Best Star Anise Honey Cookies Recipes

Soft Chocolate Cookies with Grapefruit and Star Anise image

Provided by Elizabeth Falkner

Yield Makes about 40

Number Of Ingredients 11

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, diced
1 teaspoon plus 1/4 cup sugar
3 whole star anise*
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons finely grated grapefruit peel

Steps:

Combine chocolate and butter in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 10-second intervals until chocolate is almost melted; remove and stir until melted and smooth. Finely grind 1 teaspoon sugar and 3 star anise in spice mill or small coffee grinder. Transfer to small bowl; whisk in flour, cocoa, coarse salt, and baking powder.
Beat remaining 1/4 cup sugar, eggs, honey, and grapefruit peel in large bowl until thick and smooth. Fold in chocolate, then dry ingredients. Cover bowl; chill batter until cold and firm, at least 45 minutes and up to 1 day.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Drop batter by tablespoonfuls onto prepared sheets, spacing mounds 2 inches apart.
Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until dry-looking and tester comes out with moist crumbs still attached, about 10 minutes. Cool on sheet 3 minutes, then transfer to racks and cool completely. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight between sheets of waxed paper.
Star anise is a brown, star-shaped seedpod. It's available in the spice section of some supermarkets and at specialty

Star Anise Lace Cookies image

Yield Makes about 48 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 tablespoons star anise pieces
1/2 cup sugar
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Steps:

In an electric coffee/spice grinder finely grind star anise. In a 1- to 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan bring anise, sugar, butter, and vinegar to a boil over moderate heat, stirring, and boil 1 minute. Remove pan from heat and stir in flour and a pinch salt until mixture is smooth. Cool dough to room temperature. Form and bake cookies as directed at below.
To form and bake lace cookies:
Preheat oven to 350°F and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Roll level 1/2-teaspoons dough into balls and arrange 4 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake cookies in batches in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, 10 minutes, or until cookies are flat and golden. Transfer parchment with cookies to racks to cool. Cool baking sheets and line with fresh parchment between batches.

Greek Honey and Anise Twists (Koulourakia) image

Yield Makes about 5 dozen

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/3 cup honey
4 tablespoons anise-flavored liqueur, such as Marie Brizard
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 tablespoons aniseed
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel
Sesame seeds

Steps:

Mix honey, 2 tablespoons liqueur and juice in small bowl. Set glaze aside.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter baking sheets. Combine flour, salt and baking powder in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in remaining 2 tablespoons liqueur, aniseed and lemon peel. Gradually mix in dry ingredients.
Working with 1 tablespoon dough at a time, roll dough between palms and work surface into 7-inch ropes. Form into bow ties or twists. Place on prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly. Brush glaze over cookies. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake cookies until pale golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks. Lightly brush cookies again with glaze. Cool. (Can be made ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week, or freeze up to 1 month.)