These cookies have been named the best bite-sized cookies in the world several times by various juries.
This recipe comes from early 20th-century Serbian homes, handed down from grandmothers to daughters over the years.
These small sandwich cookies are soft and crumbly, filled with fruit jam, and dusted with vanilla-scented powdered sugar. They’re simple, traditional, and full of old-world charm.
The popularity of vanilice in Serbia is best shown by the fact that they are among the best-selling products on the market and one of the most commonly made cookies.
Their uniqueness and delicious taste have even been recognized internationally, and vanilice have been declared the best small holiday cookies!
Recipes for these bite-sized cookies are well known to every sweet tooth, and there’s hardly a household that doesn’t have at least one version written down.
The special charm of vanilice lies in the fact that anyone can make them in their own way—and the result is always the same: delicious!
Still, if you’re new to the world of baking, we’ll gladly help you make your first batch. So, where do we begin?
Pork lard! If you ask experienced homemakers and dessert lovers, lard is what makes vanilice special—and you simply can’t make them without it.
When you think about it, homemade lard has always been a key ingredient in baking in many regions, especially considering that our grandmothers and their grandmothers didn’t have access to vegetable oil, margarine, or butter.
That’s why lard was one of the main ingredients in cakes and pies—and for good reason: it makes cookies melt in your mouth with every bite.
Let’s not forget that pork lard is also an excellent source of health benefits and is still widely used in baking. Old-fashioned vanilice made with lard are a true delight!
Ingredients:
For the dough:
- 250 g lard (or 200 g lard + 50 g butter)
- 100 g powdered sugar
- 1 packet vanilla sugar (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
- 1 egg
- Juice from half a lemon (or a little grated zest)
- 500 g all-purpose flour
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: 1 tbsp milk (if the dough is too firm)
For filling and coating:
- Apricot or plum jam (smooth, without chunks)
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- 1 packet vanilla sugar (mixed with the powdered sugar)
Instructions:
- In a bowl, beat lard and powdered sugar until creamy and smooth.
- Add the egg, lemon juice, and vanilla, then mix until combined.
- Gradually add the flour and salt, and knead into a soft dough. Add a spoon of milk only if it feels too dry.
- Wrap the dough and let it chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
- Roll out the dough to about 5 mm (1/5 inch) thick and cut out small round cookies using a cookie cutter or small glass (about 1.5 inches in diameter).
- Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 10–12 minutes. They should stay pale and only lightly golden on the bottom.
- Let the cookies cool completely. Then sandwich two cookies with jam in the middle.
- Generously dust the tops with powdered sugar mixed with vanilla sugar.
Tips:
- They taste even better after 1–2 days when they soften and the flavors blend.
- Traditional recipes use pork lard, which gives the unique crumbly texture — but butter can be substituted.
- Store in an airtight container. They can last up to two weeks.
Old-Fashioned Vegan Vanilice or Old-Fashioned Walnut Vanilice
Old-fashioned vegan vanilice are just as simple to make as the regular ones, with one special addition—walnuts.
You can make walnut vanilice using the following recipe:
Ingredients:
- 500g vegan margarine
- 1kg flour
- 100g ground walnuts
- 1 lemon (juice and zest)
- 2 packets of vanilla sugar
- 250g powdered sugar
- Jam or fruit spread of your choice
Instructions:
Cream together the vegan margarine and powdered sugar. If you don’t have enough margarine, you can use a mix of 250g margarine and 250ml oil.
Then add the vanilla sugar, ground walnuts, lemon juice, and grated lemon zest. Mix well. Gradually add flour and knead by hand until you get a smooth dough.
On a floured surface, roll out the dough to your desired thickness. Use cookie cutters to shape the vanilice and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Bake at 180°C (356°F) for 5 to 10 minutes, just until they’re set but still pale in color. While still warm, spread a bit of jam on one cookie and press another on top to make a sandwich.
Finally, roll or dust them with powdered sugar.