Austrian Cinnamon Stars

Directions

1. 1
   In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks.
2. 2
   Add about a third of the sugar and whisk it inches
3. 3
   When the mixture looks glossy, add another third of the sugar and whisk it in until the mixture is glossy again.
4. 4
   Whisk in the final third of the sugar, then the lemon juice and almond extract.
5. 5
   Remove 3/4 cup of this meringue and put it in the refrigerator.
6. 6
   Put the rolled oats in a food processor and process briefly until they look like coarse meal.
7. 7
   (If you don't have a food processor, use the oats as they are.)
8. 8
   Fold them into the egg mixture along with the ground almonds and cinnamon.
9. 9
   Stir the mixture into a stiff dough, form it into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
10. 10
    Preheat the oven to 300F
11. 11
    Line 2 cookie sheets with baking parchment.
12. 12
    Place another sheet of parchment or wax paper on a counter, place the dough on it, and cover with another sheet.
13. 13
    Roll out the dough between the sheets of parchment until it is 1/3 inch thick.
14. 14
    Cut with a star-shape cookie cutter and transfer to the prepared cookie sheets with a spatula.
15. 15
    With a small spatula or a flexible knife blade, spread about a teaspoonful of the reserved meringue on each star.
16. 16
    Bake for 25 minutes.