Thursday, January 29, 2009

Star Anise Cookies

I have been wanting to try making cookies with anise as the ingredient and what better time to try them than Xmas! This was another of the cookies that I baked for Xmas, turned out great! I loved the smell and the flavor of anise, especially when the cookies are baking. The smell is divine!! In this recipe, they use sugar to coat the cookies, I used colored sugar to coat it. Gives it a real nice color and touch :)


Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1 large egg yolk
2 tablespoons brandy
1/2 teaspoon aniseed, toasted


Method:

Preheat oven to 325°F.

Sift flour, baking powder and salt into small bowl. Beat butter and 1/3 cup sugar in large bowl until light. Beat in egg yolk, brandy and aniseed. Add dry ingredients and beat just until smooth dough forms. Spread remaining 2 tablespoons sugar on small plate.

Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Using 2-inch cookie cutter, cut out cookies. Gather scraps, reroll on lightly floured surface and cut out more cookies.

Place cookies 1 at a time on sugar on plate; transfer cookies, sugar side up, to 2 ungreased baking sheets. Bake cookies until bottom and edges are golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer cookies to rack; cool. (Cookies can be prepared 3 days ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.)

No comments: