Authentic Zimtsterne Recipe: Gluten-Free German Cinnamon Star Cookies for the Holidays

Cinnamon stars, traditionally known as Zimtsterne, are a beloved gluten-free delicacy originating from Germany and Austria. These delightful cookies boast a unique texture, deliciously reminiscent of delicate macaroons, making them a festive favorite for all ages.

Especially popular during the Advent season and Christmas festivities, Zimtsterne cookies bring a sprinkle of magic and the comforting aroma of cinnamon to any home. While traditionally cut into star shapes, this recipe offers a charming variation: cinnamon stars crafted into festive Christmas tree shapes, adding an extra touch of holiday cheer to your baking repertoire. Whether you stick to the classic stars or venture into whimsical trees, these cookies are guaranteed to impress both young and old alike.

And here’s a clever tip: any leftover egg yolks from this recipe can be transformed into other delectable treats! Consider using them to create rich and flavorful Linzer cookies with egg liqueur, ensuring no ingredient goes to waste.

🥘 Essential Ingredients for Perfect Zimtsterne

Creating these iconic German Christmas cookies requires just a few simple, high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving the signature taste and texture of Zimtsterne.

• Egg whites: The foundation for the cookie’s unique, slightly chewy texture and for creating the signature white glaze.
• Vanilla sugar: Adds a delicate aromatic sweetness. You can use homemade vanilla sugar for a richer flavor or a good quality store-bought version.
• Confectioner’s sugar (Icing sugar): Essential for both the cookie dough and the crisp, sweet glaze. Its fine texture ensures a smooth dough and a flawless coating.
• Ground almonds: The key ingredient for the gluten-free aspect and the distinct macaroon-like consistency. Choose finely ground almonds for the best results.
• Cinnamon: The star spice that gives these cookies their characteristic warm, inviting flavor. Freshly ground cinnamon will yield the most potent aroma.
• Granulated sugar: A small amount is needed specifically for dusting your work surface, preventing the sticky dough from adhering as you roll it out.

For precise quantities, please refer to the detailed recipe card provided below.

🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions to Bake Zimtsterne

Baking Zimtsterne might seem intricate due to their delicate nature, but with these clear, step-by-step instructions, you’ll find the process enjoyable and rewarding. Follow along to create these beautiful and flavorful German Christmas cookies.

Step 1: Preparing the Egg Whites and Oven

Begin by carefully separating the eggs, placing the egg whites into a large, clean mixing bowl and the yolks into a separate bowl. You can either freeze the leftover yolks for future use in other recipes or keep them refrigerated for up to one day. They are perfect for enriching other pastries or custards!

Next, preheat your oven to 302 °F (150 °C), using both top and bottom heat settings for even baking. This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature when your cookies are ready to go in.

In your large mixing bowl, combine the egg whites with the vanilla sugar. Using an electric mixer, whip this mixture until it starts to foam. Gradually, sprinkle in the confectioner’s sugar while continuing to beat the mixture. Continue beating until the egg whites form stiff, glossy peaks. This stiff meringue is crucial for both the cookie structure and the glaze.

Once stiff, gently scoop out four tablespoons of this beaten egg white mixture and transfer it to a separate, small bowl. Cover it and place it in the refrigerator. This reserved portion will be used later as the distinctive white glaze for your Zimtsterne.

Step 2: Crafting the Cinnamon-Almond Dough

With the remaining stiffly beaten egg white mixture in the large bowl, it’s time to incorporate the dry ingredients. Using a wooden spoon, carefully fold in the finely ground almonds and the aromatic cinnamon. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix, which can deflate the meringue.

Add cinnamon to the mixture.

Combine everything with the help of a wooden spoon.

After folding, briefly knead the cookie dough with your hands. Be aware that this dough is quite sticky. For ease of handling and to prevent a mess, we highly recommend wearing food-safe gloves during this step.

Step 3: Rolling and Cutting the Cookies

Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper and set them aside. This ensures your Zimtsterne won’t stick and are easy to remove after baking.

Sprinkle a generous amount of granulated sugar (or confectioner’s sugar) onto your clean work surface. This dusting is crucial for rolling out the sticky dough. Place the dough on the sugared surface and, using a rolling pin, roll it out evenly to a thickness of approximately 5 mm (0.2 inches).

Place the dough on top of the icing sugar covered working surface.

Cut out the cookies with a tree shaped cookie cutter.

Now, using your chosen cookie cutter – whether traditional star shapes or our festive little fir trees – begin cutting out the cookies. Carefully lift each cut-out shape onto your prepared baking sheets lined with parchment paper. This step can also be quite sticky, so keeping those gloves on is still a good idea!

Pro Tip for Easy Cutting: To prevent the dough from sticking to your cookie cutter, dip the cutter regularly in cold water before each cut. The thin layer of water acts as a release agent, making the process much smoother.

Step 4: Glazing and Baking to Perfection

Once you’ve cut out as many cookies as possible from the first roll of dough, gather the scraps. Knead the leftover dough briefly with two additional tablespoons of ground almonds, then roll it out again to cut out any remaining cookies. This minimizes waste and maximizes your batch of delicious Zimtsterne.

Now, retrieve the stiffly beaten egg white mixture you set aside in the refrigerator. Using a pastry brush, thinly and evenly coat the top of each cut-out cookie with this beautiful white glaze. This creates the iconic crisp, snowy white topping of Zimtsterne.

Brush the cut-out trees with the sugar egg white mixture.

Let them cool after baking.

Carefully place the baking sheet on the middle rack in your preheated oven. Bake the Zimtsterne for approximately 20 minutes. The exact baking time can vary slightly depending on your oven, so keep an eye on them.

After the first batch is done, repeat the glazing and baking process with any remaining cinnamon stars.

Don’t be alarmed if the cinnamon cookies still feel a bit soft and sticky right after the baking time is up. This is completely normal for Zimtsterne! They achieve their distinctive chewy, yet firm texture as they cool and “slowly consolidate.” Allow them to cool completely on the baking sheet before handling them. Once thoroughly cooled, transfer them to an airtight container, ideally lined with parchment paper, or a tightly sealed cookie tin to maintain their freshness and texture.

These delightful cookies are perfect for sharing with loved ones and pair wonderfully with a warm, homemade beverage. Enjoy them alongside a comforting hot chocolate with rum, a creamy caramel milk, or a festive snowball cocktail!

Happy baking!

Looking for more festive cookie ideas? Explore these adorable gingerbread man cookies, aromatic eggless cardamom cookies, or these delightful gluten-free peanut butter cookies to get into the holiday spirit!

🍽 Essential Baking Equipment

To successfully bake Zimtsterne, having the right tools can make all the difference. Here’s a list of the equipment you’ll need:

• Baking trays: At least two, to efficiently bake multiple batches.
• Baking paper: Essential for lining your trays and preventing sticking.
• Cookie cutter: A Christmas tree shape for our festive variation, or the classic star cookie cutter.
• Mixing bowls: Several sizes for separating eggs and mixing ingredients.
• Rolling pin: To roll out the dough to an even thickness.
• Wooden spoon: Ideal for gently folding in dry ingredients.
• Electric mixer: Crucial for whipping egg whites to stiff peaks.
• Pastry brush: For evenly applying the egg white glaze.
• Food-safe gloves: Highly recommended for handling the sticky dough.

🌡 Storage Tips for Zimtsterne

Properly stored Zimtsterne will remain fresh and delicious for an extended period, allowing you to enjoy them throughout the holiday season. Once completely cooled, store your Zimtsterne in an airtight cookie jar or tin. Lined with parchment paper, they can maintain their delightful texture and flavor for about a month, assuming they aren’t all eaten much sooner!

🙋🏻 Frequently Asked Questions about Zimtsterne

If you bake this recipe, I’d love to know what you think! Please share your experience by giving it a ★★★★★ star rating and leaving a comment below. Your feedback is truly appreciated! You can also sign up for our Newsletter to receive weekly delicious homemade recipes directly in your inbox. And don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest or Instagram and share your beautiful creations! Just tag me @combinegoodflavors and use the hashtag #combinegoodflavors so I don’t miss them.

📖 Recipe: Zimtsterne – German Cinnamon Cookies

Zimtsterne – German Cinnamon Star Cookies

Nora

Zimtsterne, also known as Cinnamon Stars, are an exquisite gluten-free German cookie. They feature a delightful, chewy texture reminiscent of macaroons and are a staple for the Christmas season. This recipe offers a unique tree-shaped variation for added festive charm.

4.99 from 76 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Baking Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Christmas Cookies, Cookies, Snack

Cuisine Austrian, German

Servings 50 Cookies

Calories 61 kcal

Equipment

• 2 Baking trays
• Baking paper
• 1 Tree shaped Cookie-cutter or the classic star cookie cutter
• Mixing bowls
• Rolling Pin
• Wooden spoon
• Electric Mixer
• Pastry brush
• Food-safe gloves (optional, but recommended)

Ingredients

 

 

• 3 Large Egg whites
• 2 teaspoon Vanilla sugar (homemade or store-bought)
• 2 ¼ cups Confectioner’s sugar (Icing sugar)
• 3 ¼ cups Finely ground almonds
• 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• Granulated sugar for dusting the work surface

Instructions

 

• First, carefully separate the eggs, placing the egg whites into a large mixing bowl. Reserve the yolks for another recipe or discard.
• Preheat your oven to 302 °F (150 °C) with top and bottom heat.
• In the large mixing bowl, whip the egg whites and vanilla sugar. Gradually sprinkle in the confectioner’s sugar and continue beating until the mixture is stiff and glossy.
  3 Egg white, 2 teaspoon Vanilla sugar, 2 ¼ cups Confectioners sugar
• Scoop out four tablespoons of the stiffly beaten egg white mixture and store it in the refrigerator. This will be used as the cookie glaze.
• With a wooden spoon, gently fold the ground almonds and cinnamon into the remaining egg white mixture. Briefly knead the dough with your hands until well combined (wearing gloves is recommended as the dough is sticky).
  3 ¼ cups Ground almonds, 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
• Dust your work surface generously with granulated sugar (or confectioner’s sugar). Roll out the sticky dough to an approximate thickness of 5 mm (0.2 inches).
  Icing sugar for dusting the work surface
• Using your chosen cookie cutter (fir trees or stars), cut out the shapes and carefully transfer them to the prepared baking sheets.
• To prevent sticking, frequently dip your cookie cutter in cold water before each cut.
• Gather the leftover dough, knead it briefly with two tablespoons of ground almonds, and roll it out again to cut out more cookies.
• Retrieve the reserved egg white glaze from the fridge. Thinly brush the tops of the cut-out cookies before placing the baking sheet on the middle rack in the oven.
• Bake for approximately 20 minutes, then repeat the process with any remaining cookies.
• Allow the baked cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet. Once cooled, store them in an airtight container lined with parchment paper or a tightly sealing cookie tin.

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Keyword Christmas Cookies, Cinnamon cookie, Cinnamon star, gluten-free cookie, star shaped cookies, Zimtstern, German cookie, holiday cookie, almond cookie

Like this recipe?Mention @combinegoodflavors or tag #combinegoodflavors!

Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

Serving: 1Cookie |
Calories: 61kcal |
Carbohydrates: 7g |
Protein: 2g |
Fat: 4g |
Saturated Fat: 0.3g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g |
Monounsaturated Fat: 2g |
Trans Fat: 0.001g |
Sodium: 3mg |
Potassium: 55mg |
Fiber: 1g |
Sugar: 5g |
Vitamin A: 0.2IU |
Vitamin C: 0.002mg |
Calcium: 19mg |
Iron: 0.3mg

⛑️ Food Safety Guidelines

Ensuring food safety is paramount when baking. Please adhere to these guidelines to prepare and enjoy your Zimtsterne safely:

• Always cook to a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F (74 °C) for any ingredients that require it.
• Avoid using the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw ingredients, especially raw eggs.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling raw eggs or any other raw food items.
• Do not leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods, as this can encourage bacterial growth.
• Never leave cooking or baking food unattended, particularly when using heat.
• If you use oils for any part of your cooking, choose those with a high smoking point to prevent the formation of harmful compounds.
• Ensure you always have good ventilation in your kitchen, especially when using a gas stove or oven.

For more detailed information on food safety, please consult the Safe Food Handling – FDA guidelines.