Kossuth Kifli ( Half Moon Cookies)
Master Hungarian Kossuth Kifli cookies crafted with butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and lemon. Enjoy their unique cake-like texture, baked as a sheet cake and artfully cut into crescent shapes with a glass.
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 115kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 4 eggs separated
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- juice and zest from one lemon
Optional:
- 1 cup ground walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
- Butter and flour an 11inch x 17inch (27x43 cm) baking pan and set aside.
- Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until fluffy.
- Add the egg yolks, one at a time, and continue beating.
- Gradually add the flour.
- Incorporate the vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice into the batter and mix well.
- In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites to stiff peaks.
- Slowly incorporate them into the batter with a spatula, grabbing the batter from underneath to the surface. (this will keep the air in the egg whites )and help the batter rise)
- Gently spread the batter into the prepared pan.
- Optional: Evenly sprinkle walnuts on top of the batter.
- Bake at 350F for about 20 minutes until the edges are lightly golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and place the tray on a cooling rack before cutting the cookies.
- When cool, cut half-moons shape cookies with a glass or a round biscuit cutter. Place them on a platter.
- Dust the cookies with powdered sugar and serve. They keep well in a tightly covered container for up to 2 days.
Notes
- Butter Consistency: Use butter that's softened but not melted for the best texture in your cookies.
- Egg Whites: Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks for a lighter, airier cookie texture.
- Lemon Zest: Freshly grated lemon zest adds a brighter flavor than pre-packaged zest.
- Mixing Technique: Gently fold the ingredients to keep the air in the batter, ensuring a soft, cake-like texture.
- Cutting Cookies: Use a round biscuit cutter or a glass for uniform half-moon shapes. Dip the cutter in flour to prevent sticking.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain freshness.
- Freezing Tips: Freeze the cookies in a single layer before transferring to a bag or container to prevent sticking.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 44mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 159IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg
