Zimtsterne - German Cinnamon Stars

Sweet, nutty, chewy meringue biscuits, loved all around Germany at Christmas time.

Level: Easy

Serves: 16

Prep: 15 minutes + 30 minutes chilling

Cook: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

150g powdered sugar + for dusting

100g ground almonds

½ tsp cinnamon

2 egg whites

almonds for decorating (optional)

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 135°C (fan oven). Line a sheet pan with non-stick baking paper.

With a hand mixer beat the egg whites until peaks form, then add half of the powdered sugar (75g) and beat it until thick and creamy.

Remove ½ cup of the beaten egg and set it aside for decorating. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well until a dough forms. Cover it and put it into the fridge for 30 minutes.

Put a piece of baking paper on the kitchen counter and sprinkle it well with powdered sugar. (Use a lot because the dough is very sticky.) Form the dough into a ball shape then flatten it. Sprinkle the top with powdered sugar, place another piece of baking paper on the top of the dough and roll it out to 5mm thickness. Cut out stars with a biscuit cutter, re-roll the dough and cut out more stars until the dough is completely used. Place the stars on the lined sheet pan. Decorate the top with the set-aside egg/meringue mixture. Place some almonds on the top (optional) and bake for 30 minutes. Place the Cinnamon Stars onto a cooling rack and let them cool down completely.

Enjoy!