Italian Anise Cookies

Italian Anise Cookies!! These cookies NEED to be on your holiday cookie tray! Not a fan of anise? Use your favorite extract for a new flavor!

Italian Anise Cookies

You guys! These cookies are soft and delicious! They’ve been a staple in our family since I first made them about 20 years ago. Of course, you’ll want to share these amazing little treats! They make great neighbor gifts … or would be great on a cookie tray with other cookies or candies.

Anise, in case you don’t know, tastes like black licorice. From what I understand, some people really love the flavor – and others, not so much. I don’t think there’s any middle ground on that flavor. Personally, I love these cookies – they’re a real treat for Christmas. We even make them for Easter sometimes!

I love all of the tasty treats this time of year! Cookies and yummy desserts seem to be flooding the blogging world! I really love to share traditional Christmas Cookies and I especially love ones that maybe aren’t shared often by others. It’s a good thing most of that is in virtual life – looking and drooling is calorie-free! ? These Italian Anise Cookies are super easy and so soft! I love how puffy they are!

If you’re not really a fan of black licorice, feel free to substitute your favorite extract flavor in place of the anise extract! ? Be sure to use a regular teaspoon to measure out the cookies. You will want a slightly heaping scoop. For smooth cookies, be sure to roll the dough into balls. When you dip these cookies into the glaze, you’ll want to add the nonpareils right after – this glaze is thick and hardens up fairly quickly.

Things you need for this recipe:

• cookie sheet
• silpats or parchment paper
• teaspoon scoop
• nonpareils

Other cookie recipes on Love Bakes Good Cakes

• Italian Ricotta Cookies
• Snickerdoodle Cream Cheese Cookies
• Christmas Chocolate Drop Cookies
• Soft Sugar Cookies
• Cookies and Cream Cookies
• Frosted Italian Anise Bread

4.46 from 500 votes

Servings: 80 cookies

Italian Anise Cookies

By Jamie Sherman

Italian Anise Cookies!! These cookies NEED to be on your holiday cookie tray! Not a fan of anise? Use your favorite extract for a new flavor!

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Total: 20 minutes mins

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Ingredients 

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For the cookie dough

• ▢ ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ▢ ½ cup butter, melted, 1 stick
• ▢ 2 large eggs
• ▢ ¼ cup milk
• ▢ 1 teaspoon anise extract
• ▢ 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ▢ 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon salt

For the glaze

• ▢ 1 cup powdered sugar
• ▢ 4 – 5 teaspoon milk
• ▢ 1 teaspoon anise extract

Additional ingredients

• ▢ Nonpareils

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Instructions 

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
• Beat the sugar, butter, eggs, milk and anise extract in a large bowl with a mixer until well blended. On low speed, beat in the flour, baking powder and salt until well blended.
• Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake 8-10 minutes or until the bottoms are a light golden brown. Remove cookies to a wire rack to cool.
• Prepare the glaze: Whisk the powdered sugar, milk and anise extract in a small bowl until smooth.
• Dip the tops of the cookies in the glaze, and while the glaze is still wet, sprinkle on the nonpareils. Let set until glaze hardens.

Notes

• If you’re not really a fan of black licorice, feel free to substitute your favorite extract flavor in place of the anise extract!

Nutrition

Calories: 41kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Trans Fat: 0.05g, Cholesterol: 8mg, Sodium: 32mg, Potassium: 8mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 44IU, Calcium: 10mg, Iron: 0.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Originally published on December 19, 2013. Updated on April 25, 2021.