Learn how to make keto almond crescent cookies with just 6 ingredients. This sugar free version of the traditional German Christmas cookie recipe is super simple. Low carb Vanillekipferl taste as delicious as the real original!
Being German and having grown up in Deutschland, one of the first festive recipes I posted on my website were these sugar free cinnamon stars. Alongside gingerbread men, they are the most popular Christmas cookies in Germany.
But there is another very traditional cookie recipe that everyone loves: Vanillekipferl.
These delicate almond crescent cookies are originally from Vienna. It is said that they were created to celebrate the victory of the Austrians over the Ottoman Empire.
To me (and to most people today) they'll always signify Christmas!
I think my keto almond crescent cookies taste just as good as the original. I can't wait for you to try it.
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🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- The texture - delicate, powdery and fluffy, thanks to my secret ingredient whey protein powder
- So much flavour - Vanilla, with sweet almond finish
- Gluten free - There's not a grain of wheat in sight
- Easy recipe - Only 6 ingredients and 10 minutes prep
- Keto friendly - Just 1g net carbs per cookie
Ingredients
- Almond flour - I used Bob's Red Mill super-fine almond flour. If you want to use ground almonds, increase the amount by 2 tablespoons.
- Protein powder - unsweetened whey protein powder. I used Pulsin. This is what gives the cookies the delicate, powdery texture.
- Butter - Cold and cut into cubes
- Egg yolk - from a large egg
- Powdered sweetener - I used powdered Bocha Sweet. You can also go for powdered erythritol, Swerve or an erythritol based stevia or monk fruit sweetener blend. I don't recommend allulose. Sweetener MUST be powdered.
- Vanilla extract - make sure it's sugar free
Option to add a pinch of salt to the cookie dough.
Instructions
Here are the basic steps to make keto crescent cookies.
Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed method and nutrition info.
Step 1: Put all ingredients into a food processor.
Step 2: Blend until a smooth cookie dough forms.
Step 3: Roll into a dough ball and wrap in cling film. Chill in the fridge for 1 hour.
Step 4: Form crescent cookies shapes and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 5: Bake in the oven until lightly golden.
Step 6: Dust with powdered sweetener.
Top Tips
#1: It is essential that the dough is chilled before baking. Should it become too warm while you are working with it, simply put it back in the fridge for a while.
#2: Leave enough space between the cookies as they spread a little during baking.
#3: Don't touch the cookies while hot. They are very fragile straight out of the oven and firm up as they cool.
FAQ
You can try using egg white protein. It is also possible to replace the whey protein with more almond flour. However, this will make the cookies more rustic in texture and less powdery like the original Vanillekipferl.
No, this would not work.
Use a vegan butter or coconut oil.
Variations
Use real vanilla. To really elevate the taste, get a vanilla bean and use it instead of the vanilla extract.
Slice open and use the seeds in the cookies dough. Infuse the powdered sweetener with the bean.
You can also get powdered vanilla (aff link).
No food processor? Use a mixing bowl and hand-held electric mixer. In this case, it will be easier to use softened butter. Increase the chilling time in the fridge accordingly.
Taste the dough and increase the sweetener if required. I did not make the dough very sweet since we're dusting with powdered sweetener afterwards.
Storage
Room temperature: Store almond crescents in an airtight cookie jar for up to 2 weeks.
Freezer: Freeze on a cookie sheet in a single layer so the cookies do not stick together. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag and store for up to 3 months.
Related Recipes
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating below!
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Recipe
Keto Almond Crescent Cookies (Low Carb Vanillekipferl)
from Sugar Free LondonerNote: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups almond flour 150 grams, I used Bob's Red Mill super-fine almond flour. For ground almonds, increase by 2 tablespoons
- ¼ cup whey protein powder unsweetened, 25 grams
- ½ cup butter cold, cut into cubes, 114 grams
- 1 egg yolk large
- ¼ cup powdered sweetener 40 grams, add 1-2 tablespoon more for a sweeter cookie
- ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt optional
For dusting
- 1-2 tablespoon powdered sweetener
Instructions
- Put all ingredients into a food processor. Blend until a smooth cookie dough forms. Taste and adjust sweetener if required.
- Roll into a dough ball and wrap in cling film. Chill in the fridge for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F electric or 160C / 325F fan assisted.
- Form crescent cookies shapes and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. I used 22 grams of dough for each cookie and my mix made 14 cookies. ***
- Bake in the oven on a low shelf for 15 minutes or until lightly golden.
- Let the cookies cool fully. Then, dust with powdered sweetener.
Tineke
Another winner! Lived in Germany for 9 years and when I tasted these I was back, walking in Cologne at the Christmasfair (Angelmarket). Really soft and tasty! Thanks ❤️
Sybille Seidel
My mom made these every year using regular flour and fine ground hazelnuts. Would the taste be similar using a different flour than almond flour. I like these but would like to make the one Mom made only KETO. Thanks for any help!
Katrin Nürnberger
Why don't you try using hazelnut flour instead of almond flour then?
Sue
They’re great Katrin. Thanks! Merry Christmas
Rose
Thanks for your beautiful vanillakipferl recipe. I need to double the ingredients as I need to bake a lot of this. Can I add some crushed nuts like the Greek kourabiedes?
Katrin Nürnberger
You could, but I would make sure they are small as it will make the consistency more fragile.
Sue
Amazing recipe! Just made these and they taste delicious. Thank you, I am ready for Christmas!
DeniseN
Haven't tried these yet, I need to purchase whey. But I was wondering if the whey could be used in the chocolate chip recipe as we found them to be too grainy/textured? It could be I'm new at this and doing something wrong, but I'm determined to stick with sugar free eating. Any advise is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Katrin Nürnberger
Yes, you should be able to replace part of the almond flour in that recipe with whey.
Christel
Hi, just would like to know if it would be possible to leave the dough longer in the fridge than the 1 hour?
Katrin Nürnberger
Sure! You can leave it overnight if you wanted.
Alyce Russell
Yummy
Toni
Don't have whey protein, but I don't think pea protein would work! What about powdered collagen?
Katrin Nürnberger
I have never tried it in baking, so I don't know. Perhaps Google has some info.
Dagmar
Hi Katrin, Oven Temp 325 like shortbread? I probably just missed it. Thanks
Katrin Nürnberger
Hi Dagmar, it's 350F electric or 325F fan assisted.
Maria
Can I use sesame flour instead almond?
Katrin Nürnberger
Probably, but of course it would change the taste significantly. Perhaps if you mix it with hazelnut flour? (Unless, of course, all nuts are an issue).