family and feel “one UK” biscuit is ok!!! 😉
Those cookies look delicious. I need to do some baking!
This looks like what my mom calls “sand tarts” and we make them every Christmas except we use pecans.
Our traditional Christmas morning breakfast includes Potica Bread…..this link will get you to the full recipe.
Both of my parents were born and raised in Vienna and came to Canada in their later twenties. My mother always made them. Vanille Kipferl are a much loved must have cookie at Christmas in my home too. We also make our own vanilla sugar with the vanilla beans.
WOW!! These look great! My BF is an American “Army Brat” and grew up in Belgium/Germany. I think it would be a real treat for me to make these for him!! He went to SHAPE.
Thanks for the instruction!!!
Can’t wait to try them!
Su C – we are going to have to making our own vanilla sugar a go too!
Tammy – Hooray! That is what is all about!! Did another recipe (but not as exciting) today!
https://www.redtedart.com/2010/12/06/5930/
Maggy
Kipferls are a tradition in my family of origin as well. My Dad grew up in Ohio in a German/Irish neighbourhood, and learned to make them as a child. I like to make them and eat them and call him when they boys and I have cookie breath…..
Those cookies sound very good. Glad you did share them.
That looks so good. I need to cracking on my Christmas baking!!!
Those are one of my favorite cookies in the world!!!
The cookies look great! I am all done with my baking this year though. We had our Christmas gathering this past Sunday and I have way too much left at my house and I just do not know how to keep my hands out of it.
The cookies look wonderful. Did you play the music while you cooked?
Merry Christmas and Happy 2011!
The cookies look so delicious. Merry Christmas to you!
Yummy!
And Merry Christmas to you!!
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Hope you well, season’s greetings!
Awards 4 U, Merry Christmas, Thanks 4 Being My Friend!
OH!!! These look yummy! Thank you for sharing them…we bake a varitey fo cookes and candies during Christmas and these look like one to add :o)
Blessings & Aloha!
Mele Kalikimaka!
What a joyous post!
Those cookies look something like our favorites here called Russian Teacakes!
Although I didn’t hop on here quick enough to wish you a Merry Christmas, I’ll be early in wishing you a wonderful 2011 filled with joy, discovery and memory making.
Thank you for linking.
A+
making these right now. How long do I bake for?
Oh goodness! I forgot to write that? Ahem, I think 10-15min, check for them turning golden!