These are the companion cookies to the Cinnamon Stars and were a yearly tradition going back as far as I can remember. Two of these and two of the Cinnamon Stars were put on the Santa plate every year. As with the Cinnamon Stars these go back at least three generations of cooks. These are kneaded in flour but they could easily be made to be gluten free. The substitution is such a minor one that it wont affect the cookies.
Chocolate Stars
Author: Chris Tilley
Recipe type: Cookies
Cuisine: Swiss
- 2 Egg Whites
- 3-4 tbsp Kirsch
- 1 Cup Sugar
- ½ lb Semi Sweet Chocolate Grated
- 7 tbsp Cocoa
- 1 lb Unblanched Grated Almonds
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Nutmeg
- Preheat oven to 300 F
- Beat the egg whites until very stiff
- Beat in the Kirsch and the sugar a little at a time
- Mix together the remaining ingredients in another bowl.
- I switch from my whisk attachment to the beater.
- Beat in the remaining ingredients
- Knead on a lightly floured baking board until smooth. (Gluten free: Replace with just about anything)
- Roll out dough to ¼ inch. I work with ½ on the dough at a time)
- Cut out star shapes with a small cookie cutter
- Bake on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. You can also lightly butter the sheet.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes
3.2.1230
These are the cookie that I have to make every year for Christmas. When I was growing up this was my favorite Christmas cookie and my mom made it every year. Well until she taught me to make them then it was my job. Back then she had the recipe on a recipe card and I copied from that. The recipe came from a cookbook that my grandmother had. When she passed away my mother got that cookbook. The original recipe calls for reserving some of the egg white, sugar mixture for icing the cookies. We have adjusted the recipe to have more almonds. My mother never iced them and apparently neither did my grandmother. I tried once but it was may to much extra work and didn’t add anything in my opinion. They are naturally gluten free.
Cinnamon Stars
Author: Chris Tilley
Recipe type: Cookie
Cuisine: Swiss
- 3 Egg Whites
- 3 Cups Icing Sugar
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 17 oz of Unblanched Grated Almonds (about 3¼ cups)
- ¼ tsp Mace
- 1 tbsp Cinnamon
- Sugar (for rolling out)
- Beat the egg whites until stiff
- Beat in the icing sugar a little at a time
- I switch from my whisk attachment to my beater at this point
- Add the Lemon Juice
- Add the spice to the almond and stir
- Add the almond and spice to the egg whites and beat until they come together
- Let it stand for about 1 hour. (It will dry out and be firm) Do not cover
- Preheat oven to 275 F
- Roll out the dough to ¼ inch thick. (I work with ¼ of the dough at a time)
- Use a small star cookie cutter to cut them out.
- I cook them on a cookie sheet with parchment paper. My mom buttered and floured the pan.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
3.2.1230
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