Anise cookies are traditional Italian Christmas cookies! My model will be baked instantly (no chilling required!) and is topped with a easy icing.
Italian Anisette Cookies
An Italian type Christmas cookie, these tender and fairly anise cookies are begging to hitch your Christmas cookie tray! They’ve a definite anise taste; if you happen to’ve by no means had it earlier than, it tastes like black licorice. Not everybody enjoys its potent style, however if you happen to do, you’ll love these cookies!
These cookies are hearty, not chewy, and virtually biscuit-like. They soften in your mouth (until you over-bake them, be certain the bottoms are JUST barely mild golden at most) and are simply very distinctive.
I really developed this recipe final yr and have made them fairly just a few occasions since then. I can’t wait to listen to the way you all like them!
What You Want
All of those substances are fairly easy, though you could want to purchase some anise extract if you happen to aren’t baking with it repeatedly.
- Anise extract. A key ingredient! Should you’ve ever made traditional Italian biscotti, you’ve ever most likely tried anise extract. Should you aren’t a fan of anise, you may make these cookies with out it; take a look at my tip beneath for directions.
- Sugar. We’ll sweeten our anise cookies with granulated sugar after which use powdered sugar within the icing.
- Eggs. Your eggs ought to be at room temperature for the most effective outcomes. Should you forgot to set yours out forward of time, use my trick to rapidly convey eggs to room temperature.
- Corn syrup. That is non-obligatory, however it should assist your icing arrange with a agency, shiny end (similar to my sugar cookie icing!). Bear in mind, corn syrup will not be the identical factor as excessive fructose corn syrup!
- Nonpareil sprinkles. A traditional topping, rainbow nonpareils are non-obligatory however add some enjoyable to what can be an in any other case quite simple cookie look. After all, you might use any sprinkles right here actually; festive colours can be fairly too!
SAM’S TIP: Should you aren’t a fan of anise, you may skip it and enhance the vanilla within the dough to 2 teaspoons. Should you do that, you’ll mainly be making my traditional Italian cookies (recipe coming quickly!).
Bear in mind, that is simply an outline of the substances I used and why. For the complete recipe please scroll right down to the underside of the publish!
The right way to Make Anise Cookies
Cookie Dough
- Cream the butter and sugar along with an electrical mixer till mild and fluffy.
- Stir within the eggs and extracts on low velocity.
- Whisk collectively the dry substances in a separate bowl, then step by step add them to the moist substances.
- Roll 1 tablespoon scoops of dough between your palms earlier than putting on parchment lined baking sheets (if you happen to don’t have parchment, simply use an ungreased baking sheet). Bake, then let cool on the baking sheets for a couple of minutes earlier than transferring to a cooling rack to chill utterly earlier than overlaying with icing.
Icing
- Whisk collectively the sugar, milk, corn syrup, and extracts. Test the consistency: the frosting ought to ribbon off the whisk. If it doesn’t, add extra milk a small splash at a time.
- Spoon the icing over the cookies, then high with nonpareils if desired. As soon as the frosting has set, get pleasure from!
SAM’S TIP: In contrast to different cookies, these anise cookies will keep very pale when they’re carried out (so it may be simple to over-bake them!). The bottoms would be the solely factor that turns a lightweight golden brown shade, so examine them to know if they’re carried out.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
Anise tastes like licorice (true black licorice, not twizzlers or pink vines). It additionally tastes just like fennel, although anise is stronger and sweeter.
I’m personally not an enormous licorice fan and won’t eat black licorice, however I do love these anise cookies!
Sure! In reality, anise cookies are additionally referred to as Italian anisette cookies. They’re a traditional Italian Christmas cookie (similar to pizzelle!).
Sure! You possibly can retailer these cookies in an hermetic container within the freezer for a number of months. To thaw, let the cookies sit at room temperature. Observe which you can freeze the cookies with or with out the icing.
Tomorrow I’ll be sharing a recipe that’s similar to this one–good for these of you who aren’t anise followers!
Take pleasure in!
Let’s bake collectively! Subscribe to my e-newsletter to be notified of all the most recent recipes, and discover all of my free recipe tutorials on YouTube 💜
Anise Cookies
Anise cookies are traditional Italian Christmas cookies! My model will be baked instantly (no chilling required!) and is topped with a easy icing.
Servings: 42 servings
Energy: 79kcal
Stop your display from going darkish
Directions
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Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line a number of baking sheets with parchment paper. Put aside.
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In a big mixing bowl, mix butter and sugar and cream along with an electrical mixer till mild and fluffy.
½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
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Add eggs, anise extract, and vanilla extract and use mixer on low-speed to stir properly.
3 massive eggs, 2 teaspoons anise extract, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
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In a separate, medium sized mixing bowl, whisk collectively flour, baking powder, and salt.
3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour, 4 teaspoons baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt
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Step by step (in 3-4 elements) add dry combination into butter combination, stirring till utterly mixed after every addition.
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Scoop dough into 1 Tablespoon-sized scoop, spherical dough by rolling gently between your palms, and place on baking sheet, spacing cookies a minimum of 2” (5cm) aside.
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Bake cookies in 350F (175C) oven for 8-9 minutes. The bottoms of the cookies ought to be very evenly browned however the tops ought to nonetheless be pale. Permit cookies to chill on baking sheet for a number of minutes earlier than transferring to cooling rack to chill utterly.
Icing
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To organize the glaze/icing, whisk collectively sugar, milk, corn syrup, and extracts till clean. Frosting ought to have a ribbon consistency, whether it is too thick add extra milk, a small bit at a time.
1 cups (125 g) powdered sugar, 1 – 2 Tablespoons milk, 2 teaspoons corn syrup, ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract, ⅛ teaspoon anise extract
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Drizzle icing over utterly cooled cookies. If desired, sprinkle with nonpareils earlier than icing hardens. Permit frosting to set earlier than having fun with.
Nonpareils
Notes
Storing
Retailer in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as per week.
Freezing
These cookies freeze properly and can hold (iced or not) in an hermetic container for a number of months.
Diet
Serving: 1serving | Energy: 79kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 1g | Fats: 3g | Saturated Fats: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 1g | Trans Fats: 0.1g | Ldl cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 15mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg
Dietary data relies on third-party calculations and ought to be thought-about an estimate solely. Precise dietary content material will range primarily based upon manufacturers used, measuring strategies, cooking methodology, portion sizes, and extra.
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