Embark on a culinary adventure with our delightful Cinnamon Stars, a treat that encapsulates the essence of the holiday season. These charming cookies, also known as Zimtsterne, originate from Germany and Austria, where they are cherished as a symbol of love and togetherness. With their delicate, star-shaped appearance and a symphony of warm, aromatic spices, Cinnamon Stars are a feast for the eyes and the palate. This article presents a collection of three delectable recipes, each offering a unique twist on this timeless classic.
The first recipe stays true to the traditional Zimtsterne, capturing the authentic flavors of cinnamon, cloves, and almonds. The second recipe adds a touch of sophistication with a luscious almond buttercream filling, sandwiched between two crispy cinnamon cookies. And for those with a sweet tooth, the third recipe features a luscious cinnamon sugar glaze, adding an extra layer of sweetness and crunch. Whether you prefer the classic, the filled, or the glazed version, these Cinnamon Stars are sure to become a beloved holiday tradition in your home. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and let's embark on this enchanting baking journey together!
CINNAMON STARS: ZIMTSTERNE (GERMANY)
These are a classic German Christmas cookie; you'll find them in most every household as soon as St. Nicholas' Day (December 6) rolls around. These gluten-free cookies are kind of like a cross between a macaroon and a meringue, with a hint of nutty spiciness. We find them truly addictive. They're designed to keep for a long time, they'll get chewier as time passes.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 1h
Yield 2 dozen stars
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Sift the confectioners' sugar.
- Put 1/2 cup of the sifted confectioners' sugar, 10 ounces (3 heaping cups) of the almonds and all the cinnamon in a food processor. Process until the nuts are finely ground, with just a few larger pieces.
- Whip the egg whites in a large, clean bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until they hold soft peaks, about 1 minute. Gradually add the remaining confectioners' sugar while whipping, until the whites are thick, creamy and somewhat stiff, about 2 minutes more. Set aside 2/3 cup of this meringue for topping the cookies.
- Fold the ground almond mixture and the lemon zest into the remaining meringue to make a stiff dough.
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Lay a sheet of parchment or waxed paper on the work surface and lightly dust with confectioners' sugar. Turn the dough out onto the dusted paper, flatten and dust with more sugar as needed, and then lay another sheet of parchment or waxed paper on top. Roll the dough between the papers until it is about 1/4-inch thick. Flip the dough over and gently peel off a sheet of the paper. For ease when cutting, lay the paper back on the dough, flip again and gently pull off the other side of the paper so that the dough is fully released from it.
- Cut cookies with a 3-inch star cutter and place about 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. (Excess dough can be rerolled.) Use a small spoon, brush or offset spatula to spread the reserved meringue over the top of each cookie, taking care not to let the meringue drip over the sides. Press or sprinkle remaining sliced almonds in a decorative pattern into the meringue.
- Bake cookies until bottoms are light golden brown and meringue is set and crisp, about 30 minutes. Turn off the oven and open the oven door to release heat and dry cookies out in the oven for 10 more minutes.
CINNAMON STARS
A beautiful Christmas cookie!
Provided by Robin J.
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European German
Yield 18
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Stir together the almonds, cinnamon, and lemon zest until combined.
- Beat the egg whites and salt until soft peaks form. Slowly sift in the confectioner's sugar, continuing to beat until the mixture is stiff. Set aside 1/3 cup of the egg white mixture for the glaze. Fold in the almond mixture.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (170 degrees C). Line the cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll the dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a surface that has been sprinkled with confectioners' sugar. Using a 2 1/2-inch star cookie cutter, cut out the cookies and place them on the cookie sheets.
- To make the glaze, add the lemon juice to the reserved egg white mixture, stirring until smooth. Brush the tops of the cookies lightly with the glaze. (If the glaze starts to thicken, add a few more drops of lemon juice.)
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. When done, they will be light brown and soft in the center. Remove and cool on wire racks.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 189.7 calories, Carbohydrate 21.2 g, Fat 10.7 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 5 g, SaturatedFat 0.8 g, Sodium 24 mg, Sugar 17.4 g
CINNAMON STARS (ZIMTSTERNE) GERMAN CHRISTMAS COOKIES
This is the one cookie my husband requested our first Christmas. I had never had them so this recipe is from an amazing blog called Spoonful of Sugar. They are difficult but this recipe makes them also delightful and fun to try if you have the time. The best thing about this recipe (besides the sit down, relax, and have a cup of tea step!) is she gives you her hints after a disastrous first attempt. If you follow this exact, even a non-careful cook like me can make these delicious. Her hints are below, but I will say that I think much depends on the almonds. If they aren't ground just right, you will be nearly unable to form them. You can try chilling them longer but I have given up before and just made them round globs. they are still delicious, so don't throw the batter out, even if you think it is unworkable! * I beat the egg whites with the lemon juice to ensure that they whipped up to the biggest possible volume. * Mixed the ground cinnamon with the ground almonds before folding that mixture into the meringue. * Most importantly, I rolled the dough out between two sheets of clingfilm (Plastic wrap). I am the Clingfilm Queen! This eliminates the need to cover the work surface in extra sugar and thus removes the possibility of things ending in a sticky mess. Divide the dough into smaller portions to do this, keeping the remainder of the dough in the fridge whilst working with one portion. * Dipped the cookie cutter in some cold water to prevent it sticking. * Re-rolled all the scraps as they hadn't been toughened or made overly sticky by adding in extra sugar. The cookies taste as good as they look. Sweet, almondy, and with a heavenly aroma and kick from the cinnamon. Oh, I did have to bake them a lot longer than the recipe or. I did 320 degrees for I think around 16 minutes each, it might have been my oven, or mine were thicker, anyway just keep checking them and take them out when they just get a bit beige. My first batch were undercooked and the ones a bit crispier on the outside were awesome.
Provided by Andolisa
Categories Dessert
Time 1h40m
Yield 30-40 cookies
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Separate egg yolks from whites and beat whites until stiff peaks form.
- Slowly sift in the sugar and lemon juice, then beat some more for about 8 minutes.
- Put aside 4 heaped tablespoons of the meringue - this will be used to top the cookies later on.
- Add ground almonds and cinnamon to the remaining meringue and mix well. You might want to add a dash of rum or Amaretto.
- Cover the dough and let it rest in the fridge for about an hour.
- Sit down, relax and have a cup of tea.
- After an hour fetch the dough from the fridge.
- Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 3/160C/320°F.
- Sprinkle a surface with confectioners' or regular white sugar and roll the dough to approximately 5 mm.
- Cut the stars with a star shaped (yes, indeed!) cookie cutter.
- Put the stars on the lined baking sheet.
- Now get the reserved meringue from earlier. You might have to stir it a bit so it becomes a smooth mix. You also might want to add some more lemon juice. It's a matter of taste.
- Now brush the cookies with the topping and bake them for about 8 minutes.
- Cool on the baking sheet.
- Store in an air-tight tin.
- The cookies should keep for about two weeks.
GERMAN CINNAMON STARS (ZIMTSTERNE)
Provided by Gil Marks
Categories Cookies Mixer Nut Dessert Bake Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur Fall Kosher Hazelnut Cinnamon Party Kidney Friendly Vegetarian Pescatarian Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Soy Free
Yield Makes about thirty-six 2-inch cookies
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- 2. Combine the nuts, cinnamon, and zest. Beat the egg whites on low speed until foamy, about 30 seconds. Add the salt, increase the speed to medium-high, and beat until soft peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar and beat until stiff and glossy, 5 to 8 minutes. Reserve one-third of the meringue (about 1/3 cup) and fold the nut mixture into the remaining meringue.
- 3. Place a large piece of waxed paper on a flat surface and sprinkle with additional confectioners' sugar. Place the nut mixture on the sugar, lightly sprinkle with more confectioners' sugar, top with a second piece of waxed paper, and roll out 1/4 inch thick. Remove the top piece of waxed paper. Using a cookie cutter dipped in water, cut into 2-inch star shapes or use a sharp knife to cut into diamonds. Reroll and cut any scraps. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
- 4. Bake until set, 10 to 12 minutes. Spread the reserved meringue over the top of the cookies and bake until the tops are lightly colored, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool. Zimtsternen taste best if allowed to stand for 24 hours. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 weeks.
CINNAMON STARS
Here's a German-style cookie drizzled with cinnamon icing - a delicious dessert for Christmas occasion.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Dessert
Time 3h5m
Yield 96
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In large bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and the butter with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth. Beat in flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and cinnamon until well blended. Cover; refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
- Heat oven to 375°F (if using dark or nonstick cookie sheet, heat oven to 350°F). Divide dough in half. On lightly floured surface, roll half of dough at a time 1/4 inch thick. Cut with 2-inch star-shaped cookie cutter. On ungreased cookie sheets, place stars 1 inch apart.
- Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until light golden. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
- In 2-quart saucepan, heat candies and water to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer uncovered 5 to 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until candies are melted. Remove from heat. With wire whisk, stir in 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until smooth. Drizzle icing over cookies. (Icing sets up quickly; if necessary, add water, 1 teaspoon at a time, for drizzling consistency.)
Nutrition Facts : Calories 50, Carbohydrate 9 g, Cholesterol 5 mg, Fat 1/2, Fiber 0 g, Protein 0 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, ServingSize 1 Cookie, Sodium 25 mg, Sugar 6 g, TransFat 0 g
CINNAMON-ALMOND STARS
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cookie Recipes
Time 1h30m
Yield Makes about 30
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Cookies: Pulse almonds with 1/4 cup brown sugar in a food processor until finely ground. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
- With a mixer on medium speed, beat butter with remaining 1 1/4 cups brown sugar until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Beat in egg and Marsala until combined. Reduce speed to low and add almond and flour mixtures, beating until just combined.
- Divide dough in half and shape each half into a disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Let dough stand at room temperature until pliable. Roll out one dough disk on a lightly floured surface to just under 1/4 inch thick. Using a 3 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out as many stars as possible, rerolling scraps once. Arrange stars 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake, rotating sheets once, until edges are golden, 9 to 11 minutes. Let cool on sheets 1 minute, then transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool completely. Repeat with remaining disk of dough.
- Icing: With mixer on medium speed, beat confectioners' sugar, 3 tablespoons water, vanilla, and orange zest until smooth. Spoon mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a small writing tip, or a resealable plastic bag with a corner snipped off. Decorate cookies with icing and sprinkle with pearlized sugar; let set about 30 minutes. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container, between sheets of parchment or waxed paper, up to 1 week.
CINNAMON STARS
"These cookies are such a hit with my family," tells Flo Burtnett of another sweet she's sharing (see her cake recipe on page 29). "A few always seem to disappear before I can finish them!" It's no wonder-Flo spreads jam on half of her spicy stars, then tops them with the rest of the batch of cookies, which have been glazed for an extra dose of goodness. "They're nice for any occasion," she says.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 35m
Yield 2-1/2 dozen sandwich cookies.
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Combine egg and milk; add to flour mixture and stir just until moistened. Cover and chill at least 1 hour. , On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a 3-in. cookie cutter dipped in flour. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 7-9 minutes or until edges are lightly brown. Remove to a wire rack; cool completely. , For glaze, combine sugar, vanilla and enough milk to achieve a spreading consistency. Spread on half of the cookies; sprinkle with colored sugar if desired. Let stand until set. Place 1 teaspoon of jam on the unglazed cookies and top each with a glazed cookie.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 273 calories, Fat 7g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 31mg cholesterol, Sodium 129mg sodium, Carbohydrate 52g carbohydrate (37g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.
CINNAMON STARS: ZIMTSTERNE (GERMANY)
Steps:
- Sift confectioners' sugar. Put 1/2 cup of sifted confectioners sugar, 10 oz (3 heaping cups) of almonds and all the cinnamon in food processor. Process until nuts are finely ground, w/ just a few larger pieces. Whip egg whites in a large, bowl w/ electric mixer on high speed until hold soft peaks, ~ 1 min. Gradually add remaining confectioners sugar while whipping, until whites are thick, creamy and somewhat stiff, ~ 2 min more. Set aside 2/3 cup of this meringue for topping cookies. Fold ground almond mix and lemon zest into remaining meringue to make a stiff dough. Preheat oven to 250. Line 2 baking sheets w/ parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Lay sheet of parchment or wax paper on work surface and lightly dust w/ confectioners sugar. Turn dough onto the dusted paper, flatten and dust w/ more sugar as needed, then lay another sheet of parchment or wax paper on top. Roll dough between the paper until ~ 1/4-in thick. Flip dough over and gently peel off sheet of the paper. For ease when cutting, lay paper back on dough, flip again and gently pull off the other side of the paper so that the dough is fully released from it. Cut cookies w/ 3-in star cutter and place ~ 2 in apart on baking sheets. (Excess dough can be rerolled.) Use asmall spoon, brush or offset spatula to spread reserve meringue on top of each cookie, taking care not to let the meringue drip over the sides. Press or sprinkle remaining sliced almonds in a decorative pattern into the meringue. Bake cookies until bottoms are light golden brown and meringue is set and crisp, about 30 minutes. Turn off the oven and open the oven door to release heat and dry cookies out in the oven for 10 more minutes. Dough can be frozen between the sheets of paper for up to 2 weeks. Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 10 days.
CINNABON CINNAMON ROLL CAKE-FIVE STARS RECIPE - (4.2/5)
Provided by á-25138
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- With an electric mixer or stand-up mixer, mix flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, milk, eggs, and vanilla. Once combined well, slowly stir in 4 tablespoons melted butter. Pour batter into a greased 9x13" baking pan. In a large bowl, mix the 2 sticks of softened butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nuts until well combined. Drop evenly over cake batter by the tablespoon and use a knife to marble/swirl through the cake. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out nearly clean from center. Place powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a large bowl. Whisk until smooth. Drizzle over warm cake. Serve warm (we like it straight out of the oven) or at room temperature.
Tips:
- Use high-quality cinnamon: The quality of cinnamon you use will greatly affect the taste of your cinnamon stars. Look for Ceylon cinnamon, which is considered to be the finest type of cinnamon. It has a delicate, sweet flavor that is perfect for baking.
- Mix the dough well: Be sure to mix the dough until it is smooth and elastic. This will help to ensure that your cinnamon stars hold their shape while baking.
- Chill the dough before rolling it out: Chilling the dough before rolling it out will help to prevent it from sticking to your work surface and make it easier to work with.
- Roll the dough out thinly: The thinner you roll out the dough, the crispier your cinnamon stars will be. Aim for a thickness of about 1/8 inch.
- Use plenty of cinnamon sugar: Don't be shy with the cinnamon sugar! The more cinnamon sugar you use, the more flavorful your cinnamon stars will be.
- Bake the cinnamon stars until they are golden brown: Keep a close eye on the cinnamon stars while they are baking. They can go from golden brown to burnt very quickly.
Conclusion:
Cinnamon stars are a delicious and festive treat that are perfect for any occasion. They are easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. So next time you are looking for a sweet treat to make, give cinnamon stars a try. You won't be disappointed!
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