Italian Anise Cookies!! These cookies NEED to be on your holiday cookie tray! Not a fan of anise? Use your favorite extract for a new flavor!
Italian Anise Cookies
You guys! These cookies are so soft and delicious! They’ve been a staple in our family since I first made them about 20 years ago. Of course, you’ll want to share these amazing little treats! They make great neighbor gifts … or would be great on a cookie tray with other cookies or candies.
Anise, in case you don’t know, tastes like black licorice. From what I understand, some people really love the flavor – and others, not so much. I don’t think there’s any middle ground on that flavor. Personally, I love these cookies – they’re a real treat for Christmas. We even make them for Easter sometimes!
I love all of the tasty treats this time of year! Cookies and yummy desserts seem to be flooding the blogging world! I really love to share traditional Christmas Cookies and I especially love ones that maybe aren’t shared often by others. It’s a good thing most of that is in virtual life – looking and drooling is calorie-free! ? These Italian Anise Cookies are super easy and so soft! I love how puffy they are!
If you’re not really a fan of black licorice, feel free to substitute your favorite extract flavor in place of the anise extract! ? Be sure to use a regular teaspoon to measure out the cookies. You will want a slightly heaping scoop. For smooth cookies, be sure to roll the dough into balls. When you dip these cookies into the glaze, you’ll want to add the nonpareils right after – this glaze is thick and hardens up fairly quickly.
Things you need for this recipe:
Other cookie recipes on Love Bakes Good Cakes
Italian Anise Cookies
Ingredients
For the cookie dough
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup butter, melted 1 stick
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon anise extract
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 4 – 5 teaspoon milk
- 1 teaspoon anise extract
Additional ingredients
- Nonpareils
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Beat the sugar, butter, eggs, milk and anise extract in a large bowl with a mixer until well blended. On low speed, beat in the flour, baking powder and salt until well blended.
- Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake 8-10 minutes or until the bottoms are a light golden brown. Remove cookies to a wire rack to cool.
- Prepare the glaze: Whisk the powdered sugar, milk and anise extract in a small bowl until smooth.
- Dip the tops of the cookies in the glaze, and while the glaze is still wet, sprinkle on the nonpareils. Let set until glaze hardens.
Notes
- If you’re not really a fan of black licorice, feel free to substitute your favorite extract flavor in place of the anise extract!
Nutrition
Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary significantly between brands. Always be sure to read labels. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Likewise, recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them.
Originally published on December 19, 2013. Updated on April 25, 2021.
Thanks for hosting the fun party! Italian cookies are some of my favorite. We have a family recipe… that I'm not allowed to share… boo! They are so good! I love that you added anise, I just might have to try that sometime!
Thanks for another great party! I can always use more Christmas cookies 🙂 Love the giveaway too! Happy Happy Holidays!
Snickerdoodle
Any type of festively decorated Christmas cookie! I just love making them 🙂
My favorite cookie is Chocolate peppermint cookie.
I love the combination of both of those flavors together!
my favorite is gingerbread cookies
Thanks for the SWEET party Jamie! Merry Merry!
Jenna
My favorite cookies are Russian Teacakes. 🙂 Your cookies look delicious Jamie. I am one of those licorice haters, but they look so festive!!
I made something similar the other day, with two differences, mine are lemon and yours ARE MUCH PRETTIER! 🙂 You are right anise is something people either love or hate, I used to be a lover until I had a bad Sambuca experience in my twenties and still to this day, I can't even smell that kind of odor! Great job on the cookies!
They look phenomenal! I've never heard of anise extract, but I bet it adds a wonderful flavor!
yes it does an they are delicious
yes the
y are an delicious too
I have made these for years with my Italian MIL. We never use extract only Anise oil. Perfetto! Also, when making the glaze add a tiny bit of the oil in the icing. Delicious!
Perfect cookie for this time of year, hope you have a terrific holiday!
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Good morning Jamie, I love your Italian Anise Cookies recipe. My sister-in-law makes them every year and I enjoy them with a cup of tea. I'm pinning and sharing, thanks for sharing with Foodie Friends Friday Christmas Party this week.
Joanne/Winelady Cooks
I love anise, and these look really good!
My favorite holiday cookie is chocolate mint. Thanks for the giveaway! DamianMom at yahoo dot com
G'day! One word? YUM!
Reminds me of my childhood! Great photo!
Cheers! Joanne
Viewed as part of Foodie Friends Friday Anything Goes Party
http://www.whatsonthelist.net
I love frosted sugar cookies. Love the giveaway!
My favorite holiday cookies is sugar cookies, with lots of frosting.
My favorite holiday cookie is rolled out sugar cookies, with lots of frosting.
Love sugar cookies
love sugar cookies
Homemade sugar cookies with a tiny bit of frosting are my faves!
My favorite holiday cookie is buckeye balls!
My makes these cookies every year. They are fantastic. Thanks for bringing them to foodie friday, Merry Christmas.
My favorite cookies are ones that other people make 🙂
I love soft gingerbread cookies! Thanks for this great giveaway!
molasses cookies
Awesome giveaway! Thanks!
Your cookies look delicious, Jamie thanks for sharing at Foodie Friends Friday!
Hi Jamie, this cookie is very similar to one we make.. I grew up in an Italian household and had fun baking with my mom and grandmother…. I love how simple they are and love the anise flavor! Thanks for linking these up to MM… pinning. Merry Christmas, Deb
Dear Jamie, I love Anise, but like you say it's an acquired taste. These cookies sound perfect and right up my alley. Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Blessings, Catherine
I love chocolate crinkles!
I'm not wild about anise but my guys love it. These little cookies are adorable. Thank you for linking. Hope you had a nice Christmas. Happy New Year!
These look like the perfect little Christmas cookies, and I love that you can swap out the flavor! The possibilities are endless!
These look like the perfect holiday cookies, Jamie!
I'm a big fan of anise so these cookies are a must have for me! Thanks for the idea, can't wait to try them!
Just made these cookies yesterday with 3 granddaughters. Two chose almond flavoring and one chose lemon. All were good. My Italian mother made hers with anise, but, since most of us weren't fond of that flavoring, she would use anise seeds and lemon extract. Those were good!!!
I made these for a cookie exchange. So easy and so good. thank you for a great recipe.
These cookies are the best Little Italian cookie!!! I have made them several times over the past couple of years and everyone loves them and can’t get enough. I have to bake several batches each time. Thanks Jamie!
Hi
Would love to try these .. being I have everything.
But was wondering if I could use unsweetened almond milk ?
I have never tried this recipe with unsweetened almond milk, but it should be fine. If you try it with that substitution, I would love to hear back on how it turned out for you!
These are the best cookies but I have a question can you use orange juice or coffee in place of the milk?
Please let me know soon as I need to bake these today.
Thanks
Katherine
Sorry, I am just seeing this question. I have never made them any other way than listed in the recipe. If you tried this with orange juice or coffee, I would love to hear your thoughts in case anyone has the same questions.
I made them using milk and orange extract for half and the other half with orange juice and orange extract the cookies using the milk had a better flavor and texture than those with the juice. I will let you know when I try coffee. But these are still the best cookies anywhere on the internet!
Thanks
Katherine
I appreciate the feedback, Katherine! As an avid coffee drinker, I look forward to your feedback on the coffee variety!
Good recipe but did not make 80 cookies make about 30 please update the quantity
Hi, these sound delicious, I was curious as to what other flavors I could use other than anise and was excited to see some people posting they have tried lemon and milk/orange extract, I was wondering about banana extract as a lot of our little ones love banana. I like the idea of trying all and see what everyone thinks after trying them.. It will be fun to see what everyone prefers. 🙂 I love choc chip, I know very classic but all go nuts for them. I also love peanut butter and hershey kisses on top of them. I’m excited to try your recipe.