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Christmas time is upon us, and what better way to get into the holiday spirit than by baking up a batch of Zimtsterne (cinnamon stars)? These traditional German cookies are not only delicious, but they’re also fun to make. So grab your apron and your ingredients, and let’s get started!
Zimtsterne- Cinnamon Stars
These cookies are perfect for the holidays and bring a little bit of Germany into your home. The flavors of cinnamon and almonds brighten up the cookie without being too overbearing. If you want to try something new this holiday season, baking these Zimtsterne- Cinnamon Stars should be at the top of your list since they’re not too difficult to make and can be achieved quickly, even with beginners too.
Pantry Staples
Zimtsterne is a classic German Christmas cookie that is not only delicious but also beautiful. Made with just a few pantry staples like flour, sugar, egg, almonds, and cinnamons, you can create one holiday treat perfect for family and friends. Make this cookie in advance, and this can also be a wonderful holiday gift too.
Few Tweaks and Tricks
In German, “Sterne” denotes stars, and “Zimt” means cinnamon. The recipe apparently calls for cinnamon, which cannot be substituted. However, you can still use a few other spices to enhance the flavor, like clove, anis, ginger, and cardamom. Just make sure that it’s not overpowering the cinnamon flavor, though.
As for the base, you can use almond flour for this recipe; some also love combining it with hazelnut meal or any nuts that are grounded until it forms a little delicate but still nutty texture.
Let’s Make it Vegan
This is one of those recipes that you can easily turn into Vegan without having too much trouble with the ingredients. You can replace the egg whites with Aquafaba or the liquid you find in cans of chickpeas. You can replace the sugar with refined coconut sugar instead, and for the milk, you can choose any plant-based milk alternatives.
Baking Tips
Cutting and shaping the dough can be a little tricky since the dough is a bit sticky. You can dip the star cookie cutter in water before using it, but make sure to shake it first to remove excess water to prevent your dough from becoming watery. Another option would be dipping the cutter into powdered sugar once in a while to ensure that you will end up with perfectly shaped stars with sharp edges.
Use room temperature egg whites to achieve the most excellent “stiff peaks.” The simplest method for separating eggs is to do so when the eggs are still cold, so you may do this directly out of the refrigerator before letting the egg whites come to room temperature.
Zimtsterne - Cinnamon Stars
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
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
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To Wrap It All Up
Zimtsterne is a traditional German Christmas cookie, and they’re delicious. Aside from that, they are also perfect for a holiday gift! If you’re ready to try your hand at baking them, be sure to check out the recipe below. Trust me – with a bit of practice; you’ll be baking these beauties like a pro in no time!
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