Italian Anise Cookies

With Jennifer Scala McGrath

Another Italian Christmas treat for all to enjoy are these delicate cake-like cookies, glazed with icing and topped with colorful candy sprinkles. They have a mild anise flavoring, which is very typical of many Italian baked goods. Italian families always served these cookies at holidays such as Christmas, weddings or special celebrations.

Head cookie maker and owner of Cookies by Jenn, Jennifer McGrath-Scala has been making these cookies since she was a child. Jennifer grew up in an Italian Family where food was the center of everything. Jenn watched as a little girl her grandmother; mother and aunts bake cookies for the holidays. When she was “old enough,“ they would give her dough to play with and it made her feel so important and that is when she started to love baking and cooking.

Over the years her friends and family couldn’t wait for Christmas time (and for other holidays) because they enjoyed her cookies so much. For the past several years her friends at work encouraged her to sell her cookies but you can make them yourself as well by watching her video. This video was filmed in the Kitchen Showroom at the Building Center in Gloucester, MA. You can obtain more information at their web site; www.bcgloucester.com

Ingredients

6 eggs
5 cups flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon anise oil
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup shortening

For Icing:
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon anise oil
1 cup milk

Instructions

Preset the oven to 350 degrees F. 1. Beat eggs until frothy (approximately 6 minutes)
2. Put dry ingrediants in a large mixing bowl, add to egg mixture slowly.  Add in the liquid shortening (The dough should be a bead like texture)
3. Pinch into one inch balls and bake for approximately 8 to 10 minutes, making sure not to brown tops.
4. For the icing, mix powdered sugar, anise oil extract and milk with hand mixer.
5. Dip cookie face down in icing while still wet. Add sprinkles!!

Recipe courtesy of Jennifer Scala-McGrath, Cookies by Jenn, 2010.

Born and raised in Gloucester, Jenn now resides in Concord NH with her husband and three boys - Anthony 16, Steven 11 and Nicky 8. The boys are the highlight of her life.

She grew up in an Italian Family where food was the center of everything. Jenn watched as a little girl her grandmother; mother and aunts bake cookies for the holidays. When she was “old enough,“ they would give her dough to play with and it made her feel so important and that is when she started to love baking and cooking.

Over the years her friends and family couldn’t wait for Christmas time (and for other holidays) because they enjoyed her cookies so much. For the past several years she has been employed at the Concord School District where her friends at work encouraged her to sell her cookies. 

In New Hampshire there are not many Italian bakeries and many people who have had Italian cookies in the past were very excited that she made them and that they no longer had to drive to Boston. In October of 2010 Jenn, along with two close friends, Richie and Michelle Noe, decided to open our business, Cookies By Jenn.  It has been a fun and interesting experience for them all and eventually they are planning a store front in Concord, NH, selling their specialty, cookie arrangements for all occasions.

At this time you can order small and large platters of assorted cookies in decorative platters for the holidays, birthdays, parties and other get-togethers at her web site, www.cookiesbyjenn.com. They are now available for sale at Lynnfield Deli, The Corner Store and Bob’s in Medford.