Delicate, melting and fragrant, Vanillekipferl are small shortbread croissants with walnuts and vanilla, traditionally prepared in Austria and Germany for the Christmas period. Their crumbly texture and refined flavour make them a must-have for the festive season. These crescent-shaped biscuits originated in Vienna. Legend has it that their shape evokes the Ottoman crescent moon, created to celebrate a victory of the Hungarian army over the Turks. Today, they are a regular feature on every Christmas table, and can be kept for several weeks in a tin.