Italian Cookies with Anise

Sure to be a hit at your next family gathering, these Italian cookies flavored with anise are dipped in a sweet icing to take them over the top.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 50 mins
• Calories: 106 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon anise extract
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 0.5 cup white sugar
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
• 0.5 teaspoon anise extract

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Beat butter and sugar for dough together in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs, vanilla extract, and anise extract and blend. Combine flour and baking powder in a separate bowl; stir into butter mixture until blended.

Step 3

Take a ping pong-sized ball of dough and roll between your hands to form a rope. Connect the ends and twist into a figure 8 shape. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.

Step 4

Bake in batches in the preheated oven until edges are golden, about 10 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 5

Dip cooled cookies into the icing face-down and lay on wax paper or a wire rack.

Step 6

Mix milk into confectioners' sugar for icing, stirring slowly. Add the anise extract and vanilla extract.