Almond stars

Almond stars are enchanting little treats, perfect for the holiday season, especially during Christmas time. Let’s look at the recipe for preparing these delicious stars.

Ingredients

• 250 g of almond flour
• 250 g of powdered sugar
• 2 egg whites
• Grated zest of 1 untreated lemon
• A few drops of bitter almond extract (optional)
• Powdered sugar for decoration

Preparation

1. Mix almond flour, powdered sugar, and grated lemon zest in a bowl.
2. Whip the egg whites until stiff and gently fold them into the almond mixture.
3. If you like, add a few drops of bitter almond extract to enhance the flavor.
4. Place the mixture on a pastry board and roll it out with a rolling pin to about half a centimeter thick.
5. With a star-shaped cookie cutter, cut out the stars and carefully place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
6. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees and bake the stars for about 10-12 minutes or until they are lightly golden.
7. Let them cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar.

Curiosity

Almond stars are very popular in Germany and Alsace where they are known as “Zimtsterne” or cinnamon stars, due to the traditional addition of cinnamon in their dough. The recipe I have provided is a more Italian version, without cinnamon but made more aromatic with the addition of lemon.

Once cooled, they keep well in tin boxes and are perfect for gifting or as an accompaniment to coffee or tea during the Christmas holidays.