Sweet Anise Pretzels

By LoriCaputo

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• 1 ½ tsp. finely crushed anise seed
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2/3 cup buttermilk

Preparation

Step 1

Stir together the flour, powder, soda, anise, and salt. Beat butter until soft. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla. Alternately add the flour and milk to the batter. Chill 4 hours - overnight. Divide dough in ½ and roll each ½ into a 10 x 5 inch rectangle. Cut each ½ into 20 5 ½ inch strips. Roll each strip into a 9 inch rope. Form each rope by crossing 1 end over the other to form a circle, overlapping 1 ½ inches from each end. Twist once at the point where the dough overlaps. Lift the end across the edge of the circle opposite them and press lightly.