Julia’s Hazelnut Crescents

This recipe came from a one time neighbour.

Julia was painfully shy, but under her awkward facade was an energetic intelligent woman with an ascerbic dry wit and a ready laugh. She loved to drink red wine. Bacchus provided the catalyst for gaining Julia’s confidence and warm friendship.

Julia baked these barely sweet, delicious buttery biscuits to enjoy with strong coffee, a remnant of her Dutch heritage, and though I’ve adapted the recipe a little, they are none the worse for it.

250g cultured unsalted butter

1/3 cup castor sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups ground hazelnuts

1 1/2 cups white spelt flour

Line two oven trays with baking paper. Pre heat the oven to 180C

Cream the butter, vanilla and sugar. Stir in the nuts and sifted flours.

Shape the dough into crescents by making 5 cm long “sausages” and bending them in the middle.

Bake for about 20 minutes until lightly golden and firm to the touch.

Roll in icing sugar while warm.

Makes approx 45 biscuits.

Store in an airtight container.

About ladyredspecs

I live in sunny Brisbane, Australia. My love of good food drives me as a cook, a reader, a traveller, an artist and but mostly as an eater. I cooked professionally for many years but have no formal training. Simply guided by a love of eating good food, respect for ingredients and an abhorrence of artificial additives, I cook instinctively applying the technical know how acquired by experience. I hope you enjoy what I share Sandra AKA ladyredspecs

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15 comments on “Julia’s Hazelnut Crescents”

Fig & Quince
June 17, 2013

Love the vignette of Julia and such pretty cookies

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marymtf
June 11, 2013

They look like those biscuits that I sometimes see in the window of Greek cake shops. If it’s anything like those biscuits, yours are bound to be delicious.

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- ladyredspecs
  June 11, 2013
  
  My bikkies are quite different. The Greek Kourambiedes are shortbreads made with rice flour, flavoured with clove, mine are buttery and hazelnutty.
  
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Peri's Spice Ladle
June 11, 2013

Wonderful mix of ingredients…the hazelnuts and spelt flour give a great texture! Recipe is a keeper:)

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- ladyredspecs
  June 11, 2013
  
  Thanks, yes the texture was good, crunchy without crumbling.
  
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trixfred30
June 11, 2013

They look great and I love the shot with that block of butter – amazing!

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- ladyredspecs
  June 11, 2013
  
  Thanks, they were delicious
  
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mittsandmeasures
June 11, 2013

Oh my gosh I bet these are delicious! I’ve got them bookmarked. Thank you!

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- ladyredspecs
  June 11, 2013
  
  It’s a pleasure, they are scrumptious!
  
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ohlidia
June 10, 2013

These look scrumptious! Anything with hazelnuts has my name on it. You know my relationship with Nutella, right?

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- ladyredspecs
  June 11, 2013
  
  Haha right, then you’ll love these biscuits/ cookies.
  
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chef mimi
June 10, 2013

So pretty!

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- ladyredspecs
  June 11, 2013
  
  They taste much better than they look!
  
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Sandra
June 10, 2013

Thank you, they are!

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Sam
June 10, 2013

Oh these look delicious!

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