Cinnamon Stars with Cherries

Ingredients

• 4 egg whites
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 300 g sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp gingerbread spice
• 350 g ground almonds (unshelled)
• flour (for working)
• 20 cherry toppings

Instructions

1. 1.

   Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff. Gradually add the sugar and beat until a smooth meringue forms. Add lemon juice and beat to glossy stiffness. Reserve 3-4 tbsp for glaze and chill.

2. 2.

   Fold the remaining meringue with ground almonds mixed with cinnamon and optional gingerbread spice into a smooth dough.

3. 3.

   Sift flour or ground nuts onto the work surface, roll the dough to 6‑8 mm thickness, and place on parchment paper. Decorate stars with the reserved glaze.

4. 4.

   Let them dry at room temperature overnight if possible.

5. 5.

   Preheat oven to 120 °C (top and bottom heat).

6. 6.

   Bake the dried stars for about 25 minutes longer than usual so the glaze stays snow white. Cool on the tray, then transfer to a cooling rack. Place a half cherry in each star before serving.