For six centuries, the Ottoman Empire sprawled from North Africa, to Central Asia, to the Balkans–thanks primarily to its mastery of gunpowder. Ever eager to claim more territory, it attempted to make inroads into Europe, culminating in the Siege of Vienna in 1683. Delighted for having sent the Ottoman army packing, the Viennese, who found inspiration in all things as pretext to create an original baked delicacy, invented the vanillekipferl (vanilla crescent), a shortbread cookie flavored with nuts and vanilla, puckishly appropriating the shape of the crescent moon adorning Ottoman battle flags. Vanillekipferl is now one of Austria’s most popular Christmas cookies.
Here are a few Vanillekipferl recipes:
