Saint Nicholas Boots

Coarsely grate the marzipan and place it in a mixing bowl.

Add the soft butter and sugar to the marzipan and beat until creamy.

Mix the flour and salt, add to the marzipan cream and knead everything into a smooth dough.

Wrap the dough in cling film and chill for about 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 150 °C fan (175 °C conventional) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Roll the dough thin, cut out boot shapes in various sizes and place them on the prepared sheets.

Bake the boots in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes.

Remove the cookies from the sheet and let them cool completely on a wire rack.

Stir the powdered sugar and egg white into a smooth, thick icing and set aside 2 tablespoons of it.

Color 1 tablespoon of the icing dark with cocoa powder, put it in a freezer bag and snip off a small corner.

Use the white icing to coat the top edge of the boots, sprinkle with sugar sprinkles and let set slightly.

Divide the remaining icing in half and color one half red and the other green.

Spread the boots with red or green icing and let them set again.

Use the brown icing to draw soles and laces and let dry completely.