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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!
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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.
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Italian Anise Cookies
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Ingredients
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
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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published on December 19, 2013. Updated on April 25, 2021.
These are the best cookies but I have a question can you use orange juice or coffee in place of the milk?
Please let me know soon as I need to bake these today.
Thanks
Katherine
Sorry, I am just seeing this question. I have never made them any other way than listed in the recipe. If you tried this with orange juice or coffee, I would love to hear your thoughts in case anyone has the same questions.
I made them using milk and orange extract for half and the other half with orange juice and orange extract the cookies using the milk had a better flavor and texture than those with the juice. I will let you know when I try coffee. But these are still the best cookies anywhere on the internet!
Thanks
Katherine
I appreciate the feedback, Katherine! As an avid coffee drinker, I look forward to your feedback on the coffee variety!
Hi
Would love to try these .. being I have everything.
But was wondering if I could use unsweetened almond milk ?
I have never tried this recipe with unsweetened almond milk, but it should be fine. If you try it with that substitution, I would love to hear back on how it turned out for you!
These cookies are the best Little Italian cookie!!! I have made them several times over the past couple of years and everyone loves them and can’t get enough. I have to bake several batches each time. Thanks Jamie!
I made these for a cookie exchange. So easy and so good. thank you for a great recipe.
Just made these cookies yesterday with 3 granddaughters. Two chose almond flavoring and one chose lemon. All were good. My Italian mother made hers with anise, but, since most of us weren't fond of that flavoring, she would use anise seeds and lemon extract. Those were good!!!
I'm a big fan of anise so these cookies are a must have for me! Thanks for the idea, can't wait to try them!
These look like the perfect holiday cookies, Jamie!
These look like the perfect little Christmas cookies, and I love that you can swap out the flavor! The possibilities are endless!
I'm not wild about anise but my guys love it. These little cookies are adorable. Thank you for linking. Hope you had a nice Christmas. Happy New Year!
I love chocolate crinkles!