If anyone else mentions Nutella I’ll put my big toe up their arse! These are class not crass. Invented in Vienna alongside psychotherapy and penis envy we present Vanilla Kipferl.
As snow dusted advent biscuit that spread across Europe like the mockery of the UK Government’s Brexit plan. Sorry but there is a new rule that Brexit has to be mentioned in everything.
I knew I had to create a plant-based version but then thought about roasted hazelnuts and thought cocoa powder too and suddenly I was inventing a new National Biscuit for the Austrians at Christmas. I will list the recipe for the traditional vanilla ones first with the changes in brackets for the choco-hazelnut ones.
Ingredients
150 g non-dairy spread
80g icing sugar
2 no-egg yolk equivalents -see back of Egg Replacer for details
1 tbs vanilla extract
1 pinch of salt
240 g plain flour (200g flour – 40g cocoa powder)
200g ground almonds (200g ground roasted hazelnuts
Icing sugar to dust
Cooking Instructions
Cream the butter, sugar and salt together then add the vanilla essence and egg yoke replacement and beat well.
Add the almonds (hazelnuts) and blend. Finally add the sifted flour (and cocoa powder) and form a soft dough. Get stuck in with your hands. It’s Christmas.
If the dough is very soft pop in a plastic box and chill for a bit. It will break apart as you try to roll it if it’s too warm.
Divide the dough in four and roll into long sticks about 2.5cm thick. Wrap in cling film and chill over night.
Cut into 7cm pieces and form into crescents. Place on non-stick baking sheets and cook in the oven for about 10 minutes at 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4.
Place all the biscuits on a single tray and let icing sugar snow down on them while still warm.
I’m a bit shy with the icing sugar as they are sweet enough as they are just like me!
