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Merveilles (French Christmas Cookies)

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | December 20, 2018 36 Comments

Last updated on December 28th, 2018

Thanks to Nova Ethel Metzger Jacobs (a/k/a The Christmas Cookie Queen; a/k/a my paternal grandmother), I fell in love with Merveilles when I was a kid. Who can resist these light, airy, orange zest-scented ribbons that are finished with a blizzard of confectioners’ sugar? Although I serve Merveilles exclusively at Christmastime, just as my grandmother did, they are available the year round in their 18th-century birthplace: the South of France. They are surprisingly easy to make.

Here’s the video, followed by the printable recipe. (If you need a photographic step-by-step, please visit this post from 2014.)

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Joyeux Noël, everone!

xKevin

Here’s the printable:

Print
Merveilles (French Christmas Cookies)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Yield: At least 2 dozen cookies

These light, airy, orange-scented cookies come to us from the south of France. They are insanely delicious.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (136 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • The grated zest of 1 orange
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten, at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons brandy
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Flavorless vegetable oil for frying
  • Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Tip the sugar and orange zest into a medium bowl. Use your fingertips to rub the sugar and zest together until the sugar is moist and fragrant. Add the butter, and blend it into the sugar with a spatula. Add the egg, brandy or rum and vanilla, and stir to blend. Then add the dry ingredients and stir until a soft, sticky dough develops. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
  2. Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap. Cut the dough in half and return one half to the refrigerator. Sprinkle the top of the dough with flour, and then roll it out on a floured surface, flipping the dough frequently and adding more flour to keep it from sticking, until it is paper thin. (You can roll the dough into a neat rectangle, or into a free-form shape.) Use a pastry cutter, a fluted ravioli wheel, or a sharp knife to cut the pastry into strips. I always aim for 1-inch wide strips, about 4 inches long. Roll out and cut the remaining dough into strips. Transfer the strips to the prepared baking sheet, and cover with another piece of plastic wrap. Chill for 1 hour.
  3. Line a baking sheet with several layers of paper towels. In a heavy pot, heat 2-3 inches of oil to 350°F, as determined by a candy thermometer. Fry 4 or 5 strips at a time just until golden brown on one side. Then flip them over with chopsticks or a slotted spatula, and brown the other side. Transfer the Merveilles to the paper towel-lined baking sheet, let them drain for a minute, and then immediately coat both sides with confectioners’ sugar.
3.1
https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/merveilles-french-christmas-cookies/
Copyright 2015 by Kevin Lee Jacobs

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  • Orange Cognac Cookies

  • Decorating the Mantel

  • Christmas Glögg!

  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes

  • (Make-Ahead) Braised Short Ribs
Polenta and Egg Breakfast Casserole
Buckwheat Pancakes with Blueberry-Lemon Compote

Comments

  1. 1

    Brenda Johnson says

    December 21, 2018 at 8:15 pm

    That’s them!!!!! The cookies I crave!!!! I must carve out time to make these!!!!

  2. 2

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    December 22, 2018 at 7:37 am

    Hi Brenda – Merveilles are SO worth the effort. Enjoy and merry, merry to you!

  3. 3

    Tabatha Hibbs says

    December 22, 2018 at 9:20 am

    These really look a lot like the beignets made in New Orlean’s French Quarter. So delicious.

  4. 4

    Mary Christiani says

    December 22, 2018 at 9:36 am

    Blessings with every Bite! These are amazing! Thank you, Kevin.

  5. 5

    John says

    December 22, 2018 at 9:37 am

    Mmmmm! Those look incredible! Merveilleous!

  6. 6

    Anne Callaway says

    December 22, 2018 at 9:58 am

    Can’t wait to make these! Your food is always delicious; my family will love them- thank you!

  7. 7

    Maraya says

    December 22, 2018 at 11:22 am

    I’ve been looking for a recipe for these, but didn’t know what they were called. Thanks, Kevin!
    Oh, no!! Love your Mr. Bill doll! Is he around to comment on mistakes?

  8. 8

    Susan says

    December 22, 2018 at 11:29 am

    Kevin, they sound fabulous. I will try making them! I also want to tell you that I made the pana cotta and they were luscious! Thank you so much. Merry Christmas.

  9. 9

    Rose says

    December 22, 2018 at 11:51 am

    Kevin, The French miracle cookies look delicious. If one has no french brandy is there any substitute? Hope your Christmas is filled with blessings.

  10. 10

    Valerie Kalves says

    December 22, 2018 at 11:54 am

    Look so delicious that my mouth was watering. Must make some as I know they’ll be a favourite of my grandchildren. BTW I always enjoy your videos e.g. with your funny comments.

  11. 11

    linda hulsey says

    December 22, 2018 at 12:01 pm

    oh my gosh i cant wait to make this, thanks so much Kevin for this wonderful video….Merry Christmas …..i dont have a candy thermometer but i have a nuwave pic hope that will keep the oil at the correct temp it usually works for things so hope so

  12. 12

    Nancy says

    December 22, 2018 at 12:08 pm

    Wouldn’t they look lovely on a green, red or even golden glass plate or other container. But then they would get eaten so fast you would need to make a trillion batches. Thank you for all the recipes and especially for the ‘little people’ and fun comments too. You make the world a brighter place for all of us! Happy Holidays to you and yours and Best Wishes for a Positive year ahead too.

  13. 13

    Ardelle F Tuxen says

    December 22, 2018 at 1:06 pm

    They look wonderful and easy too. I will have to wait until another time to make them. The kitchen is clean and the bags are almost packed. Merry Christmas – Happy Holidays to everyone!

  14. 14

    Mary Ann says

    December 22, 2018 at 1:12 pm

    Loved your video . . . like I was right there in the kitchen with you. I’m going to make these! Added benefit: excuse to buy a bottle of French brandy.

  15. 15

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    December 22, 2018 at 1:45 pm

    Hi Maraya – Yes, Mr. Bill!

    Hi Susan – Glad you enjoyed the panna cotta!

    Hi Rose – Grand Marnier (or any orange liqueur) can sub for the brandy.

  16. 16

    Annie says

    December 22, 2018 at 2:15 pm

    Thank you, Kevin for your honest and delightful cooking videos. Your demeanor and basic earthy attitude keeps me enjoying watching them.

    These cookies remind me of a kind of Danish Christmas cookie that I learned about while in Denmark called Klejner. They are almost identical to these Merveilles the only real difference is in the shaping. The Danish cook cuts the dough into elongated triangles, puts a slit down the middle and then pulls one end of the triangle through the slit creating a very pleasant shape. I have made Klejner (pronounced sort of like Kli-ner but you have to have a good grip on the Danish language to ever pronounce anything in their language properly to a Dane)
    You are SO right in saying that they are some of the most impossible-to-resist cookies ever.

    Thank you for reminding me of these, thank you for your video. I’m not bored.

    If you ever stop doing this cooking thing many people will just die!
    Just kidding but it’s kind of like that.
    ~Annie

  17. 17

    Annie says

    December 22, 2018 at 3:15 pm

    I forgot to mention that “klejner” means “small” as in eine kleine nachtmusik…just in the small chance you didn’t think of that.

  18. 18

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    December 22, 2018 at 4:37 pm

    Hi Annie – Merveilles is similar to klejner, although easier to form!

  19. 19

    Maraya says

    December 22, 2018 at 5:37 pm

    I gave in and ordered a Mr. Bill for my kitchen! 🙂
    Found a good deal on Amazon.

  20. 20

    Mike Martin says

    December 22, 2018 at 6:13 pm

    Merry Christmas Kevin,
    When I visit family in the St. Louis area, I always like to do a bit of cooking there just for the fun of it! Thank you for the Merveilles recipe. I’ll try one batch with brandy and the other with rum, to see if there’s a different flavor. I’m sure they’ll be a hit! MRM

  21. 21

    Judy Hines says

    December 22, 2018 at 7:01 pm

    These look beyond yummy! Kevin, Happy Holidays to you and yours and to your cute doggie!

  22. 22

    Judith Miller says

    December 22, 2018 at 8:16 pm

    Divine Kevin !

    Never had anything so utterly heavenly ……. and easy to make too !

    They will be a Christmas staple from now on …….

  23. 23

    Tiffany says

    December 23, 2018 at 9:10 am

    Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas! Thank you for sharing all these delicious recipes with us!

  24. 24

    Katharine says

    December 23, 2018 at 11:08 pm

    Kevin, I enjoy your videos! I wonder if I could substitute orange liqueur for the brandy? Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I can’t do a single more store run. Thanks and Merry Christmas.

  25. 25

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    December 24, 2018 at 8:09 am

    Hi Katharine – Brandy or rum are traditional for Merveilles, but I think orange liqueur will work as well. Enjoy!

  26. 26

    Dot says

    December 24, 2018 at 9:55 am

    Kevin, I think I’m going to give those a try! Rum balls at Christmas used to be my favorite but this may be a new classic! Merry Christmas!

  27. 27

    Susan Beausoleil says

    December 24, 2018 at 8:06 pm

    I have a french heritage and would love to have more traditions for my family. Love that these cookies have been around for many years. Thank you Kevin for posting, sharing your recipes.

  28. 28

    Cheryl says

    January 21, 2019 at 7:58 pm

    Wow is all I can say. Loving your articles and recipes. Cook’n by the Creek

  29. 29

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    January 21, 2019 at 8:04 pm

    Hi Susan and Cheryl – Thanks so much for spending time with me!

  30. 30

    Phyllis says

    December 13, 2020 at 4:50 pm

    Hopefully your foot is healing well.

    I can’t wait to make these cookies to serve at Christmas, thank you.

    I have a request, Kevin could you play something on your piano for this Christmas/New Year season for all of us. It would be such a treat!!!!

  31. 31

    Debbie says

    December 13, 2020 at 10:24 pm

    Hey Kevin,
    Can these be be made ahead and frozen?

  32. 32

    marlene swanson says

    December 14, 2020 at 12:35 am

    Hi Kevin,
    FYI:
    This recipe is very similar to a cookie made in former Yugoslavia
    called a rostule…..or angel wing. Yes, this cookie was made in
    Yugoslavia for centuries…..it is a very old traditional recipe made
    at Christmas time along the Adriatic Sea near the Bay of Kotor.

  33. 33

    Heather says

    December 14, 2020 at 3:11 am

    Can’t wait to try these! Hope you are healing well after your surgery. It’s a good year to not have that party and rat your leg/foot. Thank you for all your fantastic recipes. What is the best way to store these? Just an airtight container? I can’t see freezing them unless maybe without the sugar?

  34. 34

    Ruth says

    December 18, 2020 at 8:29 am

    What can I substitute for the Brandy?

  35. 35

    Vicki S says

    December 23, 2020 at 1:38 pm

    Kevin, O.M.G!! I just finished making Merveilles for the first time, and they are marvelous indeed! Simply scrumptious, and very easy to make. Your video was especially helpful on this recipe, so thank you for doing that! Keep sending out these marvelous recipes! And a wonderful Christmas and New Years to you and the Silver Fox (and your fur baby friends).

Trackbacks

  1. 20+ Opulent French Cookies That Melt In Your Mouth 2022 says:
    April 24, 2022 at 2:50 am

    […] 17. Merveilles (French Christmas Cookies) […]

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