Berliner Brot German Christmas Cookie Recipes

CRESCENT BUTTER BISCUITS

Steps:

• Combine all-purpose flour, almond flour, and sugar in a bowl; rub in butter using your fingers until coarse crumbs form. Add egg yolks and work into a smooth dough. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Turn dough onto a floured work surface; roll into long, thin pieces. Cut into 2-inch pieces and shape each piece into a crescent-shape. Place crescents on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until lightly golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Immediately roll the crescents in vanilla sugar while hot. Set aside to cool.

BELGRADER BROT (GERMAN CHRISTMAS COOKIES)

Steps:

• Grease and flour a large baking sheet.
• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs until fluffy.
• Add sugar gradually and continue beating until thickened and pale.
• Mix together the dry ingredients.
• Gradually add to egg mixture and mix until combined.
• Fold in lemon rind, candied fruit and almonds.
• This dough is soft and sticky, so either oil or wet your hands before handling.
• Divide dough into thirds.
• On the baking sheet, form the dough into three long flat "loaves" spaced a few inches apart to allow for spreading. If your baking sheet is large enough, it will all fit on one sheet.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, until lightly browned.
• While the cookies are baking, make the icing by combining the ingredients. You should have a spreadable consistency.
• Remove cookies from the oven and let stand a few minutes.
• Ice the loaves while they are still on the baking sheet.
• Allow to rest for 5 minutes, then slice the loaves crosswise into approximately 1/2-3/4 inch slices. Do not wait too long before slicing, as the icing will flake off if it cools too much before you slice.
• Allow to cool on the baking sheet. These freeze well and keep well.