Recipe: Easy Italian Cookies with Anise Icing

EASY ITALIAN COOKIES

1/2 lb. butter, softened
2 large eggs, beaten
1 cup sugar
4 cups flour
2 tbsp. baking powder
2 tbsp. vanilla

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and flavoring. Mix well. Blend in flour and baking powder. Work to form a soft pliable dough.

Cut off pieces of dough, the size of a walnut, roll to about 1/2-inch thickness,
then shape into a curved S-shape about 2 1/2-inches long or a straight 2 1/2-inch pencil shape.

Bake in preheated oven 375 degrees F until lightly brown about 15-20 minutes. Cookies may be iced or left plain.

ICING

1/2 of a 1 lb box confectioners sugar
2 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. anise extract

Blend sugar and anise extract, adding milk slowly to form a soft, smooth
icing. Ice cookies while warm, top with confetti colored sprinkles.

Anna Guecia
John Paul I Lodge #2427

COMMENTS:

- I shape my cookies into knots, bake, then frost with vanilla flavored sugar icing and sprinkle with confettini or colored sugar.
Mary Lozito Rev. Albert B. Palombo, Lodge #2512

- My cookies are shaped into bows, braids or knots and I use anise flavoring in the icing. Josephine Ragone, Jerry Barletta Lodge #2502

I break off piece s of dough, roll into a short pencil shape, then shape the dough around my finger to form a turban. I use fresh lemon juice to flavor the icing and top with red sprinkles.
Nancy Bonamo, Ft. Lauderdale Lodge #2263

Source: Preserving Our Italian Heritage, Sons of Italy Florida Foundation

Dear Inge,

I hope someone will have the recipe that you're looking for. This one may be similar because the dough can be made into different shapes. For the gumdrop lily, I would use a spearmint jelly candy, roll it out with a rolling pin, then use cut a circle out. Shape the circle into a lily. Maybe add a drop of icing in the center of the flower. Attach the lilies to the cookies with a drop of thick icing. If you find the recipe please share it with us!

Happy Baking!

Betsy