This post has been updated December 2021. The original recipe was published December 3, 2009.
These Crescent Nut Cookies are similar to shortbreads in their soft, flaky texture. With bits of nuts rolled in sugar, they are the perfect cookie to make this holiday season.
"In character, in manner, in style, in all the things, the supreme excellence is simplicity." -Longfellow
If elegance were a cookie, it would be the crescent cookie. There's something all-together lovely about these cookies that have always appealed to me. Is it the shape? Is the dusting of powdered sugar? Is it the soft yet buttery crisp texture?
Crescent cookies are most popular around the Christmas season and while there are many stories behind these holiday delights and their shape, one thing is for certain, they are delicious any time and pair perfectly with either tea or coffee.
That said, they are also versatile in that you can use almonds, walnuts, or pecans. I've tried this recipe with each. Since I'm revisiting this oldie but goodie, I kept to my original recipe which called for walnuts. Regardless of what you choose or have on hand, you're not going to be able to keep from nibbling on these.
Today's recipe offers a hint of rum that plays well into the nuttiness of the cookie.
I consider these snack cookies really because they aren't overtly sweet. Yes, while they may be dusted with confectioner's sugar, the cookie shines on it's own due to it's melt-in-your-mouth texture. Unlike most other cookies we tend to make during the season, these aren't coved in sprinkles, cloaked in icing, or speckled with chocolate. Yet, they stand the test of time, remaining to be a tradition in many of our homes, and for good reason too.
Crescent Nut Cookies
Adapted from Good Housekeeping Favorite Recipes
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2 dozen cookies 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole walnuts
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks) softened (do not use margarine)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp rum extract
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- In a food processor combine walnuts and a ¼ cup sugar and finely grind.
- In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat butter and remaining sugar. Gradually add flour, ground-walnut mixture and rum and vanilla extracts; beat until blended. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate until dough is firm enough to handle, about 1 hour, or freeze about 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven 325 degrees F.
- Work dough with lightly floured hands, shape rounded teaspoons of dough into 2 inch by ½ inch crescents. Place on ungreased cookie sheets.
- Bake until edges are lightly browned, about 20 minutes
- Dust cookies with confectioners' sugar until well coated.
Notes
***Prep Time does NOT include Inactive Prep Time
And that's our recipe for Crescent Nut Cookies! If you enjoyed today's recipe, feel free to leave a comment below letting us know. We always love hearing from you!
Happy Baking!
0
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says
What a lovely little cookie! They are like little bites of heaven! The walnuts in these are outstanding!
silvia says
These cookies are amazing, I love walnut so the recipe was perfect for me. They reminded me to a cookie my mom used to make.
Kayla DiMaggio says
Loving these crescent nut cookies! So easy to make and delicious!
Jacqueline Debono says
I love how simple these cookies are to make and yet they look really elegant!
Adriana says
You brought me many good memories from baking with mom in my childhood years. We were used to baking a cookie recipe similar to this one.
Tristin says
My mom always made these when I was growing up so your recipe brought up a lot of nostalgic feelings! These were so good and tasted almost exactly like my moms!
Dennis Littley says
I made a batch of your cookies for Christmas and samples 2 or 10....lol. they were delicious!