Holiday Anise Cookies
If you're looking for a holiday flavor that's warm and memorable but zesty and unique, you can't do better than anise. These cookies have an old-fashioned taste that's similar to licorice.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons ground anise seed or 1 Tsp anise extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 large lemon
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
- 5 1/5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Thoroughly stir together flour, anise, baking powder, and slat and set aside.
- Using a small sharp knife peel a thin layer of zest (without white membrane) from the entire lemon. Combine lemon zest and sugar in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process until zest is very finely minced.
- Add shortening and butter to the processor and process for one minute. Add egg yolk and vanilla and process 20 seconds longer. Add dry ingredients and continue processing just until they are blended.
- Divide dough in half and place each portion between large sheets of waxed paper and roll out to 1/8 inch thick. Check the underside of the dough to check for any creases.
- Slide dough onto a large tray or baking sheet and refrigerate for 15 minutes, or until the dough is chilled and slightly firm. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Lightly grease several baking sheets. Work one half of the dough at at time. Turn the dough over and peel the sheet of wax paper off of the dough and replace the paper loosely. Then turn the dough right side up.
- Peel off and discard the top sheet of paper. Using assorted 2 1/4 to 3" cookie cutters cut out cookies.
- Place in the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes or until just brown ant the edges. Remove from the oven and let stand for 3 minutes. Transfer to wire racks and let stand until cooled completely. Sprinkle cookies with the decoration mixture. Makes 35 to 40 cookies.
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