My mom made these cookies every year (not my favorite at all), but they are good. I am pretty sure the recipe came from my dad's mother, but most of my family is of German decent. Anyway I hope this is what you are looking for. BTW my mom put anise flavoring in the frosting too, which was just a powdered sugar cut out frosting.
2 1/4 cups flour
1/4 t. Salt
2 t. baking powder
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs beaten
1/2 t. vanilla
1 T. milk
1/4 t. anise flavoring
Sift dry ingredients together. Cream sugar and shortening, add eggs, vanilla and anise. Add sifted ingredients and milk. Roll and cut out. Bake 375 for 10 minutes.