Anise Wine Ring Cookies are crisp and fragrant Italian cookies, perfect any time of the day — especially dipped in Vin Santo! This version uses star anise for its delicate aroma and easy availability, but you can replace it with anise seeds for a stronger, more traditional flavor.
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Infusion Time: 1 ora ora
Total Time: 1 ora ora 35 minutes minutes
8 people
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 500 g All-purpose Flour (for cakes and pastries)
- 180 g Granulated Sugar
- 120 g Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 200 g White Wine
- 10 g Star Anise
- 12 g Baker’s Ammonia (or Baking Powder)
- 1 pinch Salt
Instructions
- Pour the wine into a small saucepan, add the star anise, and bring to a boil. As soon as it starts to simmer, turn off the heat and cover with plastic wrap to preserve the aroma.
- Let the anise infuse in the wine for at least 1 hour. For a more intense aroma, you can prepare the infusion the night before.
- Place the flour in the bowl of a stand mixer (or on your work surface if mixing by hand). Add the salt and baker’s ammonia, then mix briefly to combine.
- Add the sugar and olive oil, then pour in the filtered wine, straining out the anise. Mix until you get a smooth, soft dough that’s easy to handle.
- Knead just long enough to bring the dough together. Avoid overworking it to prevent gluten development — this will keep your cookies light and crumbly.
- Take a small portion of dough and roll it between your hands into a rope about 3 mm (1/8 inch) thick. Work gently to maintain elasticity.
- Cut the rope into pieces about 7–8 cm (3 inches) long, taper the ends slightly, and join them to form small rings.
- Once all the rings are formed, roll them in granulated sugar to coat evenly. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them slightly apart.
- Bake in a static oven at 355°F (180°C) for about 15 minutes, keeping the oven door slightly open with a small ball of aluminum foil. This helps the cookies stay dry and crisp.
- When the cookies are golden brown, remove them from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack before serving or storing.
Video
Notes
Store your Anise Wine Cookies in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks — they’ll stay perfectly crisp and fragrant.
Nutrition
Serving: 50g | Calories: 465kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 16g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 23g