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Anise Cut-Out Cookies – Kris Kringle Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

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Do you have any anise oil in your spice cupboard? How about anise seed?
Go ahead. You can check. I’ll wait. Got a little time to burn today. Or not! Silly me.
But if you don’t have any anise now is the time to acquire some. Splendid stuff!
Any recipe that has been around and is still used after 50 years is a winner. This recipe for anise cut-out cookies (Kris Kringle cut-out sugar cookies) has become a Christmas family tradition. 
My grandmother cut this recipe for Kris Kringle cut-out cookies from the local newspaper many, many years ago and tweaked it to be her own. We still have the original clip!
This recipe is so prized that it’s practically a family heirloom. So we’re going local today with a regional recipe that hails from Buffalo, NY.

It’s my pleasure to share our secret with you!

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What do plain sugar cookies taste like?

My 8-year-old doesn’t like vanilla or almond sugar cookies. Funny that she’d rather have no dessert than a lackluster cookie. She says they taste like nothing.And while I agree with her still manage to munch at least four cookies. Oh, to possess that kind of self-control to refrain from eating a cookie!

Most sugar cookies are bland. Yes, they are flavored with vanilla and vanilla is delicious, but there’s never enough vanilla. Not in any recipe I’ve sampled or made. Or, they use almond oil which my husband dislikes!

Flavorless, lackluster cookies don’t work for our family. Not worth the calories. But anise cut-out cookies? They lure me in every time.

Anise has a bold taste. You love it or hate it ~ there’s no middle ground.

We are convinced Santa agrees with us. All the anise cookies left for him are gone each year! He’s clearly a fan!

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So what does anise taste like?

What makes these Kris Kringle cut-outs special is the anise flavoring. Reminiscent of black licorice, anise is similar to fennel or even tarragon, too.
Anise is not sour but it’s not spicy either. I find it has a subtle sweet flavor with an herbal aroma that only adds to the flavor. 
So anise gives the perfect flavor and scent to these Kris Kringle cookies, something their vanilla counterparts are missing for sure.
One whiff of these anise cut-out cookies fresh out of the oven and you’ll realize what you’ve been missing all these years.

And anise is a herbaceous annual plant that you should consider growing come spring! 

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So yes….you could grow anise!

People all over the world grow anise. But anise is a bit fussy. So if not grown correctly, the flavor won’t be as sweet as it should be, or worse, it won’t grow at all.Here’s just a few tips to get the wheels turning:

Growing: Anise grows best in fertile, light and well-drained soil. The seeds should be planted as soon as the ground warms up in the spring.

Planting: Plant your anise in spring a few weeks after the last frost.

Spacing your crops: Plant your anise 2.5 to 3 feet apart after the last frost. In fact, they are grow up to 3-feet tall!

Sun exposure: Anise plants like full-sun.

Fertilizer: Only add fertilizer if you plant in bad soil.

Transplanting: Anise plants do not transplant well. Don’t do it!

Harvesting: Harvest your anise when the flower umbels become heavy and have brownish seeds.

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Recipe for anise cut-out cookies (Kris Kringle cut-out anise cookies)

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in 2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tarter
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon anise oil
4 1/2 cups flour
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Method & instructions for making anise cut-out cookies

*The recipe calls for 3 cups flour. The extra is used for helping  roll out the dough and keeping your rolling pin from getting sticky*Cream butter and sugar together. Add anise, milk and baking soda combo with eggs.

Add salt and cream of tarter sifted with 3 cups flour. Slowly add the remaining flour to make a dough that can be rolled.

Chill in fridge for a couple of hours or overnight. Roll on lightly floured board to desired thickness.

Cut and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet in a 350-degree oven 5-8 minutes depending on thickness. 

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To frost or not to frost? That is the question.

So you have two choices when considering toppings for these cookies. You can:1.) Leave them unfrosted but put sprinkles on the top prior to baking.

2.) Frost them and add sprinkles after the fact.

Either way….sprinkles are essential. Christmas cookies must twinkle at you.

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Now cookies are scrumptious hot and fresh out of the oven as you very well know. The advantage for going for option one is that it’s less work.But our family has always had the tradition of using Pillsbury White Frosting. The sprinkles really pop against the white backdrop.

What I like about the frosting route is that if (and that’s a great big if) you still have cookies a week later, the frosting seeps into the cookie keeping them moist and soft.

No stale cookies in my cookie jar!

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Secret Code: anise

Why we love cut-out cookies….

We love cut-out cookies for all the shape options they provide. Candy canes. Christmas trees, Santa’s boot, holly plant, bell, star, the sky is the limit.And yes, I’m sure these aren’t the glamor shots you’ve seen on Pinterest. But they are real and raw (quite literally in some cases!) so pardon our imperfections.

But with young kids helping me out….I wouldn’t have it any other way!

What’s your favorite cookie to make at Christmas?
And what’s your favorite cookie cutter shape?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kim Jacobson says

    Love the little girls smiles and cookies. I love anise but most do not like that flavor. I think I like it because my Dad used to buy these cookies that were flavored with anise and my Dad kept them to himself lol which made us kids more curious.

    Reply

    • Brenda Williamson says

      Cinnamon sugar slice and bake shortbreads, nut crescents, choclate chip.
      These anise cookies look delicious. My aunt made anise and vanilla Pizzelles for years, so good.

      Reply

    • Kathleen Landers says

      Anise flavor is such a strong one and not a favorite in my home-to each his/her own! What is asked for in my family every year is a spritz or butter cookie. I enjoy trying a new recipe or two every year and have found some keepers like the cinnamon roll cookie.

      Reply

  9. Kathy Lane says

    I love the flavor of Anise but never tried making cookies with it. Looks like a must try recipe for me in the next couple of days.

    Reply

  11. Betsy Pauzauskie says

    I love to make & eat oatmeal raisin cookies any time of the year, Christmas included. 🙂 Icing and decorating cookies with “littles” is a joy to bond over, whether baking and decorating with my children when they were little or with my grandchildren. However, I don’t remember eating anise flavored cookies. I’ll have to learn if I like anise, & if I do then I might give baking them a try. Your adorable daughters’ smiles seem proof positive that the cookies taste great. And, I bet your son likes to lend a hand with decorating as well. Thanks for the introduction to anise.

    Reply

  12. Suzanne B says

    I have always used the same sugar cookie recipe my mom did for cut out cookies. It has a touch of nutmeg in it. I have never tried anise.

    Reply

  21. Jill H says

    I like just about any cookie but real butter and real vanilla make it taste so much better! I like anise and almond flavor but a lot of people don’t.

    Reply

  24. KAREN WINSLOW says

    My Mom & I would bake cookies for 2-3 days in December every year. We tended more towards the German type cookies. Spritz, almond crescents etc. We would make all the dough ahead of time & just spend one day baking them all. How I miss those days & THE COOKIES

    Reply

  28. Amber Lee Kolb says

    These cookies look almost too pretty to eat! Sugar cookies and decorating them has been a family tradition for many years. It’s always fun!

    Reply

  30. Ronnell Storie says

    I made sugar cookies early this morning. I’m a picky eater. It’s a no on anise for me. I’ll stick to vanilla. I grow a lot of weird stuff. I might give anise a try.

    Reply

  31. Nancy Jachcik says

    would be worth a try to grow my own anise I love the unique flavor and aroma of anise Thanks for the cookie recipe I’m sure this will be one of my favorites

    Reply

  32. jennifer bowen says

    i like them too there verry good and yes most do not like them. my grand pa always would have the candy when i was a little girl and he would give me some of it to eat al the time when i was younger i did not like it all that much but now i like it more then any thing.

    Reply

  33. Sandra McFadden says

    I have a similar recipe to this one but it calls for sour cream instead of the milk that you mix the soda with. Love cut out cookies.

    Reply

  47. Tracy Suzanne DeLoach says

    You can see the pride and joy in the girls faces and it’s so sweet. Those memories will stay with them forever. The cookies look delicious too!’

    Reply

  51. Michael Coovert says

    I love sugar cookies, but if I want them, I have to make them privately and eat them in private because I have a family allergic to gluten and even a few molecules of gluten makes them desperately ill.

    Reply

  52. Kayley says

    Sugar cookies are a fun way to celebrate the holidays. I like that the cutter set comes with a variety of shapes.

    Reply

  53. Melton C McKinney says

    I can’t make cookies at all. I’m Good at making and baking other stuff, but I just can’t get the dough right to form, cut and cook. I must buy all of my cookies.

    Reply

  66. Melinda Barlow says

    I like tree shaped cookies the best, although wreath, snowmen and ginger kids are fun too. I like sugar cookies and i love licorice so I will try and if my licorice hating kiddos don’t like them…….more for me!

    Reply

  67. Julie Waldron says

    These look yummy & festive. This recipe is a different twist on the traditional sugar cookies. I remember my Mom making things with anise.

    Reply

  68. Laurie Nykaza says

    These cookies sound so good love making cookies too and we love anise . It’s always so much fun we have to make GF now my son has Celiacs but there are plenty of recipes online to use.

    Reply

  69. Melinda says

    Tried these today. They are yummy and definitely different in taste from vanilla cookies. Thanks for a new favorite sugar cookie recipe.

    Reply

  83. Joy Chadwick says

    I love to make thumbprint cookies and my favorite cookie cutter shape is the candy cane since its the easiest to decorate!!

    Reply

  84. Carol Stadel says

    A great idea for Anise in sugar cookies, we use nutmeg. I like that extra boost of flavor and after eating a flavored cookie then plain are just that plain. I use Anise in Pizzelles, when I make them.
    I will try Anise next time I make sugar cookies..

    Reply

  85. Missy Wilber says

    I love moist & soft cookies! Hard cookies aren’t for me.
    I’m not sure I know what anise is- going to check into that lol

    Reply

  96. Diane Warstler says

    I remember my mother making anise cookies when I was a little girl. She used a cookie press with different tips to do so. They were wildly popular back in the day and this article brought back wonderful memories of our time together.

    Reply

  104. Lisa says

    I just made cookies with my Mother yesterday I don’t believe Ive ever tried anise flavored cookies. Sounds interesting
    Happy Holidays everyone!

    Reply

  106. Lisa Cress says

    I have to admit I am not in the anise fan club, but wouldn’t turn down a traditional vanilla sugar cookie with a glass of milk! Happy Holidays to you and your family!

    Reply

  113. Angelica says

    I’m definitely in the firm no camp when it come to anise but I think my mom would absolutely love these! Never would have thought to use anise in sugar cookies but it’s genius!

    Reply

  114. Tamra Phelps says

    I agree with the kid…I’m not a big fan of almond sugar cookies. (But, yeah, I’ll still eat way too many, lol!) I’ve never tried anise sugar cookies but I do like anise, so I’ll give this recipe a try this year.

    Reply

  121. Sandra McFadden says

    I love Anise flavored cookies but unfortunately I am the only one who does. Being a diabetic I can’t make them often unless there is someone visiting that enjoys them too.

    Reply

  126. Amy K says

    You had me at Anise!
    Seriously though, it’s one of those flavors where there seems to be no one who has a ‘meh’ opinion on it. It’s either all love or all hate!
    Gonna add this to my list for this year. Thanks!

    Reply

  127. carol n says

    my mom always made anise cookies, she had a special rolling pin just for them with all the fancy shapes carved into it.

    Reply

  133. Beth Carpenter says

    I have a friend who married into a German family and became a pro at making the most delicious and beautiful cookies ever! She taught me to keep Anise extract in my extracts/spices pantry. I even have whole star anis (I toss a few of those and whole cloves in my garden in hopes of keeping bugs at bay). Sooo as my high-school sons work on their lessons, I am already planning ahead to making these. If I make the dough, they will cut them out and bake them (but on around the holidays do they stoop to such tasks). Thank you for this recipe!

    Reply

  137. stephen jones says

    love the star shaped cutter myself! sugar cookies are one fav to make and another would be those oatmeal scotchies with butterscotch morsels!

    Reply

  139. Betsy Pauzauskie says

    While those cookies look delicious, your beautiful daughters make the photo! Surprisingly, I’ve not tried making anise cookies yet. And, I do love almond bark pretzels more than cookies, which fortunately can be decorated to look quite festive. I’ve already given our daughters’ families the cookie cutters acquired over my lifetime. It’s heartwarming to see them enjoyed by the grandkids. Warm wishes to you and your dear family for a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

    Reply

  142. Bobbi Walker says

    Oh, sugar cookies are the best! During Christmas time these are the ones we always decorated..so much fun with the kids! Some of the best memories ever.

    Reply

  144. Rosanne says

    Liking anise is an acquired taste. I’m dieting so anything sounds good even though I’m Italian and not a fan of anise

    Reply

  146. clynsg says

    When I was working, I would make a huge selection of Christmas cookies and take them to work for the crew. I worked nights, so there were enough left for the day shift (especially if we had a very busy night –babies arrive at their own schedule after all!), but I am not quite certain about evenings. I tried to separate them so there would be equal amounts, but was never really certain how many actually made it!

    Reply

  147. Rebecca Brown says

    Wow never thought about using anise in my cookies before! I love the flavor and will most diffidently be trying out this recipe!! Thank you so much for sharing! Have a blessed Holiday season.

    Reply

  148. Amber Lee Kolb says

    I will definitely be baking these with the girls for Santa! They are 10 and 7 and I know they would love cutting out the cookies. Thank you for the recipe!

    Reply

  150. Wendy says

    I am definitely a fan, but I haven’t convinced my granddaughter to try them yet. She’s young still, so I have some time.

    Reply

  155. jberry says

    I’ve had to leave the room when anise is wafting. Give me any (other) old fashioned drop cookie during the holidays. My family was about mass production not frills, lucky if you got a rolo or a kiss on top.

    Reply

  159. Lisa Bennett says

    I’ve never used anise before, but am interested in trying. My son loves sugar cookies, as well as my grandkids. Thanks for the info
    Happy Holidays to all

    Reply

  160. Mary Gardner says

    I can’t wait to try those Anise cookies. My family loves making sugar cookies, gingerbread boys and girls and shortbread.

    Reply

  162. Sue E says

    I think I am in the Twilight Zone!
    It has been so busy around here that I have forgotten to finish a lot of my blog reads and contests! I am finishing this giveaway that ends tomorrow and I have noticed that I am commenting on another article. I’m pretty sure that I put a different secret word in that field. I couldn’t go back in that field to put in this secret word; vanilla
    I’m already have a memory problem! I’m sorry 😞 I don’t mean to drag you in to my madness!
    I liked these Christmas cookies with anise. When I was young, my mom bought these (I think the brand was called Salerno) Christmas cookies that had the sprinkles on top. They were in the shape of Christmas trees and ornaments. You could taste the anise. I loved it, because I loved black licorice. My mom worked so she couldn’t make homemade cookies for us all the time. My dad’s mom was already in her forties when she had my dad. My grandparents just came to Ellis Island from Italy. They both died when I was young. My mom’s parents moved to California when I was ten. So if we had any homemade sweets, us kids made them or we ate some on holidays that were brought by our other relatives who came to the holiday celebrations. I husband and I are bakers now! I pinned your recipe so we can make them after the holidays. We are already baking our goodies that we are bringing.
    to our daughter’s. We have a big immediate family! I agree with the adorable little girls in the above picture that some of those cookies are just bland! If I’m going to gain weight over the holidays, it’s going to be with delicious homemade food with lots of taste!! Sorry that I rambled and wrote a book!! Merry Christmas 🎄 and 🥳 Happy New Year to all 🎈 Stay safe 🙏🏼🙏🏼 God Bless 🙏🏼

    Reply

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