Cinnamon Star Cookie Recipe – German Zimtsterne Recipe

 

Certain cookies just have to be Christmas Cookies. This Cinnamon Star Cookie Recipe, or  Zimt Sterne, is one of those. These flavorful cookies have a strong, cinnamony/lemony taste. The cookie is dense and a little chewy, and the meringue on top is light, sweet, and crisp.

 

Zimt Sterne’s ingredients are simple: almonds, egg whites, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and lemon zest. As long as you use the right powdered sugar, this cookie is GLUTEN-FREE—perfect for those who want a cookie but can’t handle wheat flour. As usual, I’ve included loads of step-by-step photos to help guide you through the process. It’ll be easy.

Give them a try. They are small, lovely with a cup of coffee or tea, and a nice addition to your Christmas Cookie plate.

Cinnamon Star Cookie Recipe German Zimtsterne Recipe

Cinnamon Star Cookie Recipe (German Zimtsterne)

Use star shaped cookie cutters about 1 1/2 to 2 inches across. Yes… you can use circles or snowmen or palm trees… but then they wouldn’t be cinnamon STARS, would they?
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 2 dozen

Ingredients
  

  • 3 Egg Whites
  • 2 cups (250 g) Powdered sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Tbl. Ground Cinnamon to taste... maybe start with 1...these can get strong
  • 1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon Zest
  • 3 cups (300g) Ground Almonds
  • IN ADDITION
  • loads of Powdered Suger

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • In a Mixer on high whip up those egg whites. Add powdered sugar, slowly. It'll be thickish, and a little goopy looking.
  • Take out 8 Tablespoons of the egg white/sugar mix, and put it in a plastic baggie or piping bag. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine the ground almonds, cinnamon and lemon zest.
  • Fold the Almond Mix into the Egg White Mix. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir it together until it is fully combined.
  • Let it rest for 15 minutes
  • Prepare your rolling out surface by covering it with a thick layer of powdered sugar.
  • Rub your rolling pin with powdered sugar.
  • With powder sugared hands, grab a chunk of the dough, and pat it into a disk. Set it on the powdered sugar... rub it into the sugar... flip and rub again... Now start rolling.
  • Roll easy. Flip it or rotate the dough often. If it starts to stick... hit it with more powdered sugar.
  • You want to roll it about 1/3 inch (.5cm) thick.
  • Cut the cookies out with a star shaped cutter. If the cutter feels sticky... dip it in powdered sugar
  • Put the cut out cookies on a cookie sheet.... you can put the cookies fairly close together since they don't spread.
  • Gather the dough scraps... add some new dough to it... and roll again. Keep going until the dough is used up.
  • When your tray is full, clip the corner of the baggie containing the bit of meringue and pipe it onto the cookies. Don't let it drip over the side.
  • Bake for 15 minutes.
  • Let them cool on the baking sheet.

Notes

I find these taste better after a day or two.
You can store these cookies air tight in a dark space for a few weeks.

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Step By Step Instructions with Photos

Cinnamon Star Cookie Recipe (German Zimtsterne)

Whip the Egg Whites and Powdered Sugar Together
It will be a not too fluffy, sticky, glue-like substance

Cinnamon Star Cookie Recipe (German Zimtsterne)

Set Aside Approximately 8 Tablespoons of the Egg While Mix in a Zipper Baggie
Yes, you can put it in a piping bag…

Measure Out the Ground Almonds, Ground Cinnamon and Lemon Zest
Then give it a quick stir to get it mixed

Cinnamon Star Cookie Recipe (German Zimtsterne)

I bought my ground almonds … you can find them at health food stores, Trader Joes, and some supermarkets may carry them. Alternatively, you can grind your own almonds in a food processor…. put in the almonds and let them process until fine. Keep an eye on it though… there is a fine line between ground almonds and almond paste.

Dump the Almond Mix Into the Egg Mix
Stir them together with a wooden spoon

cinnamon stars

When the Ingredients are Combined… They Will Look Like This
Zimt Dough

cinnamon stars

Sprinkle Powdered Sugar on Your Work Surface
Be Generous

zimt sterne
Grab a Ball of Dough (not all the Dough… Just a Baseball sized Lump… About 4 Inches in Diameter)

zimt sterne
Pat the Dough to a Disk, set it on the Powdered Sugar
Rub the Disk In the Powdered Sugar a Bit, Then Flip the Disk Over

See how there is sugar on both sides?

cinnamon stars
Rub Powdered Sugar On Your Rolling Pin
You don’t want anything to stick

zimt sterne
Roll Dough By Pressing Gently Outward, and Flipping the Dough Semi-Frequently
You want it to be 1/2 centimeter thick… about 1/3 inch

cinnamon stars
Cut With A Star Shaped Cookie Cutter (mine is about 2 inches across at widest point)
Cut the cookies close together to avoid re-rolling the dough too often

Cinnamon Star Cookie Recipe (German Zimtsterne)
Then Lift the Cookies Onto a Baking Sheet
An Offset Spatula is Perfect for This

Cinnamon Star Cookie Recipe (German Zimtsterne)
Cut Out Stars on the Parchment Lined Baking Sheet
You can place them close together… these cookies don’t spread

Cinnamon Star Cookie Recipe (German Zimtsterne)
Moosh Together the Dough Scraps… Add Some New Dough
Then roll and cut again, and again… until the dough is used up

When You Filled Your Baking Sheet With Stars… Clip the Corner of the Meringue Bag.. And Color the Stars In
I find it best to start with an outline… then fill the middle

Cinnamon Star Cookie Recipe (German Zimtsterne)

Ready For The Oven
Bake at 325 for 15 Minutes.

cinnamonstars 17

YUM!

zimt sterne

Store Cinnamon Stars/ Zimt Sterne In An Airtight Container… In a Dark Place
They Will Last For Weeks If Stored Correctly

cinnamon stars

 

Still looking for Recipes?

click here–> Traditional German Christmas Cookie Recipes

 

cinnamon star cookie recipe

One thought on “Cinnamon Star Cookie Recipe – German Zimtsterne Recipe

  1. Glad I found your site. I moved to Idaho this year and no Aldi to be found : ( That’s where I always got our Christmas treats. I guess I have to make my own this year.

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