Springerle Cookies

Total Time: 24 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 24 hrs Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 4 large eggs
• 3 cups flour
• 4 1/4 cups powdered sugar (1 pound)
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2-1 teaspoon anise extract
• anise seed

Recipe

• 1 in large mixer bowl, beat eggs at high speed until thick & lemon colored.
• 2 continue beating while adding sugar slowly; add flour, baking powder, lemon peel & anise extract- beat together completely.
• 3 on a well-floured board, roll out some of the dough with a plain rolling pin to about 1/2" thickness; lightly flour springerle rolling pin & roll it firmly across dough to impress patterns (try to keep dough about 1/2" thick).
• 4 cut cookies apart between patterns.
• 5 place cookies 1/2" apart on ungreased cookie sheets, and allow them to dry uncovered overnight (12 hours).
• 6 when ready to bake, preheat oven to 250-300° & place cookies 1/2" apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. bake 25-30 minutes until firm but still .
• 7 remove to wire racks to cool.
• 8 store cookies in a tightly covered container with some anise seeds.
• 9 flavor develops fully after about 2 weeks.