These gorgeous crescent cookie or the vanillekipferl (or simply kipferls!) are cookies that originated in vienna, austria and are traditionally made during christmas in germany and other european countries. The name vanillekipferl (pronounced van-el-eu-kip-fuhl) means “vanilla crescent” or “vanilla moon.”one story is that their shape was meant to resemble the turkish crescent moon, to celebrate one of the victories of the hungarian army over the turkish army. Whatever maybe the history behind the name, these crescents are quick to make and absolutely melt in the mouth !.