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Updated 2018. One of Italy’s most magical winter destinations is the Dolomite Mountains. This is a fantastic place to ski and when you’re visiting during the Christmas season to explore the Christmas markets and local traditions, especially in the town of Ortisei in Val Gardena (read more about Christmas traditions there). Our friends at the Adler Dolomiti Spa Resort are famous for their Christmas star cookies and shared the recipe:
Ingredients:
3 egg whites
9 ounces confectioner’s sugar
10.5 ounces blanched almonds
2 tsp cinnamon
3.5 ounces unskinned almonds
To Prepare:
Beat the egg white until stiff and add the confectioner’s sugar spoon by spoon using a teaspoon. Save about several ounces of the egg white for the frosting. Finely grind the blanched almonds and carefully fold them into the remaining egg white. Season with cinnamon.
Finely grind the remaining almonds and sprinkle them on the working place. Place the dough on top of the ground almonds and flatten it with lightly floured hands.
Coat a rolling pin with flour and roll on the dough until it’s a third of an inch thick. Rinse a star shape cookie cutter with water and shake off any excess.
Cut out the cookies. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and coat the stars with the remaining egg white.
Let them dry over night. Bake for 8 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 320 degrees Fahrenheit on the middle rung.