Zimtstern facts for kids

A classical Zimtstern

Orangenstern, a cinnamon star with some orange peel in the middle

A Zimtstern (pronounced "TSIMT-shtairn") is a yummy Christmas cookie shaped like a star. It comes from a part of Southwest Germany called Swabia. These special cookies are made mostly from egg white foam, sugar, lots of almonds, and cinnamon. You might find a little bit of flour in them too. Zimtsterne are super popular in Germany and Switzerland, especially around the holidays!

In Germany, cookies like Zimtsterne are often called Plätzchen or Weihnachtsgebäck, which simply means "Christmas cookies."

What is a Zimtstern?

A Zimtstern is a delicious treat that gets its name from "Zimt," which is German for "cinnamon," and "Stern," which means "star." So, it's a "cinnamon star"! These cookies are known for their unique taste and their pretty star shape.

How are Zimtsterne Made?

Making Zimtsterne involves a few special steps:

• First, the ingredients are mixed to create a dough that's easy to roll out.
• After the dough dries a little, a shiny glaze made from egg white is spread on top.
• Then, star shapes are carefully cut out of the dough.
• Finally, the stars are baked slowly in an oven. The egg white glaze becomes firm but stays light in color, making the cookies look beautiful.

Long ago, old cookbooks suggested whipping the egg whites to make them very light before mixing them into the dough. The glaze was also whipped until it was fluffy. While this method was once common, most people don't use it today.

A Bit of History

Many types of Plätzchen (Christmas cookies) became popular in the 1800s. They were often used to decorate Christmas trees. But Zimtsterne are much older! They have been around since at least the 1500s.

There are stories that in 1536, a very important person named Emperor Charles V enjoyed "delicious" cinnamon stars. This happened when he visited Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggio. Back then, cinnamon was an incredibly expensive spice. It was so valuable that in 1530, a rich merchant from Augsburg named Anton Fugger showed off his wealth by burning the emperor's loan papers on a fire made of cinnamon sticks! This shows just how precious cinnamon was in those days.