Christmas in Austria

In Austria, Christmas is celebrated on December 24th, when Christkind comes to bring presents to good children of all ages. Christmas trees in Austria are decorated during the day on the 24th, and not only with ornaments, but also chocolates and real candles!

There are beautiful Christmas markets throughout the country from mid-November until December 24th, where Christmas ornaments and special treats that are only made during the Christmas season can be purchased. In the video below you can see a Christmas market in front of the Vienna town hall, the Rathaus Christkindlmarkt:




Many families in Austria celebrate Christmas with homeade Christmas cookies from recipes passed down for generations. Below are two great recipes sent in from Lydia Schmid of Vienna, Austria:



Chocolate-Hazelnut Crescents:

Ingredients:
150g flour
120g butter
50g chocolate, ground
100g roasted hazelnuts, ground
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 egg yolk
Pinch of salt

Melted chocolate (for dipping)
Ground hazelnuts, pistachios, almonds, or coconut flakes (for dipping)

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Combine all ingredients with your hands to form a soft dough. Wrap in plastic and put in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Shape dough into half inch logs, and cut off 2inch long pieces. Shape into crescents and bake for 12 minutes. Handle the crescents carefully when you take them out off the oven, they will be soft and break easily. Let cool on a cooling rack.

Dip tips of crescents in melted chocolate and ground nuts of your choice. Makes approximately 60 crescents.


Spice Hearts:

Ingredients:
2 egg whites
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
250g sugar
Pinch of salt
250g ground almonds
Half teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Half teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon rum
1 tablespoon melted butter

Icing:
125g powdered sugar
1 tablespoon water
Half tablespoon rum

Preheat oven to 350F.
Put egg whites, vanilla extract, sugar, and pinch of salt in mixing bowl and mix on high until firm peaks form. Add almonds, baking powder, spices, cocoa powder, rum, and melted butter. Gently fold through until a soft dough forms.

Roll out dough to quarter inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut out hearts with a cookie cutter. Bake for 15 minutes.

Combine all ingredients for icing, and ice the hearts while still hot. Let cool on rack before serving.