Zimtsterne-German Cinnamon Stars

Zimtsterne are a very popular cookie in German-speaking countries.   You will see them on many dessert trays during the month of December.  As my mother's cookie making helper, my job used to be putting the "icing" on the stars before they were baked.  Admittedly, this is the most time-consuming process of making these cookies, but it is so worth it.  For those of you who are gluten-free, this cookie is for you!  My family especially enjoys how chewy and tasty they are.  I hope that yours will too!

Zimtsterne

• Author: Gitta
• Prep Time: 60 minutes
• Total Time: 75 minutes
• Yield: 68 cookies 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Cuisine: Austrian, German

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Description

Delicious, gluten and dairy-free cookie

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 egg whites, (large eggs)
• 2 ½ cups powdered sugar ((250 grams) You will need additional powdered sugar for rolling out the cookies. )
• 3 cups finely ground almonds ((300 grams) I use whole, raw, skin on almonds and grind them in a food processor (affiliate link))
• 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp grated lemon peel (from one lemon)
• 1-2 tsbp dark rum (optional)

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.  Line a sheet pan (affiliate link) with parchment paper.  
2. Place egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer.  Using the whisk (affiliate link) attachment beat until frothy.  
   
3. Add powdered sugar 1 tablespoon at a time to the egg whites.  Beat until they are thick and glossy (about 6 minutes).  
   
4. Set aside 5 tablespoons of the meringue.  This will be used to "frost" the cookies before they are baked and creates the "white" topping on the cookies.  
5. Remove bowl from the mixer.  Fold in almonds, cinnamon, and lemon peel and rum if you are using it.
   
6. The dough will be very thick.  If it is too thin, add more ground nuts.  Place dough in the refrigerator for at least one hour.  The dough can be rolled immediately, but I have found that chilling it makes it easier to manage. 
   
7. When you are ready to roll out the dough, sprinkle powdered sugar (not flour) on a cutting board (affiliate link).  Sprinkle top of the dough with powdered sugar.  Roll out the dough to ¼".  Dip the cookie cutter in water and cut out cookies.  The scraps can be formed into a ball and re-rolled again to make more cookies.  Be sure the cookie-cutter corners don't have any dough in them or your stars will not have distinct points when they are baked.  
    I normally use two different sizes of star cookie cutters; a 1-½" and 2" star.  I think the different sizes look nice on a cookie plate. 
   
8. Place cookies on the prepared sheet pan (affiliate link).  Using a pastry brush (affiliate link) frost the cookies with the reserved meringue. 
   
9. Bake cookies for 15-20 minutes. Remove cookies to a cooling rack (affiliate link).   The cookies will firm as they cool.  It is best to wait 24 hours before you eat them so that the flavors can develop.  Store the cookies in an airtight container. They can be stored up to 3 weeks but at my house, they never last that long!
   

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Keywords: Zimsterne, Cinnamon Stars