Step 1

Put all the ingredients needed to make the dough in a large bowl.

Step 2

Mix and knead until a dough forms.

Step 3

Shape roughly into a rectangle, then wrap in cling film.

Step 4

Refrigerate for a minimum of 6 hours, but ideally, overnight.

Step 5

Make the icing by whipping egg whites with sugar. However, if wanting perfect results, weigh the egg whites and whip them with five times as much confectioners' sugar.

Step 6

Mix the egg whites until fluffy, then add the sugar in thirds, beating after each addition until incorporated.

Step 7

Roll out the dough on a board that will fit in your freezer (sprinkle the board with almond flour or confectioners' sugar, so the dough does not stick) - it may be needed to divide the dough and roll it out on 2-3 boards, depending on how big they are.

Step 8

Spread the icing on the dough in an even and thin layer.

Step 9

Put in the freezer for 2 hours.

Step 10

Once out of the freezer, cut out the cookies either with a special zimtsterne cookie cutter or a six-point star cookie cutter. (Any leftover scraps should be reworked in a new dough, which is then rolled out and spread with the icing before cutting out stars — almond flour should be added to achieve the perfect consistency.)

Step 11

First, dip the cookie cutter in warm water, then dab it on a kitchen towel, which will absorb the excess water.

Step 12

Press the cookie cutter into the frozen dough and cut out a star-shaped cookie.

Step 13

To release it, tap the cutter gently onto a parchment-lined baking tray to release it.

Step 14

Once you've filled out the baking tray with cookies, let the cookies dry at room temperature for 2 hours, until the icing is hard to touch.

Step 15

Place the tray on the lower rack of the oven, and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 8 minutes — the cookies are baked once they can be lifted from the baking tray.

Step 16

Also, take care the icing does not tan during baking, as that means the temperature is too high or the cookies are baking for too long.

Step 17

Once cooled, store in an airtight container.