Discover the recipe for cinnamon stars (Zimtsterne)

Cinnamon stars, or Zimtsterne, are a Christmas staple in Germany and Alsace. These cinnamon-scented, almond-based cookies are both delicious and pretty with their bright white icing. Perfect with tea or coffee on cold winter evenings, they also make an excellent homemade gift idea.

To make these cookies a success, it's essential to use a good cookie cutter. Our star-shaped cookie cutter, with its innovative opening mechanism, makes preparation much easier. You'll be able to cut and unmould your cookies effortlessly and get perfectly shaped stars every time.

 

Ingredients for about 40 pieces :

2 medium egg whites

100 g powdered sugar, sifted

350 g unbleached ground almonds

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

 

For the icing :

1 medium egg white

100 g powdered sugar, sifted
 

Preparation of cinnamon cookies:

 

To make the dough, beat the egg whites until half stiff.

Slowly pour in the sifted powdered sugar and continue beating until the egg whites are stiff.

Fold in the almonds and cinnamon to create a smooth batter.

Chill the dough in cling film or a freezer bag for at least 2 hours, but ideally overnight.

Roll out the dough to just under 1 cm thick on a work surface or baking mat, lightly sprinkled with almonds.

Cut out stars with a cookie cutter.

From time to time, soak the molds in cold water or powdered sugar to prevent the dough from sticking. Knead any leftover dough and roll it out again.

Arrange the stars on two baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

 

To make the icing, beat the egg whites until stiff, adding the sifted powdered sugar towards the end and continuing to beat until the egg whites are stiff.

 

Preheat the oven to 100 degrees in the fan oven.

 

Carefully coat the stars with the glaze using a pastry brush.

 

Bake the cinnamon stars for about 15 minutes, then leave them to dry. Caution: they should remain quite white and may still be a little soft.