Vanilla Kifli

Vanilla kifli are delicate crescent-shaped biscuits traditionally baked in Hungarian homes at Christmas time. Made with butter and finely ground almonds, these pale shortbreads are gently mixed, hand-shaped, and baked low and slow to keep them tender. While still warm, they’re rolled in fragrant vanilla sugar, creating a soft coating that sets as they cool.

This is a recipe rooted in simplicity, care, and tradition — the kind of baking that fills the house with the unmistakable smell of vanilla and butter and signals the start of the festive season.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 20

Total Time 1 10

Servings: 8 people

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Baking

Ingredients Equipment Method Video

Ingredients

140 gm plain flour
100 gm unsalted butter
100 gm blanched almonds
50 gm castor sugar
1 large egg yolk (70g)

Vanilla Sugar

150 gm castor Sugar
1 vanilla bean or 5g paste

Equipment

3 Baking trays
1 Stand Mixer
1 Flat Beater
1 Blizter or Food Processor
1 Bowl

Method

Using a stand Mixer and a flat paddle
Add butter and sugar and just combine
Add in the flour and almond meal and just combine
Add in the egg yolk and form a dough (large bread crumbs)
Finish by hand to bring together as a dough
Form balls similar size and then roll into a banana shape and curve into a crescent
Line a baking tray using a Silpat mat of baking paper
Add biscuits leaving a space between
Preheat the oven Bake at 160 C
Bake until a pale golden colour around 12-15 mins
Not too much colour
Make vanilla bean sugar
Add sugar and vanilla bean scraped to a food processor and turn to process
or Add sugar and vanilla bean to a jar a week before its needed
Carefully roll kifli in the prepared vanilla sugar
When still warm roll in vanilla sugar twice

Note

Do not over cook.
Cool completely before plating up