1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp anise extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups flour, not tightly packed
1 Tbsp baking powder
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
3 Tbsp milk
1/4 tsp anise extract
rainbow nonpareils
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Cream butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl for a few minutes until smooth.
- Add eggs and beat well with a mixer, until light and frothy.
- Add milk, anise, and vanilla, and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour and baking powder. In two or three stages, add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. The dough will be sticky, but if it is too sticky, add additional flour one tablespoon at a time.
- Roll a tablespoon of dough into a sphere, using your wetted palms. Place onto a large cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, about 1 1/2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until very lightly brown on the bottom. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely before glazing.
- Once cooled, in a large bowl, whisk together confectioners’ sugar, milk, and anise. Dip the top of each cookie into the glaze, and then sprinkle nonpareils on top. Let harden completely before storing.