Zimtsterne - Cinnamon Stars
Cinnamon stars, or Zimtsterne in German, are a traditional Christmas cookie famous in Germany and other parts of Europe. These festive cookies are made with ground almonds, egg whites, and cinnamon, and they're often adorned with meringue glaze topping. If you're looking for a delicious holiday treat to make at home, give these cinnamon stars a try!
Ingredients
- 2 cups almonds finely ground
- ½ cup granulated sugar superfine
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour unbleached
- 2 tsp cinnamon powder
- 2 egg whites large
For the meringue glaze:
- 1 egg white large
- pinch salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar superfine
- 2 tsp milk
Instructions
For the cookie dough:
- Mix the almonds, sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
- Using a rubber spatula, stir in 2 egg whites until the dough comes together. It will become a little sticky.
- Flatten the dough into a large circle on a piece of plastic wrap. Wrap in more plastic film and place inside the fridge for at least an hour or longer.
- Preheat oven to 325°. Place a Silpat mat or parchment paper between two baking sheets.
- Roll the dough to a thickness of about 1 cm between two sheets of parchment paper, cut out stars, and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Once all the dough has been used, reroll the leftover dough and continue cutting out stairs.
For the meringue glaze:
- Combine egg white with the salt and beat it until stiff. While doing that, slowly add in the sugar until well combined.
- The meringue shouldn't be watery but have a spreading consistency. If additional milk is required, add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon until the desired consistency is achieved.
- Scoop ½ teaspoon of meringue in the middle part raw cookie star. Using a small brush, drag the meringue onto the edge until it turns a star shape. Continue until the meringue glaze is applied to all cookies.
- Bake for about 8 minutes while watching the cookies carefully since you don't want the meringue to darken throughout the baking.
- Take out and cool on a wire rack after baking. Use an airtight container for storage.
Notes
Though, the traditional German star has 6 points. You can use a 5-point star cutter if that's available.
If you plan to serve this at a party, you can make these cookies in advance and store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
If you plan to serve this at a party, you can make these cookies in advance and store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 51kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.001gCholesterol: 0.03mgSodium: 0.2mgPotassium: 60mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 0.004mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 0.4mg
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