It’s about time I start baking classic Italian cookies! I will admit, I opted for the bunny slope version by making these easy peasy cookies. However, they’re classics for a reason! Besides, I’m still a little intimidated at the thought of making biscotti. I’m sure they’re easy enough to bake. Maybe next week.

This weekend we celebrated my Grandma’s birthday and these cookies were my contribution. The family gathering was actually pretty sweet. My Mom and younger cousin, Lindsay, collaborated to give my Grandma a homemade pillow stitched together by my late Grandpa’s ties (with a backing made of his pajama pants!). What a thoughtful idea! Watch my Grandma’s reaction – at first she thinks it’s just an ordinary pillow:

As everyone was leaving I asked my Grandma if she wanted some cookies, to which she replied, “Yeah I’ll take all of them.” Well, OK then! Clearly these are worthy of baking again! I love that you can customize these cookies to match any holiday – just switch up the sprinkle colors!

Classic Anisette Cookies

Adapted from MotherThyme.com

Makes 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients

• 2-3/4 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 3/4 cup butter (stick and a half), room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1-1/2 teaspoon anise extract
• Sprinkles for decorating

Glaze

• 1-1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon anise extract
• 3 tablespoons milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.
2. Mix the flour and baking powder together. Set aside.
3. Cream the butter, sugar and 1 egg. Then stir in remaining 2 eggs and anise extract.
   
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet until well combined.
   
5. Drop tablespoon-sized dough onto baking sheet, 2 inches apart (note: I like to roll all of the dough first because they promise round cookies!).
   
6. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cookie bottoms are beginning to get golden.
   
7. Let cool on a cookie rack.
8. Meanwhile, mix all the glaze ingredients together. Once the cookies are cool, dip each one in the glaze (do about 3 or 4 in a row) then decorate with sprinkles. Repeat for all, then let set for 30 minutes.