Anise Toast Recipes

ANISETTE TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl; set aside. Grease 2 baking sheets.
• Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until fluffy. Beat in one egg until completely incorporated, then another. Beat in the last egg along with the anise extract. Mix in the flour until just incorporated. Divide the dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Form each portion into a 12-inch long log, 1/2-inch thick.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden and firm to the touch, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool 5 minutes. Cut into 3/4-inch thick slices using a serrated knife, and place cut-side-down onto the baking sheets. Return to the oven, and bake 5 to 10 minutes until the bottoms turn golden brown. Turn the cookies over, and continue baking until golden brown on the other side, 5 to 10 minutes more. Cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

ANISE TOAST

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat all eggs, then add sugar, oil, and remaining ingredients.
• Spread the batter on a cookie sheet. Place in 350° oven for 20 minutes.
• Remove from oven and cut into squares while it is still hot.
• Put back into oven for 5 minutes and remove. Makes a great little add on to ice cream and other flavorful desserts.

SPANISH-STYLE FRENCH TOAST WITH ANISE SYRUP (TORRIJAS)

Steps:

• For the anise syrup: Combine 1 1/2 cups water with the sugar, honey, orange zest, salt and cinnamon sticks in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, about 3 minutes. Boil for 1 minute, then reduce to low heat and simmer until the mixture reduces to a thin syrup, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the almond and anise extracts.
• For the Spanish-style French toast (torrijas): Slice the baguette on the bias into 1-inch thick slices. Whisk together the eggs and milk in a shallow bowl. Dip the bread in the mixture and soak for 30 seconds to 1 minute (do not let the bread get too soggy).
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the soaked bread in batches until golden on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining bread, adding more butter as needed.
• Place the torrijas on a slightly concave or rimmed serving platter and cover fully with the Anise Syrup. Let soak at least 20 minutes before serving, if time allows. Serve warm or at room temperature sprinkled with a bit of the flaky sea salt.

ANISETTE TOAST (ITALIAN BISCOTTI)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour a deep (about 1-2 inch deep) cookie sheet (such as a jelly roll pan). Mix the oil and sugar in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl mix the eggs, vanilla, and Anisette. Add this to the sugar/oil mixture. Then add the baking powder and salt to the sugar/oil/egg mixture. Mix well. Place the flour in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Pour the sugar/oil/egg mixture into the flour and mix till well combined. Add in the nuts. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth it out. Bake at 350ºF until light brown on top and firm in the center - about 35 minutes. Once baked, cut into long, narrow slices and toast, spread out on the cookie sheet, on all sides in a 300ºF oven until crunchy (toasting time may be vary between 10-20 minutes, depending on how moist the cookies are). Be careful not to burn them. For a chocolate dipped Biscotti, melt semi-sweet chocolate and shortening over a double boiler, and dip the cooled cookies on one side into the chocolate. Place on wax paper and allow chocolate to set.

TOASTED ANISE-SEED CAKE SLICES

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter and flour an 8- by 4- by 3-inch loaf pan.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl.
• Beat together eggs and sugar in bowl of mixer at high speed until tripled in volume and thick enough to form a ribbon that takes 2 seconds to dissolve when beater is lifted, 12 to 18 minutes.
• Sift flour mixture over egg mixture in 3 batches, folding in each batch. Gently stir in cooled butter and anise seeds. Immediately pour into loaf pan and smooth top. Bake until top is golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Cool loaf 5 minutes, then invert onto a cutting board and cool 30 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, increase oven temperature to 400°F.
• Trim ends of loaf and cut loaf crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Bake on a baking sheet until undersides are golden brown, about 7 minutes. Turn toasts over and bake until undersides are golden brown, about 5 minutes more.