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Walnut meringue crescent moon cookies were always the best delight mom baked for holidays. It is a dessert easy to make but so flavourful, with a tender base, a jam layer and a creamy, nutty top – precisely what we loved to munch on often in-between meal times.
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We would sneak into the pantry where mom kept the massive trays will all the goodies she’d baked for Christmas or Easter (of which the fluffy cozonac was always the centrepiece!) and pinch moon cookies from the beautiful stack so that she would not see (so we thought!) how many were missing by the big day!
It was not long until I started making them with my younger sister and repeated the recipe mainly around Christmas time.
This year, I had the precious helping hand of Santa’s little helper contributing to baking mom’s traditional walnut and meringue crescent moon cookies, and the fun we had in the kitchen was delightful!
Of course, witty Santa’s helper (England born and bred) reading an old recipe handwritten in Romanian was hilarious. Still, I was there to provide the correct translation, and we did not use any alien ingredients on this occasion!
What was incredibly touching to see was how the little helper managed perfectly well with very little intervention on my part. I watched and reminisced how I did the same, around the same age, if not older, in mom’s kitchen back home in Romania.
I am glad to write this and forever remember the generation switch moment as it happened, keeping an old tradition and using the same old (and a tad grease-stained in places) recipe book that mom took the time and patience to write.
It feels emotional now that I’m writing down the recipe. But when we baked the walnut meringue crescent moons, it was fun and pure joy to see how different ingredients transform when mixed and create a delightful dessert.
We agreed on something we both have a passion for – baking is biochemistry, and the kitchen is the lab!
Mom used whatever ingredients she could buy during a difficult time, when communist rule meant restrictions of all sorts, including food.
Today, I am trying to educate my kid to understand the difference the temperature brings to various ingredients and how to use healthier versions and combine them in a way that keeps the flavour but reduces the harm to our body. Mom’s recipe mentioned margarine; we use organic coconut oil or organic butter.
For a self-proclaimed future scientist, I am delighted to see how such a young person understands what excessive refining does to sugar and why that is harmful to our health or how the human digestive system does not have the right enzyme to process cow milk and how healthier substitutes not only help personal health but have a role in the massive chain reaction that affects the environment.
Back to our fun baking for a couple of hours, it was the best time spent away from the computer, and I can’t wait until next time it happens again!
The cookies came out perfectly, and we did a lot of bowl-licking in the process and cooky testing to check that the final product passes the approval of the otherwise fussy quality control bakers and eaters in the family!
Miraculously, the cookies kept disappearing from the platter just as I remember it happened when I was a child! But I rest assured the little helper can bake just fine anytime, not just for holidays, while I watch and enjoy a delightful walnut merengue crescent moon cookie when ready with my cappuccino. Perhaps it will be way more than one, in the end, because they are addictively scrumptious!
Ingredients for walnut meringue crescent moon cookies
For the base
Egg yolks
Coconut oil
Coconut sugar
Baking powder
Orange zest
Plain white flour
Salt
Jam layer
Any jam goes, but a slightly sour one will enhance the flavours. I prefer reduced sugar spicy strawberry jam. A jar is enough for this recipe.
For the meringue
Egg whites
Coconut sugar
Walnuts
Rum essence
Salt
Preparation method for walnut meringue crescent moon cookies
The base
Add the coconut oil at room temperature, a pinch of salt, orange zest, and coconut sugar to a large mixing bowl. Use a handheld mixer and the dough hooks to mix at a low speed.
Add the egg yolks one by one and continue mixing.
Sieve the flour and baking powder over and mix until it incorporates nicely.
If the dough becomes too firm, add a spoon or two of milk and mix.
Move the dough into a lined baking tray and level it by pressing gently with your wet hands.
Spread the jam over and level it nicely with a spatula.
The meringue
Before starting, preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F) and line the baking tray with a silicone sheet or baking parchment.
We followed mom’s method for the meringue and made the French version. Because we baked the walnut meringue crescent cookies already assembled, the meringue did not need beforehand cooking.
Mix the egg whites with a pinch of salt at high speed until stiff. Use a grinder to finely grind the coconut sugar (until you obtain a powdered, lighter brown icing sugar). Add it gradually to the eggs and mix at a low speed.
Grind the walnuts (not too long; they need to remain flakey) and add them to the batter. Fold gently with a spatula until incorporated.
Pour the meringue over the jam and level it without pressing too much.
Bake for 40 minutes and check the top is not charring.
When ready and you have checked the walnut meringue and base are cooked throughout, let it cool slightly.
Use a medium-size drinking glass to cut the crescent moon shapes while still warm.
Enjoy the cute and tasty walnut meringue crescent cookies with a festive hot chocolate or a nice cappuccino!
Walnut Meringue Crescent Cookies
Ingredients
The dough
- 200 g organic coconut oil
- 5 egg yolks organic, medium
- 400 g plain flour organic, white
- 1 tsp baking powder flat
- 80 g coconut sugar organic
- 1 organic orange zest
- 1 pinch salt sea/rock
Organic strawberry jam
The merengue
- 5 egg whites
- 120 g ground coconut sugar organic
- 150 g ground walnuts organic
- 1 pinch salt sea/rock
- 1 tbsp rum essence
Instructions
To make the dough
- Add the coconut oil at room temperature, a pinch of salt, orange zest, and coconut sugar in a large mixing bowl. Use a handheld mixer and the dough hooks to mix at a low speed.
- Add the egg yolks one by one and continue mixing.
- Sieve the flour and baking powder over and mix until it incorporates nicely.
- If the dough becomes too firm, add a spoon or two of milk and mix. Optionally, chill the dough for half an hour.
- Move the dough into a lined baking tray and level it by pressing gently with your wet hands.
- Spread the jam over and level it nicely with a spatula.
The meringue
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F) and line the baking tray with a silicone sheet or baking parchment.
- Batter the egg whites with a pinch of salt at high speed until stiff. Use a grinder to finely grind the coconut sugar (until you obtain a powdered, lighter brown icing sugar). Add it gradually to the eggs and mix at a low speed.
- Grind the walnuts (not too long; they need to remain flakey) and add them to the batter. Fold gently with a spatula until incorporated. Add the rum essence.
- Pour the meringue over the jam and level it without using too much pressure.
- Bake for 40 minutes and check the top is not charring.
- When the baking time is up, use a toothpick to check that the walnut meringue and base are cooked thoroughly.
- Keeping the parchment/silicone sheet, move the cake from the tray to a cooling rack. Allow it to cool slightly.
- Move from the cooling rack to the tabletop and use a medium drinking glass to cut the crescent moon shapes while the cake is still warm.
Walnut Meringue Crescent Cookies Easy Recipe
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The First Memories of Christmas
When I was eleven, some kids in my class told me that Santa did not exist – I replied that it was the naughtiest thing to say. He very much exists and brings me presents every year!
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The kids started laughing, so I turned my back and left them basking in their small, magicless and emotionless bubble. I instantly knew they would be on Santa’s naughty list!
When we returned to school after the winter holidays, the same kids told me that their parents gave them Christmas presents. Well, at least somebody loved them enough to compensate for the lack of magic in their lives, I thought!
Adult Perception of Christmas And a Little Legend
Besides excessive capitalist consumerism and gluttony, there must be an original reason why almost every planet celebrates Christmas.
This is no time for historical, religious or political debate; therefore, I won’t even go there.
There is this little ancient Romanian legend regarding Christmas that I love and would like to share with you instead.
The story goes that on December 24th, two thousand years ago, a young woman named Mary was about to give birth. She asked Santa Eve to offer her lodging for the night. But Santa Eve was poor and had nothing to offer Mary, so he sent her to his younger and richer brother, Santa Claus.
Mrs Claus received Mary, but because she knew Mr Claus was a grumpy and nasty old man, she took Mary to the stable to give birth.
Helped by Mrs. Claus, Mary gave birth to a little boy she named Jesus. The animals in the stable who witnessed the birth compassionately provided heat through their breathing to the little boy shivering in the manger.
Somehow, Santa Claus heard about this and was angry that his wife allowed a stranger on his property to help deliver her baby. He was so upset that he cut off Mrs. Claus’ hands.
Mary immediately took pity on the poor woman and healed her hands right back as if nothing had happened.
On witnessing this miracle, Santa Claus repented for his wickedness and became the nicest man in history.
That same night, rich Santa decided to share all his fortune with the poor children. Ever since, on Christmas Eve at midnight, he celebrates the birth of Jesus by riding his sleigh full of gifts to each house where there is a nice child and leaves at least one gift under the Christmas tree.
Christmas Today
To all the children in the world, I want to say this: the fact that history repeats itself, and before Jesus, there were Mithras or Horus, or Krishna is not of massive importance right now. As you grow up and your knowledge horizon expands, you will read and understand more about human history and our actions on this planet.
Mind you, you won’t hear a thing about any of this in school, but there is a reason why there are books!
All you need is an interest to know more than what an educational system or another is imposing on you! Remember that what you read is what you are!
What matters now is that, hopefully, you’ve been nice, and Santa has read his list (and checked it twice!)
And know one thing: magic beats technology! No matter how many cameras you hide in the house to catch him sneaking in through the chimney and how many Santa traps you set, he has his magic ways.
As you wake up on Christmas morning, you will find your presents underneath the tree and will know that you are loved! Even if there might be nothing recorded on camera – blackouts often happen during the night!
Dear kids, it would be fantastic if none of you would ever lose innocence!
Life will happen, and it will try to take it away from you, but the illusion of magic and the joy of giving will keep it alive in your souls forever! Hopefully!
If you need to know, I’m now in my fourth decade in this life, and Santa keeps bringing me gifts every Christmas. My child asked me if he ever missed. Nope! Never!
I did not receive quite what I asked for two years ago, though, but that was not Santa’s fault. Bring Me The Horizon, my favourite rock band in the world, was a bit slow in releasing Amo, and Santa found himself in the difficult position of not fulfilling a wish out of billions.
I kindly asked BMTH to plan a new music release before the end of the year if possible, please! After all, the elves are only trained to make wooden toys.
In all honesty, even if they would record music, carols would probably sound a bit weird in alternative metal, not to mention that Oli Sykes shouting Silent Night would be something else, indeed! And he probably won’t even know how to go to Santa’s recording studio. I mean workshop! Who knows the address?!
Anyway, last year, around this time, Post Human was out, packed and tied with a red bow, in Santa’s sack! Do you see how wishes work?
Now, what would I like Santa to bring me this year? Hmm…
If the end of the pandemic can fit in your sack, then Santa, please shove it in there and spread it over the entire humankind from your flying sleigh! I wish I could say we learned the lesson, but I know better.
Still, I remain optimistic because I know the power of wishes!
Have the Merriest Christmas ever!
Magic
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]]>Twelve Days Of Christmas
“On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me” the idea to bring together a few of the most famous Christmas treats from around the world.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will receive a commission if you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information. Thank you!
Christmas is indeed the most wonderful time of the entire year. It is a time of reflection and remembering why we even celebrate Christmas in the first place. A time for being grateful for what we have, for being together with loved ones, for sharing the love for one another and of course, for eating the foods that we love. But most of all, it is the best time for giving!
Click the links to the recipes, have fun preparing some desserts and enjoy sharing them at your Christmas table!
In the most challenging hour of our generation, I hope you are well, healthy, happy and on Santa’s “nice” list.
P.S. I could never remember the order of verses in this carol, so I’m giving myself (and anyone else who might fancy it) a chance to get it right finally. Sing along the melody and enjoy your Christmas treats from around the world!
A Partridge in a Pear Tree
ROMANIA: COZONAC
Provided by https://theworldisanoyster.com/
Cozonac is a beautiful Christmas culinary delight I grew up with as a child – a Romanian tradition that meant on each major holiday, mom would bake the best treat there could be. Each important religious holiday (be it Christmas or Easter), the house would smell incredibly good, filled with delightful flavours escaping from the oven. And I would wait impatiently for the festive dinner to finally savour the best treat created by humankind!
To me, cozonac is the best festive treat there can be, and I can never get enough of it! You can offer me the most elaborated sweet made by the most in-demand French pastry chef at a fancy king’s court, and I would always choose cozonac! Nothing beats the aromas that fill the air when you bake it and the taste offered by the combination of spices used in preparation!
Link to recipe here.
Two Turtle Doves
GERMANY: STOLLEN
Provided by https://mydinner.co.uk/
Do you want to learn how to make stollen? Great! I did too, so I asked my uncle Heinz, a retired German baker. He walked me through the steps of his German recipe. I am happy to share what I have learned!
A quick backstory: My father was born into a family of bakers in Bremen in the 1950s. His father was a baker, and his two brothers followed in his footsteps. Until recently you could visit the “Bäckerei Jünemann” in Bremen, but my uncle has now retired.
You will, of course, have heard of stollen – the white powdered German Christmas cake. It is available to buy in Lidl and Aldi at Christmas time. Try homemade stollen, and you will never buy one again.
Link to recipe here.
Three French Hens
ITALY: PANETTONE
Provided by https://theworldisanoyster.com/
As is the case with everything Italian, the nation’s Christmas traditional dessert, Panettone, has its own history that goes back to the fifteenth century.
A legend has it that one Christmas Eve, while the entire court and guests of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan were sat at the festive table, disaster stroke in the kitchen. The cook managed to burn the dessert accidentally!
While the unfortunate cook was pulling his hair off, a kitchen helper, Toni, threw a few ingredients in a bowl and made a soft dough he baked and served to the potent rulers of Milan.
The sweetbread was so successful among the guests that the Sforzas called it Pan di Toni (The Bread of Toni), which remained in history as the rich people’s traditional Christmas bread. Today, it is the classic Italian dessert the entire world knows as Panettone and must absolutely find a place among your Christmas treats from around the world on the festive table!
Link to recipe here.
Four Calling Birds
AUSTRIA: COCONUT KISSES
Provided by https://vividlychristmas.com/
Coconut kisses (or “Kokos Busserl”, as they are called in German ) are traditional Austrian cookies still popular during the Advent and the winter holidays. A little Christmas cookie made by dedicated bakers would always be present on the festive table.
The creator of these festive and romantic cookies has kept her beloved grandma’s recipe and continues to make it each Christmas with her little daughter. A beautiful tradition perpetuated in the family and across many generations – what else can be more suitable for Christmas, a time for family and togetherness?
Link to recipe here.
Five Gold Rings
IRELAND: BARMBRACK BREAD
Provided by https://coffeefitkitchen.com/
This Chocolate Irish Barmbrack Bread is a rendition of a traditional holiday tea loaf! It’s full of semi-sweet chocolate, raisins and topped with melted chocolate too! This bread is not overly sweet or sugary, but the flavours of the fruit and chocolate shine through!
It’s a perfect bread to share during the holidays or whenever you want a sweet treat. The most traditional holiday it is served on is Halloween, but it’s also included in other holiday celebrations as well.
Since my heritage is about 80% Irish, I was excited to try this recipe! I took inspiration from the recipe on a baking show, and of course, added chocolate to my barmbrack too.
Link to recipe here.
Six Geese a-Laying
GREAT BRITAIN: MINCE PIES
Provided by https://theworldisanoyster.com/
As a migrant who settled in the U.K., of course, I got to learn and appreciate local traditions. But I remember staying away from mince pies for several years. The reason? I did not get why a meaty thing would be placed in a pastry sheet and have sugar sprinkled on top! My prejudice wilted when I decided it was time to do some research and get to the bottom of the story!
It turned up they were only called mince pies because, historically, they would contain minced meat (mainly mutton). In time, dry fruits would replace the meat, and people would start adding booze to the fruity filling.
Mince pies seem to have made it to Britain in the middle ages, brought by the crusaders from the Middle East. At the time, they were filled with meat, fruits and spices and were not a dessert but the main course.
Today, mince pies cannot miss your Christmas treats from around the world baking list! In the Anglophone world, it would not be Christmas without them!
Link to recipe here.
Seven Swans a-Swimming
PHILIPPINES: PUTO BUMBONG
Provided by https://therunningbaker24.com/
One way of knowing that Christmas is getting nearer is when you see local vendors near churches selling puto bumbong delicacy. A unique sweet delicacy made of purple steamed rice cake usually eaten after attending simbang gabi.
For those living abroad, many miss this traditional delicacy puto bumbong. As we approach the holiday season, especially Christmas, I will be sharing this simple yet easy puto bumbong without a bamboo steamer.
This puto bumbong recipe is originally from the Philippines and plays a significant role in Filipino Catholic practice as a tradition. After attending simbang gabi or nine traditional novena mass stores are open outside the church to sell puto bumbong, and mass goers will buy and eat right away.
Link to recipe here.
Eight Maids a-Milking
POLAND: RUGELACH
Provided by https://missourigirlhome.com/
Rugelach. Pronounced “Rugala”. Learn it well because once you have made and shared this cookie, everyone will be asking its name. Time and time again.
I made these for my work Christmas potluck last year, and I bet I said “Rugelach” at least 100 times.
So what exactly is Rugalach? It is a Polish cookie made with a tender cream cheese dough filled with the filling of choice and then rolled into a tiny crescent shape.
The version we are making today is a little less traditional, but it is my personal favourite: Cinnamon and brown sugar with a hint of nutmeg and ginger. A delectable dessert to include in your Christmas treats from around the world baking list!
Link to recipe here.
Nine Ladies Dancing
USA: SUGAR COOKIE TRUFFLES
Provided by https://blueworlddreams.com/
Who else loves sugar cookies? Well, I’ll be honest, they only recently came into my life after my husband requested some sugar cookie truffles.
These truffles are versatile. Decorate them for whichever holiday you want by switching the colour of the chocolate wafers and decorative toppings.
In my local area, they only sell frosted sugar cookies, so I purchased those and scraped off most of the icing. I left a little green so that my dough would have a nice light green festive colour to contrast the ruby-red exterior.
Link to recipe here.
Ten Lords a-Leaping
MEXICO: VEGAN CARLOTA
Provided by https://www.conflictedvegan.com/
A “Carlota” is far from Mexican; in fact, its origin is still debated as possibly being from the United Kingdom. Vegan Carlota is also known as “Charlotte Russe”. Not the store at the local mall, ladies and gentlemen!
You will not need a stove. What you will need is a large baking dish. A favourite kitchen helper is also allowed as this dessert will not require heavy machinery but the blender. A Vegan Carlota is made with wheat flour cookies; the brand I used was El Mexicano. If you are following a vegan lifestyle, make sure you double-check as the traditional Gamesas are not vegan. You will need vegan condensed and evaporated milk. Soy or coconut will be just as delicious along with lemon or lime. The mango in this recipe is interchangeable with any other fresh fruit. It was solely used as a topping for aesthetics. I left it in the fridge overnight because it was for a work event, but 2 to 3 hours to settle should be fine. Shall we begin?
Link to recipe here.
Eleven Pipers Piping
USA/FRANCE: APPLE BLACKBERRY PIE
Provided by https://cheapdeliciousdinner.com/
This recipe is my take on this famous recipe called Apple pie by Grandma Ople. I love it because it is simple and easy. I fell in love with making pies by following this recipe. But I have made some changes to it, so I hope you will like this version.
The holidays are coming up, and I tend to stress about not finishing all the food on time; I try to make my holidays as stress-free as possible.
If someone invites us for dinner, this is usually the dessert I make and bring because of its affordable price and deliciousness.
Link to recipe here.
Twelve Drummers Drumming
USA: BUTTERCREAM COOKIES
Provided by https://buttercreamparties.com/
I am IN LOVE with these cute sugar plum fairy buttercream cookies! I think it’s mainly because the colours are so beautiful. I love to see pastels pulled off correctly during the Christmas season.
This set of sugar plum fairy buttercream cookies would be great for a kid’s birthday party as well! Or maybe even as a baby shower for a little girl on the way!
This tutorial is beginner-friendly, so don’t be worried about all of the steps! I will have a video tutorial plus step-by-step photo series for each of these sugar plum fairy buttercream cookies. Follow along for the detailed tutorial!
Link to recipe here.
What is your special Christmas treat from around the world?
Which of these delectable Christmas treats from around the world is your favourite? What special one do you make often at Christmas? What new one would you like to try this year?
Whatever your choice, may you have your table always filled with delicious foods and your heart overflowed with love and happiness!
The Twelve Days Of Christmas is an anonymous cumulative British carol published in the eighteenth century and still played by carollers today. Hopefully, this tradition will continue for many years to come!
Have a very Merry Christmas!
Twelve Days Of Christmas
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