Festive Austrian Christmas Desserts

I Love Austrian Christmas Desserts: Traditional Treats for a Festive Season

Austrian Christmas desserts are a delightful part of the holiday season, offering a variety of sweet treats that bring festive cheer to any celebration. From rich cakes to delicate cookies, these traditional desserts are sure to make your Christmas extra special.

As a fan of holiday baking, I find that Austrian Christmas desserts offer a wonderful blend of flavors and textures. In this post, I’ll share some of the most beloved Austrian Christmas desserts, along with tips for preparation and serving.

Key Takeaways

• Austrian Christmas desserts are a delightful part of the holiday season.
• These traditional treats include a variety of cakes, cookies, and pastries.
• Perfect for adding festive cheer to your holiday celebrations.

Introduction to Austrian Christmas Desserts

Austrian Christmas desserts are known for their rich flavors and beautiful presentations. Moreover, these desserts often feature ingredients like nuts, spices, and dried fruits, which are staples in Austrian holiday baking. In addition, the use of traditional recipes passed down through generations makes these treats even more special.

Recipe 1: Vanillekipferl (Vanilla Crescent Cookies)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of ground almonds
• 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions:

1. Prepare Dough:
   • In a large bowl, combine flour, ground almonds, butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract.
   • Mix until a dough forms.
2. Shape Cookies:
   • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
   • Take small portions of dough and shape them into crescent shapes.
   • Place the crescents on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
3. Bake:
   • Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
4. Dust with Powdered Sugar:
   • Allow the cookies to cool slightly, then dust them with powdered sugar.

Tips for Perfect Vanillekipferl

• Use Softened Butter: Softened butter helps to create a smooth dough.
• Shape Evenly: Try to shape the crescents evenly for uniform baking.
• Dust While Warm: Dust the cookies with powdered sugar while they are still warm for better adherence.

Recipe 2: Linzer Augen (Linzer Cookies)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of ground hazelnuts
• 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup of raspberry jam
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions:

1. Prepare Dough:
   • In a large bowl, combine flour, ground hazelnuts, butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract.
   • Mix until a dough forms.
2. Chill Dough:
   • Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
3. Shape Cookies:
   • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
   • Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
   • Use a round cookie cutter to cut out cookies, and a smaller cutter to cut out the centers of half of the cookies.
4. Bake:
   • Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
   • Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
5. Assemble Cookies:
   • Spread raspberry jam on the whole cookies and top with the cut-out cookies.
   • Dust with powdered sugar.

Tips for Perfect Linzer Augen

• Chill Dough: Chilling the dough makes it easier to roll out and cut.
• Use Quality Jam: High-quality raspberry jam enhances the flavor of the cookies.
• Dust Before Assembling: Dust the top cookies with powdered sugar before assembling to keep the jam clean.

Recipe 3: Sachertorte (Sacher Cake)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1/2 cup of dark chocolate, melted
• 1/2 cup of apricot jam
• 1/2 cup of heavy cream
• 1/2 cup of dark chocolate, chopped

Instructions:

1. Prepare Batter:
   • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
   • In a large bowl, cream together butter and granulated sugar.
   • Add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition.
   • Stir in melted chocolate.
2. Whip Egg Whites:
   • In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
   • Gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture.
3. Bake:
   • Pour the batter into a greased and floured 9-inch cake pan.
   • Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
4. Assemble Cake:
   • Allow the cake to cool completely.
   • Slice the cake in half horizontally and spread apricot jam on the bottom layer.
   • Place the top layer back on and spread more apricot jam on top.
5. Prepare Ganache:
   • Heat heavy cream in a saucepan until it begins to simmer.
   • Remove from heat and add chopped chocolate, stirring until smooth.
   • Pour the ganache over the cake, allowing it to drip down the sides.

Tips for Perfect Sachertorte

• Use High-Quality Chocolate: High-quality dark chocolate enhances the flavor of the cake.
• Fold Gently: Gently fold the egg whites into the batter to maintain the cake’s light texture.
• Smooth Ganache: Pour the ganache over the cake while it’s still warm for a smooth finish.

Conclusion: Embrace the Flavor of Austrian Christmas Desserts

The Austrian Christmas Desserts are a fantastic way to add festive cheer to your holiday celebrations. With traditional treats like Vanillekipferl, Linzer Augen, and Sachertorte, these desserts are sure to delight your family and friends. Try these recipes at home and enjoy the rich flavors and beautiful presentations of Austrian holiday baking.

For more delicious recipes and baking tips, check out BBC Good Food. Happy baking!