Vegan Zimtsterne: German Cinnamon Stars

Do not miss out on the most popular and adored traditional German Christmas cookies, Zimtsterne! This Vegan Zimtsterne (German cinnamon stars) cookies recipe is deliciously sweet, chewy, crisp, and lightly spiced ― Perfect for the holiday cookie trays. Plus, they’re vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get ready to infuse the kitchen and house with the beautiful aroma of Christmas baking! And what better way to get started than with this popular Zimtsterne recipe!

Also check out Vegan Shortbread Cookies,  Vegan Mexican Wedding Cookies, and Vegan Thumbprint Cookies.

What is Zimtsterne?

Zimtsterne is a combination of two German words, zimt (cinnamon) and Sterne (stars). They are a popular sort of German Christmas cookie.

In Germany, the festive season delivers a magnificent galaxy of cinnamon stars. Yes, from Lebkuchen to marzipan, from Stollen to gingerbread houses, the Germans love a sweet treat during Christmas, notably the aromatic Zimtsterne.

The traditional Zimtsterne is made with ground nuts – typically almonds or hazelnuts, a lot of cinnamon, icing sugar, and hence, tastes sweet, nutty, and mildly cinnamon-flavored. They’re finished off with a glistening powdered sugar icing; of course, you don’t want to miss out!

Although supermarkets and Christmas markets throughout Germany sell these delicious Christmas cookies, it’s far more enjoyable to make your own!

Due to their long shelf life, these cookies are perfect for sharing with others during a cookie exchange or as a hostess gift. Give them a set of lovely Christmas plates they can keep! For the same reason, Zimtsterne is ideal for shipping in care packages. They also freeze well if needed.

How to Make Zimtsterne Vegan?

It’s pretty simple. Just omit the egg white from the classic German cinnamon star recipe. The dough contains no dairy that needs to be replaced. Use water instead of egg white to keep the dough moist. Making vegan Christmas cookies is that simple!

No fancy egg substitutes or dairy substitutes are required to make this dish. And yes, they are absolutely delectable when made without eggs!

Additionally, these cookies are also naturally gluten and dairy-free. So, if you have gluten- or dairy-intolerant guests, this is an excellent treat to have on your Christmas cookie tray!

How to Make Vegan Zimtsterne (German Cinnamon Stars)?

To make these cookies, you’ll require only a few simple ingredients, but I assure you that they are incredibly flavorful and texture-packed. Among all the German Christmas cookies, Zimtsterne is among the most popular and adored. And once you try them, you’ll understand why.

Ingredients

For The Cookies

• 2 cups almond flour
• ⅓ cup coconut sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• Pinch salt
• ¼ cup water

For The Icing

• 1 cup organic powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon plus a teaspoon water
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Let’s start from making the cookies:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray.
3. Mix almond flour, coconut sugar, ground flaxseeds, cinnamon, lemon zest, and salt. Whisk to combine thoroughly. Stir in water and form into a dough ball.
4. Roll out cookie dough to about ¼-½ inch thickness between two sheets of parchment paper, cut with a star-shaped cookie cutter, take remaining scraps and roll out until the dough is used up.
5. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet—Bake for 15 minutes. Cool completely before icing.

To Make the Vegan Icing

1. Sift the powdered sugar into a bowl. Combine powdered sugar, water, and vanilla in a bowl until it is a smooth paste.
2. Coat the cool cookies evenly with the icing mixture. You can do this by delicately dipping the cookies into the icing mixture or applying it on top of the cookies by using a pastry brush (see the other methods in recipe notes). Enjoy.

What is the shelf life of Zimtsterne? Can we freeze them?

Zimtsterne can be stored for a month because of the few ingredients and frosting. They are best stored in tins. Make sure to keep them in a cool and dry place.

They also freeze well if you need to preserve them for a longer period of time for whatever reason.

Recipe Notes

• Using a condiment bottle to decorate the cookies’ tops saves time. Instead, you can use a piping bag with a thin pointed nozzle to apply the icing on your cookies.
• To spread a thin layer of icing mixture over the edges of the cookies, you can use a toothpick or small brush.
• Allow the iced cinnamon stars to dry completely at room temperature for about an hour before stacking them in a cookie tray or tin. They stick otherwise, and the glazing appears cracked.
• You can omit the icing step if you like the cookies without icing. Zimtsterne without icing is also delicious and less sugary, but in my opinion, less attractive than those with a shiny glaze.
• Don’t overfill the cookie tin or container while storing. The icing topping is the most delicate element of the cookie; it might crack if overpressure is applied. When wrapping as a gift, take extra caution.
• If the parchment paper is not available, you can roll out the dough on the worktop without it. To avoid the dough sticking to the worktop while rolling it out, generously flour it.
• If your cookie cutter is sticking to the dough, dust it with sugar or dip it in water after each cut.

Give this recipe a try. It is 100% vegan, naturally gluten-free, dairy-free; it’s pleasantly nutty and sweet; it’s easy to make, and it’s perfect for the Christmas season!

These vegan cinnamon stars are a wonderful Christmas gift! Who wouldn’t want to get something so delectable and lovingly made?

I hope you like and enjoy this vegan Zimtsterne recipe. I’d like to hear your thoughts about this recipe in the comment section below. Happy baking, and May you have the most wonderful time of the Year!

Other Vegan Cookie Recipes

1. Vegan Molasses Cookies
2. Vegan Gingerbread Cookies
3. Pumpkin Cookies
4. Chinese Almond Cookies
5. Stamped Cookies

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