Christmas cookies or cakes wrapped in pretty packages;
home-made jam, flavored vinegars, or herb-infused oils in lovely glass bottles
and jars; or baking mixes layered in Mason jars tied with ribbons, all make
great gifts. It may seem simple, but that’s exactly what is so endearing. If it
was made by you, with them in mind, the gift takes on greater meaning than
something you may have simply bought at Williams-Sonoma.
This is a tough year for many people. If you like giving,
but don’t have the budget you once had, consider giving something you’ve made.
On the other hand, if you know someone who’s having trouble right now, consider
having them over for dinner one night. Gifts from the kitchen warm everyone’s
heart and are very much appreciated.
I decided to search for German Christmas cookie recipes.
I wanted to make some for my dad, who will hopefully come home from rehab
for the holidays. I’m thinking that having some of the goodies he remembers from childhood
will be comforting as he comes home again after all these months away.
Here is one of the recipes I just made. It’s one I grew up
with and it’s really easy to make.
Zimtsterne (Cinnamon
Stars)
3 egg whites
250g
powdered sugar (1 cup)
250g ground
almonds (1 cup)
2 Tbsp.
cinnamon (heaping)
100g sugar (¼
cup)
Beat egg whites till soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar
and mix until just blended. Remove 2 heaping tablespoons to use later for
decorating. Combine almond meal with the cinnamon and add to the egg whites.
Distribute sugar on a board. Roll out the dough on top of
the sugar to ¼” thickness and cut out stars with a cookie cutter. Place cutout
cookies on a sheet and decorate with the remaining egg/sugar mixture that you
removed earlier. Bake at 350 degrees F until more dried out than baked. They
should take on a little color but not much! Remove from oven and allow to cool
on baking sheet.
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