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A festive plate of traditional German Zimtsterne (cinnamon star cookies) topped with white icing, surrounded by red and white foil-wrapped chocolates and evergreen sprigs, with a red house in the centre.

German Cinnamon Stars (Zimtsterne)

Zimtsterne, or Cinnamon Stars, are traditional German Christmas cookies made with almonds and topped with a glossy meringue frosting.
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Course Dessert
Cuisine German

Ingredients
  

  • Recipe Ingredients:
  • 3 large egg whites
  • 250 g / 2 cups icing sugar plus extra for rolling
  • 1 packet 8g Vanilla Sugar or 2 tsp Homemade Vanilla Sugar
  • 3 drops Ruf Bitter Almond bitter almond flavouring
  • 1 level teaspoon / 2g ground cinnamon
  • 300 g / 3 cups ground almonds

For the Glaze:

  • 2 tablespoons reserved egg white mixture
  • ¼ teaspoon water

Instructions
 

  • Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 140°C (285°F).
  • Whip Egg Whites: Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
    Zitsterne - Whip egg whites using a stand mixer
  • Incorporate Sugar: Gradually add the icing sugar, one tablespoon at a time, until glossy.
    Zimtsterne - Gradually add icing sugar
  • Reserve Glaze: Reserve 2 tablespoons of this mixture for the glaze.
    Zimtsterne - Reserve 2 tablespoons of the egg white and icing mixture
  • Mix Dough: Add homemade vanilla Sugar, bitter almond, cinnamon, and half of the ground almonds, mix until combined.
    Zimtsterne - Add vanilla sugar, Bittermandel, cinnamon and half the ground almonds.
  • Knead Dough: Knead in the remaining almonds to form a dough.
    Zimtsterne - Knead until a dough is formed.
  • Roll and Cut: Sprinkle icing sugar on your work surface and rolling pin to prevent sticking. Roll out the dough to ½ cm (¼ inch) thickness. Cut out stars using a cookie cutter and place them on a lined or greased baking tray. Dip the star-shaped cookie cutter in icing sugar between cuts to prevent sticking and make it easier to remove the shapes.
    Zimtsterne - cut out stars using cookie cutter
  • Arrange on a Tray: Place them on a lined or greased baking tray.
    Zimtsterne - roll and cut out stars and place them on a lined baking tray
  • Re-Roll Dough: This dough can be kneaded together and re-rolled multiple times. Continue to knead, roll, and cut out stars until all the dough is used up.
  • Prepare Glaze: Mix the reserved egg white mixture with water. Brush a thin layer onto each star.
    Zimtsterne - Brush a thin layer of glaze onto each Star
  • Bake: Bake for 25–30 minutes. The cookies should feel slightly soft underneath when removed from the oven.
  • Cool: Let the cookies cool completely before storing in an airtight container.