Chrabeli Swiss Anise Crescent Cookies Food

ANISKRABELI AND ANISBROETLI (SWISS COOKIES WITH ANISE)

Steps:

• Mix sugar and eggs using a blender until they are very soft.
• Add the remaining ingredients and knead into dough.
• For Aniskrabeli form on a floured surface rolls 1.5 cm (½ inch) thick. Cut pieces of 4-5 centimeters (2 inch) of length. Make 3 oblique cuts and fold your cookies slightly (like in the picture).
• For Anisbroetli you need a stamp. In this case roll out your dough on a floured surface or make small balls with your hands. Print the shape with your favorite stamp.
• Put the small pieces onto a baking tray and dry for about 12- 24 hours at room temperature (this step is essential!).
• Bake them for 15-25 minutes with 150 degrees Celsius (300F). These cookies shouldn't turn brown! (heat and timing are basing it on convection oven).
• Let them cool down and enjoy.

SWISS ANISE CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Steps:

• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Toast the anise seeds for a few minutes in a skillet over medium heat until fragrant. Coarsely grind them in a mortar and set aside. → Those two steps enhance the anise flavor!
• Beat the eggs, powdered sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer until white and fluffy (takes about 3-5 minutes).
• Stir in anise seeds.
• Add flour and stir using a spatula until just combined.
• Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and form/roll the dough into ½-inch (1 ½ cm) thick rolls. → This is about the thickness of a finger.
• Cut the rolls into 2-inch (5 cm) pieces. Make two cuts and shape them into a half-moon (see pictures in the blog post's step-by-step instructions). Transfer to the lined baking sheets and let them dry at room temperature for 24 hours. → Don't cover, and don't leave at a place with a draft.
• Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Bake the cookies in the lower third of the oven, with the oven door slightly ajar, for 15-20 minutes.→ Stick a wooden spoon between the oven and the door!
• Remove from the oven, allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet, and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

FESTIVE BRATSELI COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk together 3 cups flour, the cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Put butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Add extracts, and zest if using; mix until combined. Add eggs; mix until combined.
• Whisk cream in a medium bowl until just slightly thickened. Fold into butter mixture.
• Reduce mixer speed to low. Add flour mixture, and mix until just combined. Add remaining flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing until incorporated after each addition, until dough is just soft enough to handle but still slightly sticky. Roll tablespoons of dough into balls.
• Coat a bratseli or pizzelle iron with cooking spray, and heat. Place 1 ball of dough in each grid, and press handle down tightly. Cook bratseli until golden (some machines have a green light that will illuminate when done), 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Trim edges, if needed. Let cool completely on wire racks. Cookies can be stored between layers of parchment in airtight containers at room temperature up to 2 weeks.