These Cinnamon Stars Cookies are a classic European-style treat, offering a delicate crunch and intense nutty flavor from finely ground hazelnuts. The dough is spiced with warm cinnamon and held together by egg whites, creating a tender crumb that isn’t overly sweet. The defining feature is the royal icing applied before baking, which hardens into a slightly sweet, glossy crust. Perfect for holiday cookie exchanges, afternoon tea, or as an elegant dessert accompaniment, these cookies require patience for chilling and drying but reward you with a sophisticated, homemade charm that store-bought versions simply can’t match.
Cinnamon Stars Cookies
Description
These Cinnamon Stars Cookies are a classic European-style treat, offering a delicate crunch and intense nutty flavor from finely ground hazelnuts. The dough is spiced with warm cinnamon and held together by egg whites, creating a tender crumb that isn't overly sweet. The defining feature is the royal icing applied before baking, which hardens into a slightly sweet, glossy crust. Perfect for holiday cookie exchanges, afternoon tea, or as an elegant dessert accompaniment, these cookies require patience for chilling and drying but reward you with a sophisticated, homemade charm that store-bought versions simply can't match.Ingredients
Directions
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Preheat oven to 350&# 194;°F (177ðC).
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In a large bowl, combine the finely ground hazelnuts, superfine sugar, confectioners' sugar, and ground cinnamon.
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Add the unbeaten egg whites to the dry ingredients and mix until a stiff, sticky dough forms.
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Wrap the dough tightly in wax paper and refrigerate for several hours or overnight until firm.
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Place the chilled dough between two sheets of wax paper and roll it out to a thickness of 1/2 inch.
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Remove the top sheet of wax paper and use a 2.5-inch star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out stars.
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Carefully transfer the cut cookies from the bottom wax paper sheet to greased baking sheets.
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Reroll the scraps and cut out additional stars, repeating until all dough is used.
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Let the cookies stand at room temperature for 3 hours to dry slightly.
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Prepare the Royal Icing by beating 1 egg white and a pinch of cream of tartar until foamy, then gradually beat in 1.5 cups of sifted confectioners' sugar until stiff peaks form.
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Spread a thin layer of Royal Icing over the top of each star cookie using a metal spatula.
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Let the iced cookies stand for 15 minutes until the icing is dry to the touch.
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Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the icing turns a light golden brown.
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Remove cookies from the oven and let them sit on the baking sheet for 1 minute.
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Transfer cookies to wire racks using a wide spatula and allow them to cool completely.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 2
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 803.4kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 50.7g78%
- Saturated Fat 14.0g70%
- Cholesterol 312.0mg104%
- Sodium 257.4mg11%
- Total Carbohydrate 0.0g0%
- Dietary Fiber 0.0g0%
- Sugars 0.0g
- Protein 81.9g164%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.