Orange Anise Bizcochitos Mexican Orange Anise Cookies Food

ANISE SEED-CINNAMON COOKIES: BISCOCHITOS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease baking sheets.
• In a small bowl combine sugar, orange zest, and sherry, and set aside to let flavors infuse the sugar. In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine flour, baking powder, anise seed, and salt. In another bowl, beat the lard with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add lard and infused sugar to flour mixture and knead until it forms a cohesive mass. On a floured surface, roll dough to a thickness of 1/4-inch. Cut into rectangles and pinch 1 of the short sides into deditos (little toes) which will spread apart when baking.
• For the topping, combine cinnamon with sugar in a small bowl. Brush rectangles with beaten egg and sprinkle with topping. Transfer cookies with a spatula to baking sheet and bake 8 to 10 minutes until crispy and edges are just beginning to turn golden. Serve with cota tea or atole.

ORANGE-ANISE BIZCOCHITOS (MEXICAN ORANGE-ANISE COOKIES)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat shortening and 3/4 cup sugar until smooth. Add egg, orange peel, and orange juice and beat just until combined.
• In a medium bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups flour, anise seeds, baking powder, and salt. Add to shortening mixture, stir to mix, then beat well until well blended. Divide dough in half and flatten each half into a disk. Wrap each disk tightly in plastic wrap and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Unwrap dough. On a lightly floured surface, with a floured rolling pin, roll one disk at a time to about 1/8-inch thick. With floured (2 to 2 1/2-inch) cookie cutters, cut dough into shapes and place about 1-inch apart on greased cookie sheets.
• Bake cookies at 350°F just until edges are golden, about 10-12 minutes. Cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.

BIZCOCHITOS (MEXICAN ANISE COOKIES)

Steps:

• Cream margarine; gradually add 3/4 cup sugar, beating at medium speed of a mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Combine cake flour, aniseed, baking powder, and salt; add to creamed mixture, stirring until well-blended. Divide dough in half; shape each portion into a ball, and wrap each in plastic wrap. Freeze 40 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 d F. Remove one portion of dough from freezer; remove plastic wrap. Roll dough to a 1/8-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface; cut with a 2-inch round cutter. Place on baking sheets. Combine 2 teaspoons sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over cookies. Bake at 350 d F for 10 minutes. Remove from baking sheets immediately; cool on wire racks. Repeat procedure with remaining portion of dough. Store in an airtight container.
• Note: Time does not include chill time of dough.

BIZCOCHITOS

Steps:

• Cream fat and sugar until quite creamy.
• Add egg and beat until very fluffy.
• Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture.
• Stir in wine and anise seed.
• Roll dough to 1/4" thick and cut in plain squares or fancy shapes.
• Combine topping ingredients and sprinkle on top of each cookie.
• Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 15-20 minutes or until light brown.
• Freezes well.

ANISE BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and 1-1/2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in orange juice concentrate and aniseed. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. , On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. round cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. , Combine cinnamon and remaining sugar; sprinkle over cookies. Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks.

TRADITIONAL MEXICAN ANISE COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream 1 cup sugar, butter and shortening in a large bowl til light and fluffy.
• Beat in egg, sherry vanilla and anise til well combined.
• In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder and salt; stir into butter-egg mixture til well mixed.
• Divide dough in half.
• Wrap each half in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or til dough is firm, but is still quite workable.
• Preheat oven to 350' degrees F.
• Combine cinnamon with remaining sugar in a small bowl; set aside.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out each half of dough 1/8 inch thick.
• Cut into desired shapes, re-rolling scraps just once.
• Place on ungreased cookie sheets and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or til golden.
• Remove to wire racks to cool.

TRADITIONAL ANISE COOKIES

Steps:

• With a Kitchenaid mixer: beat eggs 20 minutes with 2 cups of granulated sugar (yes I mean 20 minutes as this is what will make the cookies light as a feather with a crisp melt in you mouth top crust).
• Add flour gradually, beating well after each addition. Add 1 tsp anise oil and blend well.
• Drop by tablespoonsful onto greased cookie sheets and let stand in a draft free place overnight.
• Bake in a 375°F oven for 10 minutes until light golden but do not brown.
• Cool on baking racks thoroughly before storing.
• Store in a tightly covered cookie tin (not plastic).
• The longer you let the cookie age, the better it will be.