Italian Cookies with Anise

Every family reunion since I can remember my great Aunt Nin brings anise-flavored Italian cookies that everybody loves. I figured out her exact recipe by trial and error but don't tell her! Sprinkle with nonpareils or sprinkles when icing is still wet, but hurry, they dry fast!

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

Ingredients

• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon anise extract
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• ½ 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

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

Step 6

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