Anise-Seed Cookies (Bizcochitos)

By CheeseDiva

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 cup lard
• 1 1/4 tsp. anise seeds
• 1 egg

Details

Servings 2
Adapted from saveur.com

Preparation

Step 1

MAKES 2 DOZEN

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl and set aside. Combine ¼ cup of the sugar with cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside.

2. Put lard and the remaining ½ cup of sugar into the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle and beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 1 minute. Add anise seeds and egg and beat, stopping mixer once or twice to scrape down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula, until well mixed, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to low, then gradually add flour mixture, scraping sides of bowl as needed, and beat until dough begins to gather into a ball and comes cleanly away from sides of bowl, about 2 minutes. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and divide in half, then shape each half into a smooth ball. Cover with a clean dish towel and set aside to let rest for 15–20 minutes.

4. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and sprinkle with reserved cinnamon–sugar mixture while still warm. Repeat process with remaining half of dough.