Best Cinnamon Star Cookies Recipes

ZIMTSTERNE (CINNAMON STAR COOKIES)

Steps:

• In a bowl mix dry ingredients for dough.
• Add egg whites and knead until a still sticky dough is formed.
• Wrap into cling film and put into the fridge for at least one hour. I always leave it in the fridge for 2 - 4 hours.
• Near the end of cooling time preaheat oven (170 C) and make meringue glaze.
• For meringue glaze beat egg white with salt until stiff. While still beating add caster sugar by and by to make meringue.
• The meringue should have a consistency that you can spread it with a brush onto the dough later. It should have a more creamy consistency, so that it will stick on the dough and not running down.
• Add just a little milk to get the right consistency. Depending on the egg white you may need about 1 to 3 tablespoons.
• Line out baking trays with parchment paper.
• Get the dough out of the fridge and roll it out between two layers of parchment papers or cling film. The dough sould be a bout 1 cm thick.
• Method ONE for making cinnamon stars (easy way): Using a star cutter cut out the stars and place them on the baking tray. With a brush spread meringue glaze on the cookies.
• Method TWO for making cinnamon stars (tricky way): After you have rolled out the dough spread a thin layer of the meringue glaze on the dough. Now you need a star cutter which can be opened. These are available in Germany. When you can open the cookie cutter you avoid touching the glaze, because the dough has the tendency to stick to the cutter. Put the stars on the tray. Knead the rest of the dough again and add some grounded almonds, so that the dough is not too sticky. Repeat the steps of making the stars.
• Bake the cookies for about 10 - 12 minutes. Watch them carefully, because the meringue should not be browned.
• Take them out and let cool completely. Store them in airtight container. The cookies get better and better, because the flavours blended over time, but I you have to find a good hidout.
• NOTE on egg size: egg size is important here, because it determines the stickyness. My recipe is based on an egg size of 54 - 63 g per egg.
• Custom yield is a guess.
• Time to make does NOT include cooling time.

ZIMTSTERNE (CINNAMON STAR COOKIES)

Steps:

• Mix butter, sugar, 2 whole eggs, 1 egg yolk, and lemon juice until fluffy.
• Stir dry ingredients together; blend into sugar mixture; stir in optional nuts.
• Divide dough into 3 pieces, and roll 1 piece at a time to 1/16 inch thick on lightly floured board; cut with a star cookie cutter.
• Brush the tops of the cookies with the remaining egg white, beaten until frothy.
• Bake cookies on a lighty greased baking sheet 6-8 minutes until golden brown at 375°F.
• Makes 6-9 dozen cookies depending on the size of your cookie cutter.

CINNAMON STAR COOKIES WITH NUTELLA® HAZELNUT SPREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F; position rack in center of oven.
• Using a mixer, beat together the egg whites and 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar for 4 to 5 minutes or until soft peaks form.
• Reserve 2 tablespoon into a small bowl for the icing used later - combine only this portion with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Gently mix hazelnuts and cinnamon into remaining egg white mixture until combined.
• On work surface, roll out dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper to 1/8 inch thickness. Using a 2-inch star cookie cutter, cut out 48 cookies, re-rolling scraps once.
• Arrange cookies on 2 parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Using 1/2 inch round cookie cutter, cut out rounds in the center of half of the cookies (these will be tops of sandwich cookies).
• Spread "icing"-like mixture on the top of the cookie (with the cut out) using a teaspoon.
• Bake, in 2 batches, for about 10 minutes or until cookies are set. Let cool completely. Spoon Nutella® hazelnut spread into piping bag fitted with small round tip. Pipe 1 teaspoon Nutella® hazelnut spread onto half of the cookies (without round cut outs).
• Dust remaining cookies with remaining confectioners' sugar; place over Nutella® hazelnut spread on bottom halves of cookies.

CINNAMON ANISE STAR COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. In a bowl, cream shortening and sugar until fluffy; add egg and aniseed. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture. Add orange juice and mix well. On a floured surface, knead until well blended, about 4-5 minutes. Roll dough to 1/2-in. thickness; cut into 2" shapes. Place on greased or parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 12-16 minutes or until lightly browned. Combine sugar and cinnamon; roll cookies in the mixture while still warm coating well. Cool on wire racks.

CINNAMON STAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Combine the nuts, cinnamon, and zest. Beat the egg whites at high speed until foamy, about 30 seconds. Add the salt, increase the speed to medium-high and beat until soft peaks form, one to two minutes. Gradually add the confectioner's sugar and beat until stiff and glossy, five to eight minutes. Reserve about 1/3 cup of the meringue and fold the nut mixture into the remaining meringue. Place a large sheet of waxed paper on a flat surface, and cover with additional confectioner's sugar. Place the nut mixture on the sugar, lightly sprinkle with more confectioner's sugar, top with a second piece of waxed paper, and roll out one-quarter-inch thick. Remove the top piece of waxed paper. Using a cookie cutter dipped in water, cut into two-inch star shapes, or use a knife to cut into diamonds. Re-roll and cut any scraps. Place on the prepared baking sheet. 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 five minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool. Store in an airtight container for up to three weeks. Makes about 36 two-inch cookies.