These anise drop cookies have strangely subtle licorice overtones. Are you up for it?
Note: Use the seeds. To release the full flavor crush seeds.
The simplest and most fundamental cookies to create are called dropped or dropped cookies. No rolling, no pressing, no cutting… simply drop from a spoon onto your baking sheet. How they look in the picture is how they auto-magically turn out. Simple!
Anise Drop Cookies Recipe
(About 96 1-inch cookies)
These professional-looking self-glazing German-inspired drop cookies have charming puffed tops. They have a mild anise (black licorice) flavor that is warm and sweet. Keep in mind, they are best made in cool weather and do not turn out well if the humidity is over 50%.
Recipe Ingredients & Instructions:
Beat until light: 3 eggs
Gradually add: 1 cup sifted sugar
Beat at least 3 to 5 minutes on medium speed, longer if beating by hand, then add:
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Sift before measuring: 2 Cups all-purpose flour
Resift with: 1 teaspoon double-acting baking powder
Add: 1-1/2 Tablespoons crushed anise seed
- Add flour ingredients to egg mixture and beat another 5 minutes.
- Drop 1/2 teaspoon at a time, well apart, on a cookie sheet lined with foil. The dough should flatten to a 1-inch round but should not spread more. If it does, add a little more flour.
- Let the drops dry at room temperature 18 hours.
- Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven until they begin to color, about 12 minutes.
When done, they will have a puffed meringue-like top on a soft cookie base.
Note about this Anise Drop Cookies Recipe:
If you have never tasted anise, black licorice is the flavor that comes closest to describing it. Although the black licorice flavor isn’t overpowering, you can substitute almond, vanilla, or lemon extract if you’re allergic to it or just don’t like the licorice flavor. Believe me, any of these kinds using the flavor substitute will turn out great and taste fantastic.
Some home-chefs like to sprinkle the top with those tiny candy sprinkles, but I prefer the lovely meringue-like, puffy tops just as they are. 😉
Oh, and btw, if you have any dogs, don’t give them any. Even a small amount of anise can have harmful results (make them sick).
You may be interested in our other recipes here > (Many more to come!)