Name: Almond Crescent Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 cup dairy-free butter, softened; 3/4 cup organic powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract; 2 cups whole wheat flour; 1 cup old fashioned oats; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 cup almonds, finely chopped; Organic powdered sugar for sprinkling the cookie tops

Jump to Recipe -

Almond Crescent Cookies is a crazy good recipe in a very classic way. Finely ground almonds and old fashioned rolled oats make them a very special snack or dessert.

Tilted plate full of shaped and sugared cookies.

Almond Crescents have been one of my favorite cookies for many years. They were at one of our family gatherings and I never forgot them.

Over the years I have found that this is one of those cookies that have many different renditions as with my Mexican Wedding Cookies recipe.

The almonds are very finely ground before they go in the batter. A twist that makes this recipe crazy good is that there are also old fashioned oats on the inside.

Almond cookies are often made at Christmastime but believe me they get the year-round treatment around here too.

What Countries Have Traditional Almond Crescent Cookie Recipes?

Well, there’s Poland with a very similar one called Vanillekipferl.
Another name in Germany and Austria is Kipferl and vanilla is used in these cookies too.
Russian Tea Cakes are also an almond cookie but they are formed into balls that have been flattened a bit from the baking sheet. I’m not sure of the name in Russia.
Italy has it’s Amaretti Cookies but they are sprinkled with granulated sugar.
In France Croquants de Cordes-sur-Ciel are crunchier with almond slivers.
As you can see this type of cookie is popular. That’s a good reason to give these lovelies a try.

One thing I didn’t do is put in anise because that has a black licorice flavor that I just don’t like. So anise deleted. If you love anise you can switch out anise extract for the vanilla extract.

Ingredients for Almond Crescents

Dairy-free butter – helps make these cookies flavorful and softly crunchy.
Organic powdered sugar – is creamed with the dairy-free butter until light and creamy
Vanilla extract – gives that classic extra flavor in baked goods
Whole wheat flour – makes extra good cookie dough
Old fashioned oats – add more fiber and texture
Baking soda – is a leavening agent
Baking powder – is the sister leavening agent to baking soda
Almonds – give the classic flavor for almond crescents
Organic powdered sugar – is for sprinkling the cookie tops

You can see in the photo right above here the shaped crescents. The dough is easily shaped and molds perfectly.

How to Make Almond Crescent Cookies

In a large bowl beat the vegan butter, organic powdered sugar and the vanilla extract, with a hand mixer, until light and fluffy.
Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder and mix well.
Next, add the oats and almonds. Mix well.
Shape into little long logs and then place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
After they are placed on the sheet curve them into little crescents.
Bake at 325° for 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and place on wire racks.
With a fine sieve, sprinkle the powdered sugar over the tops while the cookies are still warm.
Let cool completely. Serve or refrigerate or freeze.

Helpful Tools

Stainless steel baking sheets are really nice and this is a set of three.
I’m a sucker for Hamilton Beach. Their hand mixer is quality and inexpensive.
You probably already have mixing bowls but I prefer glass bowls over metal ones.

Did you catch that these little gems have extra protein in them in the shape of oats? None of the other almond cookies have that!

Can you imagine! They are still slightly crunchy, similar to shortbread cookies, and you’ll find yourself using a lot of willpower so you don’t eat too many.

Baker’s Tip

You don’t have to be a perfectionist when it comes to shaping as they will bake up nicely rounded and will be ready for sprinkling with powdered sugar.

If serving later you may need to re-sprinkle with powdered sugar right before serving. You will definitely need to re-sprinkle after freezing.

Nothing wrong with that. Ha!

More Classic Cookie Recipes

Raisin Filled Cookies are updated with raisin jam.
Good ol’ Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Mint Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies are perfect for the holidays.
A family favorite is Peanut Butter Cookies and this recipe has no refined sugar.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

What Do You Think?

If you take a photo of your classic crescent cookies I would love to see it. Follow me over on Instagram and tag me on your photo @vegan_in_the_freezer.

Your opinion means a lot to me and if you’d like to leave a comment and possibly a star rating I’d love to hear your thoughts.

A Square photo of a plate full of shortbread type cookies sprinkled with powdered sugar.

5 from 3 votes