Dec 15, 2013

Whole spelt chocolate kipferls (Austrian croissants)


Austrian tradition, Italian recipe, my home...

Recipe adapted from Giallo Zafferano
time: 20 min preparation + 1 hr inactive + 2x20 min baking + 15 min cooling
makes 32 pieces

ingredients
  • 1 2/3 cup flour (250 g regular OR 200 g whole spelt)
  • 1 1/2 stick (175 g) cold butter, diced
  • 1 cup (150 g) whole almonds
  • 2/3 cup (125 g) sugar
  • 1.8 oz (50 g) dark chocolate, finely grated (I used 50 % cocoa)
  • 1 medium egg
  • zest from 1 small lemon, grated
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch fine salt
instructions
  1. In a food processor, blend almonds with sugar till fine. Transfer the mix into your mixing bowl. In the same food processor, blend now butter with flour till coarse mill texture (about 10 seconds). Add it to the almond mix. Put the rest of the ingredients into the bowl and, using your standing mixer equipped with a paddle attachment, incorporate it all till just combined (10 seconds max). Form a disc, wrap it in a plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for at least one hour. 
  2. Toward the end...preheat the oven to 180C/355F (fan forced). Prepare two baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Using your hands, roll chilled dough into long cords, small-finger thick. Cut them in 10cm/4inch long pieces, bend into horse shoes and arrange on a baking sheet spaced 1inch/2.5cm between. 
  3. Set the sheet in the hot oven for 18-20 min. Remove, transfer the cookies onto a cooling rack for 15 min to cool completely.

notes
  • light, crunchy-soft with some coarseness from nuts and flour;
  • delicate taste of chocolate, butter and vanilla; simple - kids friendly;
  • lemon zest just made everything a tad better...
  • Italians add lemon zest even to their ragu...it makes any dish come alive a little more; 
  • I made white kipferls last year, also very good;
  • easy recipe, the only place to mess up is the oven;
  • they should not get any color, which is hard to see since they are already brown;
  • check 5 minutes before the recommended time for readiness; 
  • I used oven twice, one sheet at the time...because when I bake with two, no matter what I do, one sheet always bakes better than other;
  • jar full of cookies, lights on the tree, ski jumping on TV... the Season is ON;
  • the cookies can be kept for days in a glass jar with a lid; their flavors intensify.


25 comments:

  1. I always love some almonds in cookies, these look incredible!

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  2. Dear Elzbieta, I have only started to use spelt recently and my cake turned out so nice and moist.
    These cookies are a must try.
    Blessings dear. Catherine xo

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  3. These look terrific!

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  4. What a unique recipe! Love it uses spelt flour.

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  5. Almonds, chocolate, citrus zest - you've got some of the best flavors covered.

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  6. Lovely! I need to fill my cookie jar, too!

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  7. Anonymous12/16/2013

    yumm, they look amazing! i need to try them out!(:

    xx Lotte

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  8. I've never tried spelt flour but these look so good! I love traditional treats, and also loving the addition of almonds!

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  9. Ela, how beautiful... I have yet to bake with spelt flour. Must give your recipe a try.

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  10. Excellent! They must be very delicious!

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  11. Did my comment just disappeared? Sorry if it's duplicate... but I just wanted to say I love that you add lemon zest in these cookies! :)

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  12. Fabulous kipferl! They would not last long at my place...

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  13. These look perfect for the holiday season! I could definitely go for one (or a few!) of these with my coffee or tea!

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  14. I've been wandering what to do with that bag of spelt flour sitting in my pantry for far too long. Lovely, lovely cookies :)

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  15. They look pretty and delicious!

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  16. We've never heard of these! Look really appetizing! Would go so well with a cup of coffee or tea!

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  17. These are very pretty, would love to try them.

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  18. I love to learn about European desserts for the holidays! These look so lovely - pinned!

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  19. Beautiful and healthy...
    Updates on google+ are regular ;-)

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  20. Beautiful cookies! Thanks for visiting my blog!

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  21. I love anything with dark chocolate, yum! Beautiful cookies :)

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  22. Love the almonds and lemon zest in here. These cookies look so pretty and sound delicious!

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  23. Oh, but I have such memories of this cookie. My best friend's grandmother used to make them, and so there were always some in the pantry of her home for us kids to enjoy. This was many years ago - back in the fifties. Thankfully, my friend learned how to make them, and we still enjoy Kipferl to this day. That's tradition! Happy holidays to you!

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    Replies
    1. Cookie stories are the best! Happy Holidays to You :) ela

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  24. Genial ha sido un regalo visitar tu blog, Felicidades

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