Anise Spritz Cookies Recipes

BROWN SUGAR-ANISE COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine 2 cups flour, the cornstarch and salt in a medium bowl, and whisk to combine. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and light brown sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add vanilla paste and beat on medium speed until well combined, scraping bowl as needed.
• Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed just until combined. Scrape the bowl and fold a few times to make sure everything is well combined. Divide dough in two, wrap each piece in plastic wrap, and flatten into disks. Chill until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
• Place one piece of dough on a lightly floured sheet of parchment, or a silicone baking mat, and flour both sides of the dough and the rolling pin. Roll dough into an oblong oval that is roughly 7-by-10 inches and a generous 1/4-inch thick. Prick all over with a floured fork. Repeat with the second piece of dough. Slide rolled dough on parchment paper onto a baking sheet, and freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Lightly beat the egg white with 1 teaspoon water to thin it out. Lightly brush the top of the dough with the egg white, and sprinkle with the anise seeds, pressing gently to adhere. Sprinkle with the sanding sugar, then bake until turning deeply golden at the edges, 15 to 17 minutes.
• Let cool on the baking sheet. After about 5 minutes, use a knife, pastry wheel or pizza cutter to cut crosswise into 3/4-inch strips. Alternatively, let cool and serve whole, allowing guests to break into pieces. Cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week.

ITALIAN ANISE COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat eggs together in a large bowl. Gradually stir white sugar into beaten eggs until smooth. Slowly pour vegetable oil and anise oil into sugar mixture until incorporated. Mix flour and baking powder together in a separate bowl; slowly add to sugar mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon until dough is dry.
• Refrigerate dough, 30 minutes to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• Roll dough into walnut-size balls and arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are crisp around the edges, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
• Mix confectioners' sugar and milk together in a bowl until desired consistency is reached. Dip a fork into the icing and drizzle over cookies. Allow icing to harden.

ANISE SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Mix flour, anise seeds, baking powder, fennel seeds, and baking soda together in a medium bowl.
• Whisk oil, sugar, eggs, and vinegar together in a separate bowl. Pour over flour mixture and mix until dough comes together. Divide dough into small pieces and roll into short ropes. Join ends together to form rings.
• Arrange cookie rings on the prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, 15 to 20 minutes.

CRISP ANISE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and anise in a medium bowl. Whisk eggs with a mixer on medium speed. Slowly add sugar, increase speed to high, and whisk until thick and glossy, about 10 minutes. Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture, whisking until just combined.
• Spoon batter into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip. Pipe 1-inch tapered mounds on baking sheets lined with nonstick baking mats, spacing them 1 inch apart. Bake until firm, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

TRI-COLOR CHRISTMAS SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• Position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Beat the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the almond and vanilla extracts and egg and mix until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low, add the flour and salt and mix until just combined.
• Remove all but 1/4 cup of the dough to a flour-dusted surface and reserve. Add enough green gel food coloring to the dough left in the bowl to color it a vibrant green like a wreath, 3 to 4 drops. Mix on low until the dough is completely green. Remove the dough to a flour-dusted surface and gently fold until it comes together. Wipe the paddle and bowl of the stand mixer clean.
• Place 1/4 cup of the reserved white dough back into the bowl. Add enough red gel food coloring to color it a vibrant red like a fire truck, 3 to 4 drops. Mix on low until the dough is completely red. Remove the dough to a flour-dusted surface and gently fold until it comes together.
• Tear off 2 Ping-Pong ball-size pieces of the white dough and add to the barrel of a cookie press; add 1 marble-size piece of the green dough and 1 marble-size piece of the red dough. Repeat this pattern until the barrel is filled (you will not use all of the dough). Place a wreath disc onto the cookie press barrel according to the manufacturer's instructions. Press the cookies onto an ungreased baking sheet. Repeat 2 more times in the same pattern with the remaining dough.
• Bake 2 of the batches until the cookies are firm but not yet browning on the bottom, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool the cookies for 1 minute on the baking sheets, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes. Bake the third batch and let cool. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

CREAM CHEESE SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• Changes were made to the amount of cream cheese, flour, and the addition of 1 egg yolk. I found this made a delicious cookie. If you like you may add up to 1/2 teaspoons salt. We are sensitive to sodium so I use as little as possible.
• Cream together butter and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl.
• Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
• Add egg yolk and beat well.
• Stir in vanilla extract.
• Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, beating until well blended.
• Shape dough into 3 balls and chill thoroughly at least 25 minutes.
• Press dough from a cookie press 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets, using desired shaping discs.
• If desired, sprinkle with sugar crystals, etc. to decorate.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until very lightly browned.
• Remove to wire racks to cool.
• May decorate with colored icing, if desired.
• Yield: About 4 dozen.

TRADITIONAL ANISE COOKIES

Steps:

• With a Kitchenaid mixer: beat eggs 20 minutes with 2 cups of granulated sugar (yes I mean 20 minutes as this is what will make the cookies light as a feather with a crisp melt in you mouth top crust).
• Add flour gradually, beating well after each addition. Add 1 tsp anise oil and blend well.
• Drop by tablespoonsful onto greased cookie sheets and let stand in a draft free place overnight.
• Bake in a 375°F oven for 10 minutes until light golden but do not brown.
• Cool on baking racks thoroughly before storing.
• Store in a tightly covered cookie tin (not plastic).
• The longer you let the cookie age, the better it will be.