Old fashion Anise cookies ?
 

Okay everyone, I am looking for a recipe that dates way back. I lost ( it was swiped by conniving family member but that is another story.) my Nanas Anise Cookie recipe. I have looked on line but nothing looks familiar to her finished cookie.

I was born in the early 50s so the recipe would go back before the turn of the century.

I am not looking to make them for the holidays but for the memory of them and to try them in the future.

She rolled the dough and used Christmas cookie cutters. and she also thinly iced them and used those silver candy balls and other sprinkles to decorate them.

I never saw her make them, they just appeared after school with a glass of milk. They were thin and delicate and oh, so good, almost melted in your mouth.

The recipes I am finding have anise sprinkled on them and to leave them out overnight before baking and I don't remember that at all.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
peace

Hi Ube,

What was her ethnicity? It might help in your search. I do remember the silver ball sprinkles though. Can't find them anywhere now. I searched high and low for them a couple of years ago. My Sicilian Grandma made a cookie with almond (anise can be substituted, but they are thick cookies) extract. REALLY delicious :-)

Her background is German/ Dutch and when I googled anise cookies that is exactly what came up. All the same basic recipe with slight variations. I will pick one of those as a default recipe and then pretend if there is no cookie angel out there.:D
peace

Hi
My grandmother had German family members and she made a cookie like what you are talking about. She used a cookie press similar to a George Foreman hamburger machine with the top and the bottom coming together to make the cookies. They had a design to them. Every Christmas she would make enough to fill a large coffee can (the cookies were as round as the can) and give as gifts. I bought my daughter one of these machines that had the recipe included. If this sounds like what you are talking about, let me know and I will ask my daughter if she can find the recipe or I'll continue to search on the web. Good luck,
Susan

Does Springerle ring a bell? If so, just google the word. If this is the recipe you are searching for, I suggest sending a copy to every family member, so it will never be lost again. Eating something that produces a welcome family memory is very special.

I think it sounds like Springerle also. My sister makes them at Christmas and uses a carved rolling pin to press out the shapes and squares. It's always a big deal to find a place to let them dry and harden before baking. The best place she used was cleaned off pantry shelves.

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.

I think this might be the one or closest to it. I do remember that the icing also had the anise flavor. My New year is starting out happy in the simple things.

Thanks so much for all the help. I will be giving this a try.
peace through the season and always.

Merry Christmas to all......are you sure you aren't remembering PIZELLES? They are made in a pizelle iron, similar to a waffle iron. Definitely anise! I put anise seeds in mine as well. Top with sprinkled confectioners sugar.

Thanks, but not Pilelles. A regular rolled dough w/ cookie cutter variety. Thanks though.