are Austrian,

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

Swiss Swiss may refer to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina *Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses *Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports *Swiss Internation ...

, Czech, Slovak,

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...

and Hungarian small, crescent-shaped

biscuit A biscuit is a flour-based baked and shaped food product. In most countries biscuits are typically hard, flat, and unleavened. They are usually sweet and may be made with sugar, chocolate, icing, jam, ginger, or cinnamon. They can also be ...

s. They were originally made with walnuts, but

almond The almond (''Prunus amygdalus'', syn. ''Prunus dulcis'') is a species of tree native to Iran and surrounding countries, including the Levant. The almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree. Within the genus ...

s or

hazelnut The hazelnut is the fruit of the hazel tree and therefore includes any of the nuts deriving from species of the genus ''Corylus'', especially the nuts of the species ''Corylus avellana''. They are also known as cobnuts or filberts according t ...

s can also be used. They get their typical flavour from a heavy dusting of

vanilla sugar Vanilla sugar (German: ''Vanillezucker'', Polish: ''Cukier waniliowy'', Hungarian: ''Vaníliás cukor'', Swedish: ''Vaniljsocker'', Macedonian: ''Ванилин шеќер'') is a commonly used ingredient of Italian, Dutch, German, Polish, Swedis ...

Origins

' originate from Vienna in Austria and are traditionally made at Christmas. They are very well known in Europe and are often for sale in Viennese coffee shops. They are said to have been created in the shape of the

Turkish Turkish may refer to: *a Turkic language spoken by the Turks * of or about Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities and mi ...

crescent moon symbolizingVanillekipferl
Retrieved 16 July 2013 the celebration of the victory over the Turkish in 1683. They are also widely baked in Germany and are common in

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

, Hungary, Poland, Croatia, Czech Republic, Romania, and Slovakia as a part of the typical Christmas baking. Since

Advent Advent is a Christian season of preparation for the Nativity of Christ at Christmas. It is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity. The name was adopted from Latin "coming; arrival", translating Greek ''parousia''. In ...

in Germany is celebrated by several denominations of Christianity on the four Sundays preceding Christmas, many kinds of biscuits and sweets are consumed during this time and have become typical for winter. Unlike other pastries, this particular kind is difficult to bake. The batter used when hardened is very fragile. It takes a skilled pair of hands to create the or horseshoe shape without breaking the biscuit.

References

External links

Vanillekipferl
Christmas in Germany Christmas food Biscuits Austrian confectionery German confectionery Austrian cuisine German cuisine German desserts Hungarian desserts Almond cookies {{hungary-cuisine-stub

Origins

See also

References

External links