Cinnamon-Almond Stars (Zimtsterne)

In Germany we have many very typical Christmas Cookies. There is even a specific word for Christmas cookies : “Plätzchen” [ˈplɛt͡sçən]. These Cinnamon-Almond Plätzchen (Zimtsterne) are one of the most popular ones. Traditionally they are brushed with a layer of baiser. I like having these deliciously gooey cookies with differently flavoured glazes and therefore have added my cinnamon-orange glaze, too.

Ingredients
Makes 40 cookies

For the dough:

• 400 g ground almonds

• 220 g powdered sugar

• 2 egg white

• 3 tbsp cinnamon

• 1 tsp almond extract

For baiser glaze:

• 1 egg white

• 120 g powdered sugar

For orange-cinnamon glaze:

• 100 g powdered sugar

• 1.5 tbsp orange juice

• 2 tbsp cinnamon

Method

1. Preheat oven to 150 degrees.

2. Mix 400 g ground almonds, 220 g powdered sugar, 2 egg white and 1 tsp almond extract with the dough hooks of your mixer. Then use your hands and knead ingredients until dough comes together.

3. Dust work surface with powder sugar and roll out dough using a rolling pin. Cut the cookies out with a star shaped cookie mould and place them on baking paper. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Let them cool down.

4. For the baiser glaze:
   Use a hand mixer to stiffen 1 egg white. Gradually sieve 120 g powdered sugar into egg white whilst mixing and then brush it onto the cookies.

5. For the orange-cinnamon glaze:
   Mix 100 g powdered sugar, 1.5 tbsp orange juice and 2 tbsp cinnamon..The texture shouldn’t be too liquid but liquid enough to be brushed onto the stars.

6. Let the cookies dry. Best kept in an air tight container like a cookie box.

Enjoy!