The Best Recipe for Italian Anise Cookies (2024)

Italian Anise Cookies

Italian Anisette

Anise Cookies

The most delicious, authentic Italian Anise Cookies recipe you will find. These cookies are perfect any time of the year! I know they are traditional served around the holidays but we make them all the time!

For the cookies:

½ cup unsalted butter, softened

½ cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs, room temperature

1 tsp anise extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

3 tsp baking powder

For the icing-

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tbsp milk

3-4 tbsp nonpareils sprinkles

Instructions

Begin by creaming together butter and sugar.

Slowly add eggs and anise. Mix until fully combined.

Next, add flour and baking powder and mix until a cookie dough forms.

Wrap cookie dough in plastic and chill for one hour.

Once time is up, remove cookie dough from refrigerator. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Roll cookie dough into spheres, about 1-inch in diameter. Space cookies at least 2 inches apart from each other (you may have to bake in batches).

Bake for about 8-10 minutes, until bottoms are lightly browned.

Allow for the cookies to cool down.

In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and milk.

Dip the top of each cooled cookie into the powdered sugar and milk mixture. Sprinkle with nonpareils sprinkles.

Serve and enjoy!

How to Bake in Batches to Make the Most of Your Baking Time

One way to handle your holiday baking is to bake in batches, then freeze and store for the big day. You can do this successfully over a couple of weeks with batch baking and batch preparing.

The biggest thing to remember is to only try a few different types of things in one day, or focus on just one type of baked good in one day. For example, you might want to bake all your quick breads in one day. Another day you can prepare all your cookie dough. Yet another time, you can bake all your fruit pies and so forth. This process makes the most of the time you have, the space you have, and your skill level.

Be Prepared

Don’t try batch baking without a plan of action. Be sure to write down your plans in advance so that you are sure you have enough time to do everything that you’ve planned. To figure out a basic time line, add up the prep time, the baking time for each oven full, and then multiply that by 1.5 to account for a little extra issues happening. Then you should be sure that you have enough time.

Get Everything Ready to Go

Your kitchen should be spotless when you start, and ensure that you have all the ingredients and appliances necessary to make each item ready to go. If you know, for example, that today you’ll be using about 10 pounds of flour, consider using a large bowl to hold the flour so you can easily spoon the flour into the measuring cup, flatten off over the bowl, without having to get into the bag over and over which usually means spillage.

Clean as You Go

Fill your sink immediately with hot soapy water so you can clean as you go. You will want to wash your mixing dishes and other utensils during the baking process so that you can use them again. There’s no point in totally destroying your kitchen as you batch bake, and you don’t have to. Set out a draining board, fill the sink with hot soapy water, and wash as you go. There are many opportunities during baking to wash a couple of dishes, and this will make the clean-up faster, and the process more organized.

All Day Batch Baking

You can set aside a day for batch baking such as a Saturday. Plan for all day baking, which usually entails 8 to 10 hours of work. Ensure that any other chores are done, including the shopping, and the kitchen is clean and ready prior to baking day. It’s important to organize your recipes with some logic behind them. For example, if you need dough to rise, start that first, so that it can be rising as you are preparing other things such as cookie dough or pie crusts. Both can be put in the refrigerator or freezer after preparation while you bake the bread, then baked after you bake the bread while the oven is still hot and ready.

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The Best Recipe for Italian Anise Cookies (2024)

FAQs

What is the best selling cookie in Italy? ›

Best Cookie Brands: The most famous Italian cookies
  • Doria Bucaneve has been the “biscuit of the Italians” since 1950. ...
  • Bucaneve and Atene are among the best-selling Biscuits from Italy from Bell Italia to its customers.
Jan 6, 2024

Which of the following is a very popular cookie from Italy? ›

Biscotti: Perhaps one of the most famous Italian cookies, biscotti are crispy, twice-baked treats that are perfect for dipping in coffee or wine. Traditionally flavored with almonds and fragrant anise, these long-lasting cookies are a staple in every Italian household.

What are anisette cookies made of? ›

Combine flour, sugar, and baking powder together in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and add oil, milk, eggs, and 1 tablespoon anise extract; mix together to form a workable dough. Roll dough into walnut-sized balls, flatten slightly, and place 1 inch apart onto prepared cookie sheets.

What is the name of the Italian cookie? ›

This is the proper name for the biscuit we know as biscotti, which in Italian just means “cookies.” Twice-baked and sliced, these ultra-crunchy, not-too-sweet biscuits are usually studded with nuts and simply beg to be dipped in coffee, tea, or a glass of vin santo.

What is the number one dessert in Italy? ›

Perhaps the most iconic Italian dessert, tiramisu appears on menus at restaurants not only throughout Italy but also all over the world.

What is the most popular Italian cookie in the United States? ›

Biscotti Amaretti is the most famous Italian cookie of all. Made without flour or any added fat this almond macaroon is light, crunchy and intensely almond.

What is the number one cookie in the world? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co.

What is the most famous Italian biscuit? ›

Virginia's baci di dama (that's Italian for 'lady's kisses') are one of Italy's most famous biscuits – and it's no surprise why. Each one is made with two small hazelnut cookies sandwiched together by rich dark chocolate. The cookies are crisp and crumble in the mouth.

What is the oldest known cookie in the world? ›

In 8th century Abruzzo, Italy, the pizzelle was created and heralded for its subtle sweetness and satisfying crispy texture. These golden waffle cookies are so important to the people of south-central Abruzzo that two neighboring towns still argue about which town originated the pizzelle.

What is the difference between anise and anisette? ›

Anise is always the main ingredient, and the liqueur also must meet minimum sugar (350 g/L), alcohol (38% abv) and anethole (anise aroma) content requirements. By comparison, anisette (sometimes seen as anisetta), is also an anise distillate, but it can be made with other ingredients in addition to anise.

What is anise flavor in baking? ›

Anise seeds lend a licorice flavor to baked goods and more. This spice is widely used in Middle Eastern, Italian, German, Indian, and Mexican cooking.

Is anise good for you? ›

Eating foods rich in iron, like anise seed, can keep your blood healthy and reduce your risk of iron deficiency anemia. Several studies have shown that anise seed can reduce the symptoms of clinical depression. In mice, anise relieved symptoms of depression as effectively as two commonly used antidepressants.

What is the word for hard Italian cookies? ›

Biscotti, also known as cantuccini or mandelbrot (Mandel bread), are traditional Italian cookies with a long history and rich cultural significance.

What is an Italian cookie that is dry crunchy and is twice-baked? ›

Biscotti cookies are crispy, twice-baked Italian cookies known for their distinct oblong shape and crunchy texture. The dry, hard texture of the biscotti is perfect for dunking. In Italy, biscotti are often dipped in a dessert wine. Biscotti also pairs well with a cup of coffee, espresso, or a cappuccino.

What is the name for the Italian twice-baked hard cookie? ›

The History of Biscotti – Biscotti comes from the Latin word biscoctus, which means twice-baked. While Italians use biscotti as an umbrella term, of sorts, to designate many different varietals of cookies, Americans use it as the name for this delicious long, crisp, twice-baked Italian cookie.

What is the most sold item in Italy? ›

Here is the list of top-selling products in Italy online 2022:
  • Clothing.
  • Electronics.
  • Food & Beverage.
  • Watches.
  • Fashion Accessories.
  • Cosmetics.
  • Leather Jackets.
  • Footwear.
Feb 14, 2022

What is the most sold cookie in the world? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co.

What is Italy cookie choices? ›

Italy Cookie Choices allows you to easily comply with the european cookie law (and Italian too), showing a notice to the user only the very first time he visits your website.

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