Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Anise Cookies



These cookies may look like biscotti but technically they are not.  Biscotti are baked twice, the first time like I did here and the second time after they are sliced.  The result is a crisp cookie that's excellent for dunking.  This version is soft and only baked once.  Anise extract is used to flavor the cookies but if you don't like that liqourice flavor you can use vanilla and/or almond extract instead which I used to do for my sister. 

This recipe was given to me by a coworker years ago when I was a bank teller.  I remember her name was Martha.  My family loved them and  I used to bake theme all the time  I just found the recipe after years of thinking it's been lost! 


Anise Cookies

Ingredients:

¾ cup sugar
¾ cup oil
3 large eggs
2 ½ tsp. anise extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 ¼ tsp. baking powder

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Blend oil and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Add anise. Combine flour and baking powder. Add to sugar and oil one cup at a time.

Pour batter into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let stand for 25 minutes in a warm place.

Divide dough in half and pour each half onto the middle of a baking sheet and shape into an oval (You will need two baking sheets.) Dough will be sticky.

Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 15 minutes, slice.





The dough won't look perfect but it turns out okay once it comes out of the oven. 










17 comments:

Bob said...

They look lovely, nice and light. Hm, I bet coconut extract would be good too.

Cathy said...

I love the anise flavoring. Funny, you keep saying you're not a baker, but you are putting up such great baked goods. :)

DDpie said...

I bought some anise only because it was a flavoring that I didn't have and I thought I'd bake some anise cookies. Then I chickened out. Does it tastes (liquorish) like it smells after it's baked?

Michele said...

Cathy - aww thank you! They are mostly cookies which seems to be easier for me than cakes or cupcakes. lol

DD - Well, Have you ever had amaretto? Sambuca? Those liquors? It has a similar taste but much milder. I know you'll like it.

Bob - I've never bought coconut extract but anything you like would work I think!

DDpie said...

oooh I love amaretto, I'll have to try them then.

Michele said...

DD i was just thinking about it....I do NOT like black licorice (I had to look up the spelling becuase noting I'm typing looks right and that still looks weird) but I do like anisette. So, who the hell knows. Just try them.

Lucy said...

I love these, and the flavoring too!!

teresa said...

oh yummy! i have never baked with anise, but i do love licorice, so this is right up my alley!

Culinary Alchemist said...

OOOOO Anisette, Absinthe, Pizzelle and these. It's all kinds of yumminess. They look great Michele, I am glad you found your recipe so you could share them... These sounds wonderful :)

Patti T. said...

Glad I kept reading this post, I do not care for anise at all, but heck yeah, it would be good with almond or vanilla flavoring. It sure does look like biscotti. Have you ever tried baking them twice?

Debbie said...

Oh they look delicious....I love dipping these in coffee!!

Pam said...

I've never had anise flavored cookies - they look and sound delicious.

Theresa said...

And who said you couldn't bake!!!!

Cate said...

Definitely the perfect vehicle for dunking - yours look gorgeous!

Rosabela said...

I love the simplicity of this recipe! I would be the one to add vanilla extract ... not a big fan of the liqourice flavour. :-)

Danielle said...

this sounds / looks really good. The reason I don't do biscotti is because it's too crispy for me and I never have time to just sit and enjoy it with a cup of coffee / tea. This sounds like the perfect alternative. although I'd probably use a different extra like you suggested.

Kristin said...

Mmmmmmmmm. I'm feeling my Italian roots with this one!