Anise Cookies

I will be happy to share with you the recipe for anise cookies, a classic and aromatic treat. Here is how to prepare them:

Ingredients

• 500 g of all-purpose flour
• 250 g of sugar
• 100 g of softened butter
• 3 eggs
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 packet of baking powder
• 2 tablespoons of anise seeds
• Grated zest of 1 lemon (optional)
• 1 tablespoon of anise liqueur (optional)
• Granulated sugar for decoration (optional)

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, mix the flour with the sugar, the pinch of salt, and the baking powder.
2. Add the anise seeds and grated lemon zest to the center if you decide to use it, which will add an additional touch of aroma.
3. Incorporate the eggs and softened butter, cut into pieces, and start kneading until you have a homogeneous mixture. If you want to enhance the flavor of anise, you can add a tablespoon of anise liqueur at this stage.
4. Work the dough well, then form a dough ball and let it rest, wrapped in a cloth or in cling film, for about 30 minutes.
5. Heat the oven to 180 °C.
6. Take the dough and form sticks or balls of the desired size, roll them in granulated sugar if you want a crunchy surface, and arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
7. Bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes or until the cookies are golden.
8. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool completely before serving.

Once cooled, these anise cookies can be stored for several days in an airtight container, maintaining their fragrance.

Curiosity

Anise cookies are typical of many Italian regions and have ancient origins. Their distinctive flavor is given by anise seeds, which were already highly valued by ancient Rome for their digestive properties. In some variants, other spices such as cinnamon or coriander can be added to further enrich the aromatic bouquet.