These delicate, melt-in-your-mouth crescent-shaped cookies are a traditional Romanian treat, perfect for holidays or any special occasion. Made without dairy or eggs, they are entirely vegan and filled with rich prune jam and crunchy walnuts. The dough is crumbly and fragrant, with a hint of lemon zest and coconut oil, making them irresistibly tasty and beautiful to serve.
Ingredients
For the dough:
400 g all-purpose flour
200 g coconut oil
70 ml lemon juice
60 ml water
Zest of 2 lemons
1 tbsp vanilla sugar
6 g fresh yeast or 2 g dry yeast
A pinch of salt
For the filling:
200 g thick prune jam
100 g finely chopped walnuts
For rolling:
250 g powdered sugar
Instructions:
Make the dough:
Place coconut oil at room temperature in a large bowl.
Sift the flour, add salt, and lemon zest. Rub between your fingers until the mixture resembles sand.
Crumble the yeast with vanilla sugar and add to the mixture.
Dissolve dry yeast in 1 teaspoon warm water with a little vanilla sugar if using.
Add lemon juice and water, mixing gently with a spatula until the dough begins to form, about 10 seconds.
Shape the crumbs into a compact ball without kneading. Flatten, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight).
Prepare the filling:
Mix chopped walnuts with 3–4 tablespoons of prune jam. If too runny, bind with 2 tablespoons of finely ground walnuts or almonds.
Cut and fill the dough:
Divide the chilled dough into two parts, working with one at a time.
Roll out on floured baking paper to about 3–4 mm thickness, aiming for a round shape.
Cut into 4 quarters, then into 16 sectors. Gather the edges and refrigerate in a plastic bag.
For each sector, place one teaspoon of jam mixture and roll from base to tip into a crescent.
Bake:
Preheat the oven to 190°C with ventilation (or near maximum for gas).
Bake each tray directly from the fridge for 25–30 minutes until lightly golden (not browned).
While still hot, roll crescents in powdered sugar for better adhesion.
Serve:
Let cool slightly before serving. These vegan crescent cookies are aromatic, tender, and melt in your mouth. They also look beautiful arranged in a bonbonnière.
Enjoy your homemade vegan Cornulețe de post cu gem de prune și nucă!