Amongst the iconic German cuisine, one dish stands out prominently during the holiday season: these five-ingredient cookies. Cherished at Christmas time in Germany, these cookies offer a delightful mix of soft, chewy textures balanced out with a delectably crunchy meringue topping. They are prepared with almond flour, which naturally lacks gluten. In an ingenious twist, the same whipped egg white blend added into the dough then gets brushed on top of these star-shaped delights. To protect the pristine, snow-white look of the meringue layer, remember to bake them in the lower section of the oven and maintain a low temperature, ensuring the topping crisps up without turning brown.

Choosing blanched almond flour gives the cookies a desirable texture and lighter color compared to its natural or unblanched counterparts. You can easily find this variant of almond flour in the majority of grocery stores or through online platforms.

What makes these cookies aromatic is the use of Saigon cinnamon. Commonly referred to as Royal or Vietnamese cinnamon, its extraordinarily sweet and spicy flavor does the trick. Its bold, peppery essence makes it a perfect companion for sweet bakery items, as well as savory meat or tomato-based recipes.

While preparing the meringue, be mindful not to overdo the whisking. It needs to be soft, but not gorgeously stiff, similar to the consistency of royal icing for cookie outlining.

Applying the meringue might seem a little tiresome, but perfection takes time, so be patient. Thanks to the baking process, the meringue won't spread or transform, hence if it's lumpy before the bake, it will stay that way afterwards.

These cookies are quite durable. Just store them in an airtight container, and they will stay fresh for up to a week. If you're interested in trying a hand at these, grab 3 cups of blanched almond flour, 2 1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, 3 large egg whites, and 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar.

Follow the recipe and baking instructions carefully to recreate these delightful traditional German cookies. Once the baking process is finished, let the cookies cool in the oven for about 20 minutes with the door cracked open. Then, let them fully cool on a baking sheet for another 30 minutes.

Remember, good things come in simple packages, and these German Christmas cookies show us exactly why. If you're looking for a delicious new cookie recipe to try, or you simply love German cuisine, these five-ingredient wonder cookies will not disappoint you!