Steps for Christmas Star Cookies with Almonds

• For cookie preparation, start by blending the candied orange peels coarsely (I used my very fragrant ones) and set them aside.
  Then proceed with the toasted almonds, (previously in the oven and then cooled), not finely ground but coarsely, so you can taste them when biting into the cookie.
  
  If you don’t have or don’t like candied peels, use more grated orange zest or half a vial of orange aroma.
  The dough can be made by hand in a bowl or with a stand mixer.
  
  In a bowl, pour the sugar with the softened butter, mix well with a spoon, then proceed by adding the eggs, beating them well into the mixture.

  Add the rest of the ingredients: the chopped almonds and candied peel, orange zest, cinnamon, and mix for a few more minutes:
  Also add the baking ammonia dissolved in a tablespoon of milk, don’t worry about the unpleasant smell, which disappears with cooking, and finally the sifted flour.

  If you don’t have baking ammonia, you can replace it with 2 teaspoons of baking powder, but they won’t be as crumbly, I’ve tried it myself.

  

• Work everything well until you achieve a well-homogenized mixture, the dough is a bit sticky, shiny, and oily, if necessary, add a little more flour to work it well, then place it on a sheet of cling film or parchment paper and let it rest in the fridge for 15-20 minutes.
  Not too long, otherwise it becomes too hard to work with.
  
  If you prefer cocoa shortcrust, you can divide the dough and add some unsweetened cocoa, perhaps with a drop of milk.

  Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) fan-forced and keep it well-heated.
  Take the dough from the fridge and roll it out with a rolling pin on a sheet of parchment paper to about 0.4 inches thick. Cut out star shapes with a cookie cutter.
  
  If you want to fill and pair the cookies, make the base whole and the top star cut out with a smaller cutter.

  Place the star-shaped cookies on a baking sheet, spaced apart, brush them with the beaten egg and then bake.

  
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• Bake the Christmas star cookies with almonds in the preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) fan-forced, place the baking sheet in the central part and bake for about 13-15 minutes, adjust by eye, the cookies should be nicely golden, cooking time varies based on your oven’s power.

  During baking and especially when you open the oven, you’ll notice a pungent smell from the baking ammonia, but rest assured, once baked and cooled, the smell evaporates and is no longer perceptible.

  
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• After baking, remove the cookies from the oven, let them cool completely before decorating.
  You can serve them just like that, rustic, or sprinkle with plenty of powdered sugar, or decorate in a Christmas theme with some nice red Pomegranate Jam without Pectin

  
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