Anise Shortbread Sandwich Cookies Recipes

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse flour, confectioners' sugar, salt, and anise seeds until combined. Add butter; process until mixture becomes sandy. Add yolks and liqueur; pulse until dough comes together (it may be sticky). Divide dough into 2 pieces and pat into disks. Wrap each in plastic and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 3 days (or freeze up to 1 month).
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut out shapes using 3 1/2-inch star-shaped cutters. Use a 2 1/8-inch cutter to cut out centers of half of cookies. Transfer like sizes to parchment-lined baking sheets; freeze 15 minutes.
• Bake until cookies are barely turning golden around edges, about 14 minutes for smaller cookies, 16 to 18 for larger. Transfer baking sheets to wire racks; let cool completely. (Cookies can be made ahead up to this point and stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days, or frozen up to 3 months.)
• Bring jam to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium. Cook 1 minute. Strain through a coarse sieve, discarding any large pieces of fruit. Let cool until thickened slightly, about 10 minutes. Spread about 1/2 teaspoon strained jam onto each large solid cookie, and 1/4 teaspoon on half of the smaller cookies. Lightly dust large tops with confectioners' sugar; sandwich halves together. Serve same day.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir 1 cup butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until well blended. Stir in flour and salt until well mixed. If necessary, knead with hands to form a soft dough.
• On floured surface, roll dough 1/4 inch thick. Cut with 1 3/4-inch round or scalloped cookie cutter. Place 1/2 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Using 3/4- to 1-inch round or scalloped cookie cutters, cut out and set aside centers of half of the cookies.
• Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat marshmallow creme and 1/3 cup butter with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Beat in 2/3 cup powdered sugar on low speed until fluffy and creamy.
• Spread about 1 1/2 teaspoons frosting on bottom of each whole cookie; top with 1/2 teaspoon preserves. Top with remaining cookies with centers cut out, bottom sides down.

Steps:

• Place ungreased baking sheets in the refrigerator. In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well., Using a cookie press fitted with a ribbon disk, press dough into 2-1/2-in.-long ribbons on chilled baking sheets. Bake at 375° until edges are lightly browned, 6-8 minutes. Cool for 1 minute before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For filling, in a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Dissolve coffee in hot water; add to creamed mixture and mix until smooth. Spread 1 teaspoon filling on the bottom of one cookie; top with another cookie to form a sandwich. Repeat., In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip one end of each cookie into chocolate, allowing excess to drip off and then in nonpareils. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets until set.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets.
• Beat eggs and brown sugar together in a large bowl until smooth. Stir anise seed and salt into the egg mixture.
• Dissolve baking soda in hot water; stir into the egg mixture. Add flour and mix into a dough. Form into 36 small balls.
• Spread white sugar into a wide, shallow dish. Roll the cookie dough balls in the sugar to coat. Arrange onto prepared baking sheets about 1 inch apart.
• Bake in preheated oven until edges are crispy, about 10 minutes.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Pulse together flour, sugar and salt in a food processor. Add butter and pulse to fine crumbs. Pulse a few more times until some of the crumbs start to come together, but don't overprocess; the dough should be somewhat crumbly. (You can also mix the dough in a bowl using two knives or a pastry cutter.)
• Press dough into an even layer in an ungreased 8- or 9-inch-square baking pan, or a 9-inch pie pan. Prick dough all over with a fork. Bake until golden brown, about 35 to 40 minutes for the 9-inch square or pie pan, 45 to 50 minutes for the 8-inch. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Cut into squares, bars or wedges while still warm.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine 2 cups flour, the cornstarch and salt in a medium bowl, and whisk to combine. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and light brown sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add vanilla paste and beat on medium speed until well combined, scraping bowl as needed.
• Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed just until combined. Scrape the bowl and fold a few times to make sure everything is well combined. Divide dough in two, wrap each piece in plastic wrap, and flatten into disks. Chill until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
• Place one piece of dough on a lightly floured sheet of parchment, or a silicone baking mat, and flour both sides of the dough and the rolling pin. Roll dough into an oblong oval that is roughly 7-by-10 inches and a generous 1/4-inch thick. Prick all over with a floured fork. Repeat with the second piece of dough. Slide rolled dough on parchment paper onto a baking sheet, and freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Lightly beat the egg white with 1 teaspoon water to thin it out. Lightly brush the top of the dough with the egg white, and sprinkle with the anise seeds, pressing gently to adhere. Sprinkle with the sanding sugar, then bake until turning deeply golden at the edges, 15 to 17 minutes.
• Let cool on the baking sheet. After about 5 minutes, use a knife, pastry wheel or pizza cutter to cut crosswise into 3/4-inch strips. Alternatively, let cool and serve whole, allowing guests to break into pieces. Cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week.