Italian Anise Cookies with Icing and Sprinkles
Soft, pillowy, and bursting with the warm, licorice-like flavor of anise, these Italian Anise Cookies with Icing and Sprinkles are a delightful treat perfect for celebrations or everyday indulgence. Featuring a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture, these cookies are topped with a smooth vanilla-infused glaze and a playful sprinkle of colorful decorations, making them as beautiful as they are delicious. With a quick prep time of only 20 minutes and simple ingredients like anise extract, powdered sugar, and all-purpose flour, this recipe delivers authentic Italian flavors reminiscent of traditional holiday gatherings. Serve them at parties or package them as edible gifts—they're sure to become a family favorite!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 3 cups All-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons Baking powder
- 0.25 teaspoons Salt
- 0.75 cups Unsalted butter, softened
- 0.75 cups Granulated sugar
- 3 pieces Large eggs
- 2 tablespoons Milk
- 1 teaspoons Pure anise extract
- 2 cups Powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons Milk (for icing)
- 0.5 teaspoons Pure vanilla extract
- 0.25 cups Assorted sprinkles
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
Add the milk and anise extract to the wet mixture, and mix until combined.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until a soft dough forms. Avoid over-mixing.
Using a small cookie scoop or a spoon, drop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden and the tops are set. Do not overbake.
Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before icing.
To make the icing, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth and slightly thick. If the icing is too thick, add more milk, one teaspoon at a time.
Dip the top of each cooled cookie into the icing, allowing any excess to drip off, and place it back on the wire rack.
Immediately sprinkle the tops with your choice of colorful sprinkles before the icing sets.
Let the cookies sit until the icing is firm, about 20-30 minutes, before serving or storing.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
4636 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 170.7 g | 219% | |
| Saturated Fat | 100.5 g | 503% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 952 mg | 317% | |
| Sodium | 869 mg | 38% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 727.6 g | 265% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 9.8 g | 35% | |
| Total Sugars | 443.6 g | ||
| Protein | 59.2 g | 118% | |
| Vitamin D | 3.9 mcg | 20% | |
| Calcium | 267 mg | 21% | |
| Iron | 20.1 mg | 112% | |
| Potassium | 754 mg | 16% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
