Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

nonna's anise cookies

Recipe by
Janice (Jan) Barlow
Rochester, NY

I discovered a cooking site for "Sicilians and those who want to be Sicilians" and found recipes that brought me back to my grandmothers house and how we all baked together. This recipe is in a cookbook titled "Cooking with Nonna", which I modified and bumped up the anise. If you're not a fan of anise, substitute what ever your family like. These are wonderful with a cup of tea or coffee

yield serving(s)
prep time 1 Hr
cook time 10 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For nonna's anise cookies

  • 3 lg
    eggs
  • 2 1/2 c
    all purpose flour
  • 1 c
    confectioners' sugar
  • 1 Tbsp
    baking powder, plus below*
  • 1/2 tsp
    baking powder*
  • 1/2 c
    butter,softened
  • 1 Tbsp
    anise (more if you prefer)
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla extract
  • FOR THE ICING
  • 1 1/2 c
    confectioners sugar
  • 3 Tbsp
    heavy cream
  • 1/2 tsp
    whole milk
  • 1/2 tsp
    anise (more if you prefer)
  • food coloring for tinting

How To Make nonna's anise cookies

  • 1
    Preheat oven to 350 and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  • 2
    In large mixing bowl beat eggs until foamy and set aside. In the mixer bowl (fitted with the paddle attachment if you have one) combine flour, sugar and all the baking powder; mix on low speed-gradually add butter and extracts. Dough will resemble crumbs Add beaten eggs you set aside to the dough and mix - a stiff dough should forms
  • 3
    Use small scoop to make the dough into balls, placing about 2" apart.. Bake 10-12 minutes--cookies will slightly crack on top. Cool on wire rack
  • 4
    FOR THE ICING; Combine all ingredients and a drop of food color as desired. If too thin-add more cream or milk;. Frost and decorate with sprinkles. Let air dry
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