Vegan Walnut Crescent Cookies

Dec 3, 2021all recipes, Christmas, dessert, snack

Spread the good vibes

 

vegan walnut cookies on the table with dusting sugar in the air and hands above them

 

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Walnut crescent cookies have been my family’s staple during Christmas time for years. Creating a vegan version was a challenge, but I made it, so I can continue my family tradition in a vegan fashion.

 

Sticking to my family’s tradition

I’m sticking to my family’s tradition so closely I actually called my grandma and asked for her recipe. Simply leaving out the egg and replacing butter with vegan butter sadly didn’t work. So I pulled up my sleeves and got to work.

It took me quite a few tries before I got what I wanted. I was frustrated as heck, at first, I couldn’t understand why wouldn’t it come out the way I want it. But then I started to learn as I went and realized a few things:

-> The original recipe had too much butter. Way too much, I thought. As it turned out, I only had a little bit too much vegan butter in the dough so these cookies are still filled with fat (oh well).

-> Replacing the egg is crucial. I tried simply leaving it out, but that didn’t work. I didn’t want to use an egg replacer so I used flax seed instead (this way the recipe is still simple and you don’t have to worry about the ingredients and the right kind of replacer)

-> The type of flour matters. I wouldn’t use wholemeal at all, and also not some type of flour for bread (like flour for high hydration or high elasticity). Use all-purpose flour for making pastries at home.

 

vegan walnut cookies on a plate with coffee in the back

 

This recipe is not too healthy and it isn’t supposed to be. It’s my grandma’s recipe and you know what grandma’s recipes are like – they didn’t know what vegan is, they didn’t know that sugar can be addictive and that fat can cause a bunch of health conditions. But they also didn’t eat too many of these sweets, so it was okay.

Christmas time is the time of the year when it’s okay to step out of our restricted boxes and just enjoy all the tasty foods; the time when we eat delicious pastries that are too sweet but oh-so-good; it’s the time when we enjoy ourselves with our family and friends and we don’t care if the cookies are too sweet or too fatty. I love adjusting tradition to my lifestyle, but I also want to enjoy some of the tastes that remind me of my childhood and my home.

 

Q&A

I’m thinking you might have a question or two, so let me answer some of those real quick. If there’s still something unclear, please leave a comment and we’ll figure it out!

 

vegan walnut cookies on the table with dusting sugar in the air

 

What happens if I don’t use an egg replacer?

What happened to me is that cookies didn’t hold a shape. They spread out and I got moon-shaped thins instead of cookies I wanted.

Can I use coconut oil?

I assume you can, I haven’t tried it though. Keep in mind coconut oil is very fatty and you might need less of that than you need of margarine. Start with 60 g and add more if it’s needed.

I want to use less fat – what happens if I do?

In my experience, you’ll end up with a brick cookie. I tried with less butter, but then I needed to add some water and that caused the cookie to be really hard instead of soft.

Is it okay to use brown sugar instead of white sugar?

I always use brown sugar, but it’s not deeply brown. It doesn’t contain a lot of molasses and it doesn’t really stick together. If you have molasses sugar, then I would use white sugar instead. Molasses sugar might cause changes in texture and taste.

Can I replace walnuts with some other nuts?

I’m sure you can! Try with almonds or cashews, which should create a lovely buttery taste and add to the texture.

I don’t have any nuts, can I make these cookies without?

I wouldn’t. Nuts have a certain amount of fat that adds to the texture of the cookie.

 

Do you like cookies and crunchy sweets? Go check out these vegan cookies with cocoa nibs – they are like choc chip cookies with a twist, we love them at home. If you want something a bit advanced, then go check out my vegan cheesecake bars with berries – crunchy cookie bottom with cheesecake cream. Both recipes are stunning, I promise.

Are you recreating any of my recipes? Make sure you take a photo and tag me on Instagram @littlekitchenvibes or send me a dm!

 

vegan walnut cookies on the table with dusting sugar in the air

Vegan Walnut Crescent Cookies

Old-school cookies from my grandma's cookbook made vegan - walnut crescent cookies. Decadent, crunchy, and as delicious as the "real thing".
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Resting time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine european
Servings 25 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 150 g all-purpose flour
  • 60 g sugar
  • ½ pack vanilla sugar approx. 4 g
  • 60 g walnuts ground
  • 80 g vegan butter margarine
  • ½ tbsp ground flax seed
  • tbsp water

Instructions
 

  • First, let's make a flax egg. Add ground flax seeds to a bowl and add water. Let it sit for a few minutes.
  • In the meantime, add flour, sugar, vanilla sugar, and walnuts to a large bowl. Mix them well.
  • Add cold butter, cut into small chunks. Start kneading the butter into the flour until you start getting a crumbly texture.
  • At this point, add a flax egg. Keep kneading until you get a soft ball of dough.
  • Wrap it up into a wrapping foil (I use reusable wax paper) and set int the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
  • When the dough is cold, take it out and start shaping the cookies. Each one will weigh approx. 20 g. On a lightly floured surface, roll each of the pieces into a thin snake. Bend it into a moon shape and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Bake cookies at 180°C for about 15 minutes or until they start getting slightly brown on the edges. They might be a bit soft right after you take them out of the oven, but don't worry, they'll harden up once they cool down.
  • If you want, you can roll them in powdered sugar and serve them with some hot tea or cocoa.
Keyword vegan shortbread cookies, Vegan walnut cookies, walnut crescent cookies, walnut shortbread cookies

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